Sydney



To spend time on Monday morning, I awoke early and worked on some of my projects. My internship, which I would be undertaking at the Reiners, was my last semester of art school. Except for submitting my report, I didn't need to return to school.
On the other side of the flat, I heard Leah's door open. "Coffee?" I inquired happily as I peered out of my room.



Leah pouted and rubbed her eyes sleepily. She despised getting out of bed in the morning. She offered a half-hearted nod and walked inside the bathroom. I grinned and began preparing breakfast for the two of us. Leah reappeared half an hour later, happily sniffing the warm aroma of fried bacon and coffee.



"You really do seem cheery," she commented as she sat down at the dining table. "Smells fantastic."



"It's the beginning of a new life, so of course I'm glad and joyful," I said with a smile.



"Sure," Leah responded, a mysterious smile on her face. I made a funny face at her and returned to my coffee.



"Mike isn't going to eat with us?" I inquired.



Leah simply shrugged her shoulders.



"Is he still upset with me?" I inquired.



Leah locked her gaze on me while muttering something beneath her breath.



"When he sees how pleased you are, he'll change his mind. Don't be concerned." Leah was reassuring.



After we finished our breakfast, I boarded a train to my new office. The entire department seemed to be anticipating my arrival. The security at the front desk promptly directed me to the HR department. I had to sign a few pieces of paperwork before receiving a brand-new identification card. Then Larry, their advertising director, was introduced to me. He ushered me into the huge office. I trailed behind him, unsure of what to do or where to go. He led me to the end of the corridor and to the left of a glass door. When I realised it was Aiden's office, I stiffened. I mean, he wouldn't take me there, would he?



"Why is that?" Larry asked with a smile, "Bad weather?"



"Thunderstorms, since the morning," the woman said.



I looked out at the clear cheerful sky outside perplexed. The woman looked at me and held out her hand, "Ms Rosbak, right?"

"Please call me Sydney," I said as I bowed and shook her hand.



"I am Jennifer. Mr Reiner's secretary," she said.


"She is also the godsend angel on earth who saves us from the Devil," Larry added with a smile.



Jeniffer snorted at that. She was about to say something when the bell at her desk chimed. She looked at Larry and rolled her eyes.

"Well, the devil just phoned," she laughed as she pushed open the door, which had a mirror on the outside.



"Come on, I'll show you around and introduce you to the folks you'll be working with right now." Larry gave me a friendly smile.


The rest of the morning went without a hitch. Larry introduced me to several people. They all seemed nice. I discovered my cabin was right in front of Aiden's cabin and had an amazing workstation. I chatted with my new colleagues and project members. Got a briefing about my work for the ad. I even gave some valuable inputs to the discussion which seemed to impress my team.



At noon, I finally settled down to work at the workstation and forgot about everything except the screen before me. I was so engrossed in work that I didn't realise when a tall form appeared behind me.
I was busy creating the 3D digital waves on my screen when I heard Larry's voice.


"Are you having fun?" he asked, poking his head inside the cabin.



I turned around and smiled, "It's different working here but I love this machine. I guess I won't be able to leave this place just because of this beauty." I patted on my monitor.

"That's wonderful," a deep voice remarked from the doorway, "because I admire your work." Aiden leant against the doorframe.



I watched as he stalked towards my table, my heart pounding at a much greater rate than usual. He leant in close to my computer and stared at it. I caught a whiff of his tangy aftershave. He was getting too near. I stopped breathing, afraid that if I exhaled, I would touch him. He abruptly shifted his gaze to me.

"Would you mind showing me what you've done today?" he inquired.

His speech had a heavy drawl to it, and his eyes dipped to my lips for a fraction of a second, a glitter in his eyes. I wasn't sure whether it happened because it happened so rapidly.
My hands trembled slightly as I exhibited the digital waves. What was the matter with me?
He sat there for a long time, staring at the file. As long as he stared at the paperwork, I held my breath. He finally went away, and I exhaled deeply. He nodded as he stared at Larry.



"It's all right. I'm looking forwards to seeing the entire sequence."



Then he vanished. I kept an eye on his receding form. Did he address himself to me or Larry?



"You did a fantastic job," Larry complimented.



It was 7 pm by the time I realized that I should leave. Most of the people had already left. I picked up my bag and walked towards the lift. I clicked the call button and exhaled a breath of relief as the door promptly opened. I entered the elevator and pressed the bottom floor button. The door began to close before abruptly stopping and opening. Aiden was standing directly in front of me.
As a whimper left my mouth, I felt my knees weaken. I took a step back, almost colliding with the steel wall behind me. On each side, my hands contacted the smooth, cold, pure steel. And my whole body shook. He took a step inside, and the door shut behind us. His eyes were fixed on me.



"I didn't think anyone had ever stayed as late as me on their first day." With his long finger, he pressed the buttons while having a short conversation.



I murmured, "I just lost track of time."



"How was your first day, Sydney?" he asked as he turned to face me. The tension inside the sealed capsule was evident, despite his casual, non-threatening tone.



"It went well, the...workstation is fantastic, and my coworkers are pleasant..." I was stuttering.



He made me nervous without even touching me, his lips twisted into a smile.



"It's good to know." For a little moment, there was an uncomfortable silence in the lift, and I gently exhaled.



"Are you going home?" he inquired abruptly.



"Yes!" I replied quickly, taking a deep breath.



I tried to blend in with the steel wall behind me as he approached.



"When I'm around Sydney, you don't have to stop breathing," he smirked. "It would be such a shame if you died of asphyxiation."



I was startled and looked up at him. He was smiling, completely aware of his impact on me.
"You overestimate yourself," I remarked after a few breaths.



He chuckled and leant forwards, partially imprisoning me with his hand on the wall behind me. I was wide-eyed as I looked at him.



"Sydney, you don't have to be terrified of me. As I already stated, I do not combine business and pleasure, at least not yet."



The lift abruptly came to a halt, and I realised we had arrived on the lowest floor.


"I..... I have to go," I mumbled and ran out of the lift. I didn't turn back to check if he was following me. I didn't really care if he did. I just wanted to get away from him.