★ CANADA, ONTARIO ★
A young woman jogged along the quiet roadside, her ponytail swaying rhythmically with each step.
The morning breeze kissed her cheeks, cool and refreshing.
She wore skin-tight leggings and a fitted tank top that hugged her lean figure just right. A single black AirPod rested in her ear as she made a call, her voice rising with surprise.
"Dad! You're going to Mexico today?"
She slowed, frowning.
"For how long are you staying?" she asked, coming to a sharp stop, one hand resting on her waist as she waited for a reply.
Her eyes widened. "Three years?!"
Heads turned as she practically yelled into the AirPod.
She scoffed, frustrated.
"And here I was planning to visit you in Russia this weekend"
Then silence. Not from her but the other end.
She blinked.
"Hello? Dad?" she called, but no reply.
Frowning, she pulled her phone out, unlocked it and saw the call had ended.
"Eh?" she blinked at the screen. "Did he just hang up on me?"
A message popped up: "Flight's boarding. Take care, Novellochka"
Sighing, Novella turned off the screen and stuffed her phone into her pocket. She tugged her ponytail tighter and picked up her pace again.
Minutes later...
She stopped in front of her apartment building, breathing heavily from the run. Bending forward, hands on her knees, she caught her breath before heading inside.
At the elevator, she pressed the button. The doors slid open.
She stepped in and pressed "3" Just before the doors closed, someone slipped in beside her, brushing her shoulder.
"Hi" Novella said casually, offering a quick glance.
"Hi" the woman replied with a smile.
They rode in silence. When the elevator dinged at the third floor, Novella stepped out and walked down the hallway.
A few seconds later, she paused in front of her door and punched in her passcode.
The door clicked open, and she stepped inside, closing it behind her.
She kicked off her sneakers, crossed into the kitchen and yanked the fridge open.
Empty shelves stared back at her.
"No food again" she muttered, pulling out a bottle of water.
She downed it in one go and tossed the empty bottle into the trash, then dragged herself to the bedroom. She peeled off her workout clothes and let them fall carelessly across the room.
Wrapped in a towel, she headed into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, warm water streamed down her body as she lathered coconut-scented soap over her skin. She brushed her wet hair back, eyes closing as she savored the sensation.
Her fingers trailed over her body as the warm stream rinsed away the foam. She tilted her head back, a soft moan escaping her lips.
An hour later, she leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping a chilled yogurt drink.
Her outfit now?
A crisp white shirt tucked neatly into a black pencil skirt that hugged her hips and ended just above her knees.
Black heels completed the look and her freshly brushed hair fell smoothly over her shoulders.
She glanced at the bottle of yogurt, shook her head at the last few sips and shoved it back into the fridge.
Time to move.
She grabbed her handbag from the dining table and stepped out of the apartment.
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
The elevator doors slid open, and Novella stepped out, balancing two drink carriers filled with coffee.
The sharp click of her heels echoed through the sleek, polished floors, drawing the attention of a few passing employees.
"Good morning" she greeted, flashing a bright smile as she walked past.
"Good morning, Novella!" came the cheerful reply, accompanied by warm smiles.
When she got to her department, a woman in her thirties jumped up dramatically the moment she spotted Novella.
"Oh my gosh! Novella Vernikova has arrived!" she squealed, causing the whole room to erupt in laughter.
"Hi, everyone" Novella said with a smile as she began distributing the coffee.
"You're a lifesaver!" one guy grinned, taking a sip.
"Our coffee lady!" another teased, and Novella winked in return, making everyone chuckle.
As she finished handing out the drinks, the door to the office swung open and a man walked in.
"What's all the commotion?" he asked, his brow raised in curiosity, staring at their faces.
Exchanging glances, they all turned back to their work.
"Morning, Chief" Novella waved.
He approached her, placing a hand on her back.
"The CEO has been looking for you for the past ten minutes. He's waiting for those files. Don't you think you're a little late, Secretary Novella?" he said in
Novella's eyes widened in alarm.
"He's here?" she gasped, caught off guard.
"Hmm"
"I gotta go!" she said, already turning on her heel but the chief grabbed her arm gently.
"Wait. Why were you late?" his gaze softened but remained stern.
She cleared her throat, biting back a nervous laugh. "I went jogging"
The chief rolled his eyes, exhaling dramatically.
"Fine. Take the files from Michael's desk to the CEO"
Novella nodded quickly, grabbing the files. As she headed out, Michael grinned at her from his desk.
"She's gorgeous" he said in a dreamy voice.
The room burst into laughter, and someone called out, "Is he crushing again?"
"Isn't he always?" the chief chimed in.
"He's not good enough for her, though. He looks poor" a woman teased from her desk.
"I'll be rich one day. Just wait" Michael smirked.
"Enough!" the chief barked.
"Everyone, back to work!"
_
Novella stood in front of the CEO's office door, gripping the files in her hands.
Her palms were sweaty, her heart pounding in her chest. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"You can do this. Fighting!" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.
She inhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from her body before she opened the door.
The office inside was vast, elegant, and meticulously arranged. She stepped in quietly, the door clicking softly behind her. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on the man sitting at the large desk, engrossed in paperwork.
"Novella" he said in a low voice.
He looked up at her, their gazes locking. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt the files slipping slightly in her sweaty grip.
"How did you know it was me?" the question slipped out before she could stop herself.
The man chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down her spine.
"The way you closed the door... and the way you walk. It's always the same" he replied.
Novella blinked, caught off guard. She found herself staring at him, her eyes tracing the sharp contours of his jaw and the intensity in his eyes.
Damn, why is he so damn handsome?
Unconsciously, she licked her lips and she noticed his gaze flicker to her mouth before he sighed, clearly aware of her reaction.
"The files, Novella. Stop staring" he said firmly.
Her face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly placed the files on his desk, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Sorry, sir" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You may go" he said, already turning back to the papers in front of him, his attention shifting away.
"Y-yes, sir" she stammered, before quickly turning to leave.
She closed the door softly behind her, leaning against it for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart.