The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the office building as Jeslyne stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. It was one of those rare mornings when everything felt unusually light. The stress from the previous days seemed to have evaporated overnight, leaving her with a sense of ease she hadn't felt in weeks.
She paused in front of her office door, turning the handle slowly. Her workspace greeted her with its familiar arrangement: neatly stacked files on the corner of her desk, a vase of fresh lilies placed beside her laptop, and the corkboard by the window filled with pinned reminders and motivational quotes. Jeslyne took a moment to scan the room, appreciating the effort she had put into making it her own. Everything was exactly as she liked it—tidy, orderly, and peaceful.
Feeling an unusual burst of energy, she decided to step away from her desk and join Emma, her best friend and the office's modeling trainer. Emma was in the adjacent studio, overseeing the training of a group of fresh faces who were preparing for their first campaign shoot.
Jeslyne leaned against the doorframe, watching the session unfold. The models stood in a line, their postures straight and poised as Emma walked them through their paces. Her authoritative voice carried across the room as she demonstrated a walk, the sharp click of her heels echoing with every step.
"You're a natural dictator, you know that?" Jeslyne teased as Emma caught sight of her.
Emma grinned, tossing her clipboard onto a nearby chair. "And you're late! I thought you were going to join us for the session."
"Just came to watch," Jeslyne replied, stepping into the room. She picked up a water bottle from the nearby table, twisting off the cap. "How's it going?"
"Surprisingly well. This group has potential," Emma said, glancing at her students. Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "But, of course, they're not as good as me."
Jeslyne laughed, the sound filling the room. She had always admired Emma's unshakable confidence. They had been inseparable since their college days, and Jeslyne had even been instrumental in helping Emma land the job at the company. Watching Emma thrive was one of Jeslyne's proudest moments.
After the session ended, Emma walked over, looping an arm around Jeslyne's shoulders. "Lunch?" she asked.
"Definitely," Jeslyne agreed.
---
The cafeteria was bustling with activity when they arrived. Emma and Jeslyne grabbed their trays, choosing a table near their colleagues. The group was lively, with conversations bouncing from one topic to the next. Jeslyne settled into her seat, listening with mild amusement as Emma dominated the discussion with her usual wit and charm.
But then the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"Have you guys heard about the new office being set up?" one of their colleagues, Miranda, asked, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
Emma raised an eyebrow. "What new office?"
Miranda leaned in, her voice dripping with intrigue. "Apparently, there's a vice CEO joining soon. She's supposed to oversee all the entertainment branches."
"That's absurd," another colleague, Brian, scoffed. "Why would we need someone at that level just for entertainment? Seems like overkill to me."
"Well, rumor has it," Miranda continued, undeterred, "that she's more than just a vice CEO. People are saying she's close to Mr. Williams."
Jeslyne froze, her hand hovering over her glass of water. The mention of Rolland's name sent a jolt through her, though she kept her expression neutral.
"Define 'close,'" Emma said, her tone skeptical.
"You know...close-close," Miranda said, waggling her eyebrows for emphasis.
Brian rolled his eyes. "That's just office gossip. Don't tell me you believe that nonsense."
"It's not nonsense," Miranda shot back. "Apparently, her family is very wealthy, and they've had ties with the Williams family for years. If she's not already his girlfriend, she's definitely on her way to being his fiancée."
Jeslyne's stomach tightened. She glanced at Emma, who gave her a subtle look of concern but said nothing.
Miranda continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Some people are even saying this whole vice CEO thing is just a formality. She's supposed to take over her family's business, but if she marries into the Williams family, it's like killing two birds with one stone. She'll manage both."
The table fell silent for a moment, everyone digesting the implications.
Jeslyne picked at her food absentmindedly, her appetite gone. She couldn't pinpoint why the conversation bothered her so much, but it did. The idea of Rolland being involved with someone—someone perfectly tailored to fit into his world—left an unfamiliar ache in her chest.
Why does it matter? she scolded herself silently. He's my boss. His personal life has nothing to do with me.
But the thoughts kept coming, unbidden. She remembered the way he looked at her during their brief interactions, the intensity in his eyes that seemed to strip away her defenses. And now, to think that he might already belong to someone else—a woman who, by all accounts, was a perfect match for him—left her feeling inexplicably disappointed.
Emma nudged her under the table. "You okay?" she asked softly.
Jeslyne forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."
Emma gave her a knowing look but didn't press further.
Back at her desk, Jeslyne tried to focus on her work, burying herself in emails and reports. But the conversation from lunch lingered in the back of her mind. Every now and then, she caught herself replaying the rumors, wondering if there was any truth to them.
She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. This is ridiculous, she told herself. I have more important things to worry about than Rolland Williams' personal life.
But deep down, she knew it wasn't just his personal life that unsettled her. It was the realization that, no matter how much she tried to deny it, Rolland had somehow gotten under her skin.
As the day came to an end, Jeslyne packed up her things and headed for the elevator. She passed by the modeling studio on her way out, pausing briefly to watch Emma give a final pep talk to her students.
"See you tomorrow?" Emma called out as Jeslyne waved goodbye.
"Definitely," Jeslyne replied, managing a small smile.
But as she stepped into the elevator, her thoughts drifted back to the rumors. The idea of Rolland and this mysterious vice CEO kept gnawing at her, leaving her with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite name.
As the elevator doors closed, Jeslyne resolved to put it all behind her. Tomorrow was another day, and she had no intention of letting office gossip distract her from what truly mattered—her work.
But as she headed home that night, the image of Rolland's piercing gaze lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.