The office was quiet after six, the usual hum of conversation replaced by the soft clatter of keyboards and the distant whir of the cleaning crew. Elena remained at her desk, eyes fixed on the screen, fingers dancing over the keys. Her formatting had improved, but the report still felt clumsy. She wanted it to be perfect.
Most of the marketing team had left. Maya had waved goodbye with a teasing, "Don't let Velasco catch you sleeping here," before disappearing into the elevator. Elena had smiled, but her nerves were fraying. Adrian Velasco had asked for the revised report by Friday. She wanted to finish it tonight.
She was halfway through the final section when a voice startled her.
"You're still here."
She turned sharply. Adrian stood a few feet away, his suit jacket gone, sleeves rolled up again. His tie was loosened, and his expression was unreadable.
"I wanted to finish the report," Elena said, trying to sound composed.
He stepped closer, glancing at her screen. "You corrected the formatting."
"I'm learning," she said. "Slowly."
Adrian nodded. "You're not slow. You're meticulous."
Elena blinked. "Is that… a compliment?"
He gave a faint smile. "It's an observation."
She hesitated, then asked, "Do you always stay this late?"
"Sometimes. The quiet helps me think."
Elena looked around. The office did feel different after hours—less intimidating, more human. "It's peaceful," she agreed.
Adrian studied her for a moment. "You don't act like someone who's afraid of me."
"I am," she admitted. "But I'm more afraid of failing."
That made him pause. "Why?"
She hesitated. "Because I need to prove something. To myself."
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "You're not here for a paycheck."
"No," she said softly. "I'm here to earn something real."
He didn't speak for a moment. Then he gestured to the empty conference room nearby. "Come. Let's review your report together."
Inside the glass-walled room, Elena sat across from Adrian at the long table. He pulled up her file on his tablet, scanning it with practiced eyes.
"You've improved," he said. "But your summary lacks impact. You're too cautious."
"I didn't want to overstate anything."
"Confidence isn't arrogance," he said. "It's clarity."
Elena nodded, absorbing the lesson. "I'll revise it."
Adrian leaned back, watching her. "You remind me of someone I used to know."
"Who?"
"Myself," he said quietly. "Before the company. Before the walls."
Elena tilted her head. "You built all this. That's not nothing."
He looked out the window, where the city lights flickered like distant stars. "It cost me things. Trust. Time. People."
Elena felt a pang of empathy. "You don't trust easily."
"No," he said. "And I don't forgive easily either."
She swallowed. What would happen if he found out who I really am? Would he forgive me?
Adrian turned back to her. "But I respect honesty. Even when it's uncomfortable."
Elena nodded, her throat tight. "I'll remember that."
They worked in silence for another hour, revising, refining, reshaping the report. When they finally stood to leave, Adrian paused at the door.
"You did well tonight," he said. "Keep going."
Elena met his eyes. "Thank you."
As she walked back to her desk, her heart was racing. Not from fear—but from something else. Something dangerous. Something like hope.