Harper just smiled softly. "Yes, sir. I– I will see you at lunch time," she said and moved over the the desk to pick up her purse. Oliver's icy blue eyes followed her movement as she retrieved her purse from the desk that was no longer hers, the casual way she called him 'sir,'– it all felt like a deliberate provocation. "Do not be late," he called after her, his voice carrying just enough authority to sound like an order rather than a request. His gaze lingered on the doorway long after she had disappeared down the hallways toward the elevators. The familiar scent of her perfume seemed to linger in the air. "Sir? Should I forward these emails to your personal account?" Stella asked hesitantly, holding up her tablet. Oliver forced his attention back to business though his mind kept replaying her parting words. Lunch. Another opportunity for casual conversation disguised as professional obligation.
The elevator door dinged as it closed, and Harper took a deep breath. Deep down she knew Oliver's behaviour was about the big change and losing her, but somehow his words… his tone... they stung. When the elevator opened to the advertisement department, the atmosphere seemed peaceful. Harper made her way to the elevator, taking it up to the second floor. Beside the elevator is a modern office kitchen and dining area, with a long, sleek kitchen counter on the left side. Several white bar stools with simple legs are neatly lined along the white countertop counter. Behind the counter, the kitchen workspace includes built-in cabinets in soft grey tones, integrated appliances, and a long backsplash illuminated with a cool blue light. There are multiple sinks with modern black faucets spaced along the counter and a wooden beam structure runs horizontally above the counter, from which a series of small pendant lights hang at even intervals. Harper walks pass the counter and the several white dining tables paired with beige coloured chairs. She walks through a door in the back right corner, which leads to Marius' secretaries' desk, now her desk.
The desk is a large L-shape desk made of light wood with smooth, matte finish. The desk's surface is tidy, holding a computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a desk phone. a small potted plant sits near the monitor and in front of the desk is a high-backed office chair upholstered in a warm caramel-coloured leather. The chair looks comfortable as it had a plush, cushioned design with a headrest, curved armrests and a polished metal base with caster wheels. Beside the desk is a low storage cabinet that matched the desk's wood finish and the wall behind is is covered in vertical wood panelling in soft grey-brown tones. A large, framed artwork– featuring a monochrome image of a modern architectural structure extending into the distance– is mounted on the wall. In front of the desk is a floor-to-ceiling window, flooding the office with natural light and providing a view of the cityscape. Near the window are additional potted plants, contributing to a fresh, lively atmosphere. Behind the desk, the door to Marius' office stands wide open.
Inside his office a large, executive desk made of dark, polished mahogany dominates the room. Behind the desk sits a high-backed, black office chair with a cushioned seat and backrest. The back wall is lined with matching wooden furniture, including a large hutch directly behind the main desk. The hutch features a combination of open shelving and closed cabinets with simple brass handles. Inside the shelves are a few decorative items, such as small plaques, a frame piece and potted plants. The the right, another cabinet unit mirrors the design of the hutch. The the left is a secondary workstation with another matching dark wood desk and similar black office chair, slightly angled to the side. On the second desk sit's the blond employee Harper saw earlier, Marius standing in front of her, kissing her. Before Harper could say anything, Marius stepped back from her, her long, wavy blond hair that falls past her shoulders in loose curls is revealed. As she scoots herself off the desk, Harper can see that she is wearing a fitted white button-up blouse with long sleeve, neatly tucked into a high-waisted black pencil skirt that reached just above her knees.
Her face is slightly flustered when she looks toward Harper standing in the doorway. Without saying a word, the blond woman walks toward Harper, he black high-heeled shoes with a glossy finish clicking on the polished floor. She brushed past Harper as she left, and Marius cleared his throat. "Ah, Harper. Your back," he said cheerfully. "How is Oliver's new secretary?" Harper's gaze lingered on Marius for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable in her blue green eyes before she met his. "She is settling in well," she replied, her voice even, betraying no emotion about the scene she had just witnessed. She stepped fully into the office, the soft clock of her heels on the polished floor echoing in the sudden quiet. Marius moved to the back of his desk and sat down, leaning back in his chair with a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Good. I trust you will make her feel at home." He gestured vaguely toward a stack of papers on the corner of his desk ad he said, "Now then, let's discuss your new duties here. Your first task is to organize these files," he said, his tone shifting to business-like. "They are project proposals for out upcoming campaign. Prioritize them based on client importance."
Marius stood up and walked around the large mahogany desk, stopping beside Harper. His presence was commanding, but his expression remained profession. "I expect efficiency from my secretaries, Harper. Especially since you come highly recommended by Oliver himself." Marius picked up one of the folders and flipping through its content without really looking at it. "Speaking of which," he added casually, though there was an undercurrent of curiosity in his voice now that they were alone together. He paused, setting the folder down with deliberate precision. His dark eyes studied her face, lingering on the subtle shift in her expression.