Denisse balanced the folder against her hip as she stopped outside Mr. Davis's office. She adjusted the stack of neatly clipped documents, then lifted her hand and knocked twice.
"Come in."
She pushed the door open.
Mr. Davis looked up from his computer, reading glasses perched low on his nose.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Davis."
She crossed the room and held out the folder.
"Here are the signed documents you sent over this morning."
Mr. Davis accepted them with a grateful nod.
"Thank you." He flipped through the pages briefly before setting them aside. "I was going to have Gigi collect these, but I ended up sending her to Finance instead."
"It's no trouble."
Denisse offered a polite smile.
"I'm already here."
"Well, I appreciate it."
He tapped the folder lightly.
"Thanks again, Denisse."
"You're welcome, Mr. Davis."
With a small nod, she turned toward the door.
She pulled it closed gently behind her until the latch clicked into place.
"Hey!"
Denisse nearly jumped.
She turned to find Gigi leaning casually against the wall beside the office, coffee in one hand and an annoyingly smug grin already forming on her face.
"Gigi."
"Been looking for you."
Gigi straightened and fell into step beside her as they headed down the hallway.
"I called you so many times last night."
Denisse's grip tightened almost imperceptibly around the now-empty folder.
"You did?"
"I did."
She took a sip of coffee.
"You never answered."
A flicker of last night's memories surfaced before Denisse could stop them.
Lesley's house.
The argument over the car.
The wine.
The conversation that had slowly drifted somewhere neither of them had planned.
And eventually...
She cleared her throat.
"I... um..."
Think.
Quickly.
"I fell asleep early."
The lie left her mouth more smoothly than she expected.
Gigi hummed.
Long.
Suspicious.
"Hmmmmm."
Denisse kept her eyes ahead.
"What?"
Gigi narrowed her eyes dramatically.
"I don't know."
She tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin.
"You've got that face."
"What face?"
"The one that says you're hiding something."
"I'm not."
"Uh-huh."
They rounded the corner toward the administrative section where Gigi's desk sat near the windows.
Gigi stopped beside her chair but didn't sit.
Instead, she folded her arms.
"So."
Denisse already knew she wasn't going to like whatever came next.
"So...?"
Gigi smiled.
"Care to explain what happened last night?"
Denisse blinked.
"Last night?"
"Yes."
Gigi leaned forward.
"Last night."
Denisse feigned confusion.
"What about last night?"
Gigi stared at her for a full second.
Then deadpanned,
"The car."
"Oh."
Denisse's shoulders relaxed just slightly.
"That."
"Yes," Gigi said slowly. "That."
She set her coffee on the desk.
"Why did Ms. Ashford suddenly hand you a car?"
A dangerous pause followed.
Gigi's eyes widened.
"...Don't tell me-"
"No."
The answer came far too quickly.
Gigi blinked.
Denisse mentally winced.
Smooth.
Very believable.
She hurried on before Gigi could finish inventing theories.
"It's just a company car."
Gigi frowned.
"What?"
"Ms. Ashford said it'll make things easier whenever she needs me to travel between meetings."
Technically...
It was a car.
Lesley owned a company.
Close enough.
"...So she's letting me use it."
The lie settled awkwardly between them.
Gigi looked unconvinced.
Then she folded her arms tighter.
"Really."
"Really."
Another pause.
Gigi tilted her head.
"Then why is it pastel pink?"
Denisse froze for half a heartbeat.
"...What?"
"It's your favorite color."
Gigi gestured dramatically.
"The entire car is practically screaming 'Denisse.'"
Denisse let out an awkward laugh.
"I-I don't know."
She shrugged, hoping it looked natural.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence."
"A coincidence."
"Maybe it was the only color available."
Gigi raised one eyebrow.
"And how would Ms. Ashford even know your favorite color?"
Exactly.
Denisse latched onto that immediately.
"See?"
She pointed at Gigi.
"She wouldn't."
Gigi considered it.
"...Fair."
Denisse released the breath she'd been holding.
Too soon.
A mischievous smile slowly spread across Gigi's face.
"But..."
Denisse's stomach sank.
"...Don't you think it's kind of meant to be?"
"What?"
"The two of you."
Denisse stared.
"What are you talking about?"
"The color."
Gigi wiggled her eyebrows.
"The timing."
Another wiggle.
"The mysterious CEO giving her beautiful assistant a car."
"Gigi."
"I'm just saying."
"No."
"You never know."
Gigi grinned wider.
"You two might end up together."
Heat rushed straight to Denisse's face.
"No, we won't."
The denial came a little too fast.
A little too loudly.
Gigi noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
Denisse pointed toward the executive offices.
"I have work."
"That's not an answer."
"It is now."
She turned on her heel before Gigi could continue.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"You are impossible."
"So I've been told."
Denisse couldn't help smiling despite herself.
She lifted a hand in surrender and continued toward the elevators.
Behind her, Gigi cupped both hands around her mouth.
"Hey!"
Denisse pressed the elevator button.
"When are you letting me ride the new car?"
The elevator doors slid open.
Denisse stepped inside.
"I'll hop in later!"
Gigi called after her.
"I want the full pastel-pink experience!"
Denisse laughed under her breath as the doors began to close.
"Yeah, yeah."
She shook her head.
"Fine. Whatever."
The doors slid shut, muffling Gigi's triumphant laugh.
Silence settled over the elevator as it began to rise.
Denisse leaned lightly against the wall and let out a slow breath.
Her fingers slipped into her pocket, brushing against the car key.
She smiled despite herself.
Then, almost immediately, the smile faded.
Because Gigi had been wrong about one thing.
The color wasn't a coincidence.
And that thought was far more dangerous than she cared to admit.
--
Later that evening, the office gradually emptied as employees trickled out, their conversations fading into the parking garage below.
Denisse and Gigi stepped out of the elevator together, bags slung over their shoulders. The cool air of the underground parking level greeted them, carrying the faint smell of concrete and engine oil. Rows of cars sat beneath the fluorescent lights, their polished surfaces reflecting the white glow overhead.
Gigi immediately nudged Denisse with her elbow.
"Come on, chauffeur."
Denisse laughed.
"I am not your chauffeur."
"You have a car now."
"It's a company car."
"Same difference."
"It really isn't."
They continued walking, the soft click of their heels echoing through the garage.
Just as Denisse spotted the familiar pastel pink sedan a few rows ahead, another familiar voice called out.
"Hey."
Both women turned.
Denver was standing beside his own car, keys twirling lazily around one finger. He smiled as he walked over.
"Hi, Denver," Denisse greeted.
"I was actually going to offer you both a ride home."
His gaze drifted past them, landing on the pastel pink sedan.
"...But I guess I don't need to anymore."
Gigi laughed.
"Nope."
She hooked a thumb toward Denisse.
"Perks of being the CEO's assistant."
Denver looked back at Denisse.
"So... Ms. Ashford gave you a car?"
The question made Denisse stiffen for the briefest moment.
Only a heartbeat.
Then she smiled.
"Oh, no."
She shook her head lightly.
"It's a company car."
Denver waited.
"She wanted me to use it whenever work requires me to travel, so... she let me use it."
The explanation came smoothly enough.
At least, she hoped it did.
Denver nodded slowly.
"I see."
His expression remained thoughtful for a moment before his easy smile returned.
"Well, that's convenient."
"It is," Denisse replied.
He glanced between the two of them.
"I won't keep you any longer. We all had a long day."
He lifted his car keys with a small wave.
"Drive safely."
"You too," Denisse said with a smile.
"See you tomorrow," Gigi added.
Denver gave them one last nod before turning and walking back toward his vehicle.
Denisse watched him unlock the driver's door before she shifted her attention to the pastel pink sedan waiting a few spaces away.
Gigi was already grinning.
"I still can't believe I'm riding in this."
"It's just a car."
"It is not just a car."
Gigi hurried ahead and reached the passenger door first.
"It's a very pink car."
Denisse rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.
She unlocked the doors with a press of the key fob.
The lights blinked in response.
Gigi climbed into the passenger seat, looking around the immaculate interior with unconcealed delight.
"It still smells new."
"Because it is new."
"I know."
Gigi ran her hand lightly over the dashboard.
"I'm appreciating it."
Denisse slipped into the driver's seat and closed the door.
For a brief moment, the outside noise disappeared.
The cabin fell pleasantly quiet.
She rested her hands on the steering wheel and looked ahead through the windshield.
No matter how many times she reminded herself it was only a company car...
The lie still felt heavier than the key in her pocket.
Pushing the thought aside, she started the engine.
The sedan purred to life.
Denisse shifted into reverse, eased out of the parking space, and together they drove out of the garage and into the evening traffic.