Karen adjusted the stack of files in her hands as she exited the elevator. The office buzzed unusually today hushed whispers, shared glances, and the kind of silent excitement that always preceded something big.
She walked past the marketing department and caught a few words.
"Did you see the email?"
"Annual gala, girl. This Friday!"
Karen slowed her steps. Gala? She reached her desk and refreshed her inbox. Sure enough, there it was.
Subject: Annual Wellington Gala - Attendance Required
Her heart skipped, it was real. An upscale event held by the company every year to celebrate "milestones and staff excellence." Location: The Grand Lux Hotel. Dress code: Formal.
She bit her lip. She'd only just started. Would she even be expected to go?
"KAREN!"
She jumped. Dami stood by her desk, grinning. "You're coming to the gala, right? Everyone's talking about it."
"I...I just saw the email," she said. "Is it mandatory?"
Dami laughed. "When the boss breathes 'attendance required,' it means don't even think of skipping. Besides…" She leaned in. "This is your chance to show you're more than just his assistant."
Karen blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see," Dami said with a wink before disappearing into a meeting room.
Karen sat down slowly. She hadn't owned a formal gown since graduation. And the thought of being in the same ballroom as Alex… dressed up… surrounded by people and expectations.
Her phone buzzed.
Luca:
You got the memo?
She smiled slightly before replying.
Karen:"Yup.
Any tips for surviving it"?
His response came fast.
Luca:"Stay near me. I'll keep you sane".
She chuckled, warmth creeping in.
But that warmth disappeared the moment Alex's office door opened.
He stepped out, speaking quietly with two board members. As he turned, his eyes found hers unblinking, unreadable. Then, without breaking stride, he walked past her desk and into the hallway.
No greeting, no acknowledgment.
Karen stared after him, heart heavy.
She didn't understand him. One moment, he was inches from her face, possessive and burning. The next, he acted like she didn't exist.
But there was one thing she understood now:
At that gala whatever happened between them wouldn't be hidden behind office doors anymore.
This was the calm before the storm.
And she had no idea what to expect.