As the day wore on, Aleyne couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. Jack's warm and unexpected personal interaction with her had left her in a daze, and she noticed that her colleagues were not oblivious to it either. Whispers and sidelong glances followed her wherever she went, and she could almost feel the weight of their envy pressing down on her. Back at their desks, a small group of her coworkers huddled together, their voices low but filled with malice.
Colleague 1: whispering "Did you see how Mr. Jack was with her? Smiling, complimenting her… like she’s someone special."
Colleague 2: scoffing "Please, she’s just a goody-two-shoes orphan trying to play the innocent card. I bet she’s trying to get in his good graces. Typical."
Colleague 3: smirking "She doesn’t belong here. We should remind her where she really stands. Let’s make sure she embarrasses herself in front of Jack soon. She won’t be able to wiggle her way out of it."
With their plan in mind, the group dispersed, their eyes glinting with the promise of mischief. They would wait for the perfect moment to strike, confident that they could bring Aleyne down a peg or two. As the workday came to an end, Aleyne packed up her things and made her way home. The familiar walk back was a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions she had experienced at the office. Once she stepped through the door, she was greeted by the usual sight of household chores waiting to be done. Without missing a beat, Aleyne slipped into her routine. She cleaned up the kitchen, started dinner, and made sure everything was in order. The comforting rhythm of her chores helped her unwind after the day’s unexpected events. Later, she sat down with Mira to help her with her homework. Mira’s brow furrowed in concentration as Aleyne patiently guided her through a particularly tricky math problem.
Mira: frustrated "Why does math have to be so hard?"
Aleyne: laughing "I used to think the same thing. But you’re getting better at it, Mira. Just take it one step at a time, and you’ll figure it out."
Mira: smiling "Thanks, Aleyne. You always know how to make things easier."
Aleyne: teasing "Well, I’ve had a lot of practice. Now, let’s finish this up so we can both relax."
Once Mira’s homework was done, and the household chores were completed, Aleyne finally had a moment to herself. She changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed, letting out a long, tired sigh. The day had been exhausting, but it wasn’t just the work that weighed on her mind. As she lay there, staring up at the ceiling, the events of the day played over in her mind. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Jack—his smile, the way he looked at her, the gentle tone of his voice when he spoke to her. It was all so unexpected, and she found herself feeling something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Aleyne turned over in bed, trying to shake off the strange warmth that spread through her. “What am I doing?” she muttered to herself, feeling her cheeks flush. She glanced out the window at the moon shining brightly in the night sky, but all she could see was Jack’s face, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled at her. She groaned and buried her face in her pillow. “I must be losing it,” she whispered, half amused, half exasperated with herself. “It’s just one day, Aleyne. Get a grip!”
But no matter how much she tried to push the thought away, it kept coming back, making her heart skip in a way that was both exciting and unsettling. She turned over again, pulling the blanket over her head in a futile attempt to block out the image of him. “A crocodile at home, a lion at work, and now I’m imagining things? This is too much,” she muttered, laughing softly at her own predicament. She knew she needed to focus on what really mattered her job, her responsibilities, and Mira. But as she closed her eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. And whether Jack would be just as charming or perhaps even more so. With that thought lingering in her mind, Aleyne finally drifted off to sleep, her dreams filled with images of moonlight, mischievous grins, and a pair of deep blue eyes that seemed to look right into her soul. The next day, as Aleyne stepped into the office, she was met with an uneasy silence. Something felt off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. As she approached her desk, she noticed a group of her colleagues huddled together, exchanging furtive glances and smirks. A wave of apprehension washed over her, but before she could ask what was going on, she was interrupted by a commotion from across the room.
She turned to see a mess of papers scattered everywhere, a coffee spill staining important documents, and a chair knocked over. Her heart sank when she realized that the chaos had occurred at her workstation. Her colleagues, still huddled together, were whispering loudly enough for her to catch snippets of their conversation.
Colleague 1: feigning shock "How could she be so careless? Right when the new CEO is here…"
Colleague 2: with a smug tone "Guess she’s not as perfect as she pretends to be."
Colleague 3: mockingly "I wonder what Mr. Jack will say when he sees this. She’s definitely in trouble now."
Aleyne’s face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to clean up the mess as quickly as possible, but the damage had already been done. Just then, Jack entered the office, and the room fell into an uneasy silence. He surveyed the scene, his expression unreadable. The tension in the air was palpable, and Aleyne could barely breathe. Jack: calmly, but firmly "Everyone, return to your work." There was no anger in his voice, no visible disappointment. He simply walked past the mess, his eyes briefly meeting Aleyne’s before he continued to his office. He didn’t say a word about the incident, leaving Aleyne standing there, humiliated and confused. For the rest of the day, Aleyne couldn’t concentrate. Her thoughts were consumed by the mess and Jack’s silence. She kept replaying the scene in her head, wondering what he must think of her. Surely, he would reprimand her later—or worse, fire her. The thought made her stomach churn. The atmosphere in the office remained tense for the next two days. Aleyne’s colleagues seemed pleased with themselves, convinced that they had successfully tarnished her reputation without being caught. The whispers and snide comments continued, and Aleyne could feel their eyes on her, waiting for her to crack.
But Jack remained silent. He made no mention of the incident and didn’t bring it up in their brief interactions. Instead, he calmly requested everyone to focus on their work and personally handled the cleanup. Aleyne’s guilt grew with each passing hour. She knew she wasn’t responsible for the mess, but the thought that Jack might believe otherwise tormented her. On the second day, unable to bear the weight of her guilt any longer, Aleyne mustered the courage to approach Jack. She knocked softly on his office door, her heart racing as she prepared to apologize for the incident, even if it wasn’t her fault.
Aleyne: hesitantly "Mr. Jack… I’m so sorry about what happened. I..I should have been more careful. It won’t happen again, I promise."
Jack looked up from his desk, his expression still calm. He regarded her for a moment, then shook his head.
Jack: gently "There’s no need to apologize, Aleyne. Just focus on your work. That’s all I ask."
Aleyne: surprised, but still anxious "But…"
Jack: firmly, but kindly "That’s all, Aleyne. Go back to work."
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she returned to her desk. The unease in the office lingered, but she did her best to push through it, focusing on her tasks with renewed determination.
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