Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Lily nodded and jotted down the instructions on her notepad. " Consider it done, sir. I'll inform Mr. Johnson and make sure the meeting is rescheduled for tomorrow morning "

" Great, thanks, Lily! " Bryan continued. " Also, could you please send an email to the team reminding them about the upcoming deadline for the project? It's due by the end of the week, and I want to make sure everyone is on track "

Lily nodded again, her fingers already typing away on her phone. " No problem, Bryan. I'll draft the email and send it out right away. I'll also include a friendly reminder to keep up the great work "

Bryan smiled appreciatively. " You're the best, Lily! I really appreciate your help. Oh, and one more thing. Could you please lock up the office and turn off the lights when you leave? I'll be heading home after the escape room "

Lily nodded once more, her multitasking skills in full swing. " Consider it done, Bryan. I'll make sure everything is secure and ready for the night. Have a fantastic time at the escape room! "

With a sense of relief, Bryan thanked Lily again. " Thanks, Lily! I couldn't do it without you. I'll be sure to fill you in on all the details tomorrow. Have a great evening "

As Bryan left the office, he felt grateful for having such a reliable and efficient secretary like Lily. With her help, he knew he could fully enjoy his evening of puzzles and adventure. Little did he know that the escape room would bring even more surprises and excitement than he could have ever imagined. As Bryan made his way home, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation for the escape room experience.

His mind wandered off to Ava and he sighed. Would they ever get to see again? He could go to her place but it seemed she wouldn't welcome such a thing and he wanted her to open up to him willingly. She was a puzzle he wished to solve and he would do that.

******************

Monday morning arrived, the air tinged with anticipation as Bryan walked into his company, ready to tackle the day's tasks. He navigated through the bustling corridors, exchanging greetings with colleagues and preparing himself for the week ahead.

As he rounded a corner, lost in thought about the upcoming projects, he suddenly froze. There, standing a few feet away, was Ava. The surprise etched on her face mirrored the astonishment that registered on Bryan's expression.

" Ava? " Bryan's voice was tinged with surprise, his eyes widening as he took in the unexpected sight before him.

Ava's eyes widened in shock, her hand instinctively reaching to adjust her bag. " Bryan? What are you doing here? "

Their chance encounter sent ripples of astonishment through the corridor, drawing curious glances from nearby colleagues who had noticed the sudden exchange.

" I work here, " Bryan replied, still slightly taken aback by the unforeseen turn of events. " Since when do you work at my company? "

Ava's gaze flickered with surprise, her mind racing to process the revelation. " I've been here for a few months now. I had no idea you worked here too "

The realization dawned on both of them—the possibility of their paths crossing in such an unexpected manner, within the same professional space they frequented daily.

Their chance encounter amidst the office corridors left them momentarily speechless, the echo of their past encounter and the surreal nature of the present moment lingering between them.

" I never imagined our paths would cross here " Ava remarked, a mix of disbelief and curiosity evident in her voice.

Bryan nodded, a sense of wonder filling him as he glanced around the office. " Likewise. What a small world " He stared at her hungrily, as though he wanted to eat her raw. Again, there was a growing bulge in his trousers and he desperately wished his little man would relax.

Thankfully, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a colleague, prompting them to exchange hurried farewells as they went their separate ways to attend to their respective tasks.

As the day progressed, Bryan found himself occasionally stealing glances across the office, his mind drifting back to the unexpected encounter with Ava. The thought of her being a part of his professional environment added an intriguing layer of curiosity to his day.

He sat in his office, mulling over the unexpected encounter with Ava earlier that day. The serendipitous meeting had left him with a mix of curiosity and anticipation, prompting him to seek out more information about her within the company's records.

He leaned back in his chair, contemplating the best course of action. With a decisive nod, Bryan reached for his intercom and pressed the button.

" Lily, could you come in, please? " Bryan's voice was composed yet tinged with a sense of urgency.

Moments later, his secretary, Lily, stepped into the office, her attentive gaze fixed on Bryan. " You wanted to see me, Mr. Hayes? "

Bryan nodded, offering her a faint smile. " Yes, Lily. I need a favor. Can you fetch me the personnel file of an employee named Ava Thompson? "

Lily's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard of her computer. " Ava Thompson... Let me check for you, sir."

As she navigated through the company database, Bryan watched, his curiosity piqued. He wondered what details the file might hold about Ava—her professional history, qualifications, and any other pertinent information.

After a few moments, Lily turned back to Bryan, a small flash drive in hand. " Here's Ava Thompson's personnel file, sir "

Bryan accepted the flash drive with a nod of gratitude. " Thank you, Lily. That'll be all for now. "

As Lily exited the office, Bryan inserted the flash drive into his computer, opening Ava's personnel file.