Chapter 2: The First Meeting

Ms. Grace Kanya, our new Head of Marketing, was a striking woman with long black hair she always kept tied back in a sleek ponytail. She had been recruited from a prestigious rival company, renowned not only for her skills but also for her captivating personality.

She was in her mid-thirties, only a few years older than me, yet the aura she carried made her seem worlds apart. It felt as though she existed on a completely different plane, far beyond my reach.

She was beautiful… and composed. The cool intensity in her gaze had an almost hypnotic effect, making everyone around her feel as though they were caught under her spell.

And this is the story of me and Ms. Grace.

The secrets and the love I’ve kept hidden from everyone at work. A relationship that began with a seemingly simple, yet dangerously alluring proposal: FWB—Friends with Benefits.

..

The First Time We Met

The soft hum of the air conditioning mixed with the rhythmic tapping of keyboards in the large conference room. On the long rectangular table, laptops and documents were neatly arranged, but the atmosphere was tense, heavy with anticipation.

I sat in the far-left corner of the table, pretending to focus on the documents in front of me. For a moment, my gaze drifted to my phone lying beside me before I quickly tucked it into my bag.

“Pim, have you seen our new team leader yet? They say she looks even better in person than in photos. Like, she’s one of those people who just don’t photograph well, but in real life? Stunning. Always wearing that sleek ponytail—so elegant, so fierce, so untouchable,”

Kay, my colleague sitting next to me, whispered as she leaned closer.

I didn’t respond, merely nodded slightly while keeping my eyes on the folder in my hands, trying to go over the information one last time before the meeting began.

Then, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor broke the silence, followed by the door opening. Every head in the room turned toward the source of the noise. A tall woman stepped in, and as soon as our eyes met, a shiver ran through me.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Kanya, but you can call me Grace. I’m the new Head of Marketing,” she introduced herself, her voice clear and confident, exuding authority with every word.

I found myself staring at her without realizing it. The sight of her made my heart skip a beat. Ms. Grace was a woman in her mid-thirties, tall and poised, with radiant, flawless skin that seemed meticulously cared for. Her sleek black hair, tied back into a perfect ponytail, framed her striking features. Every movement she made was deliberate, exuding power and elegance. She seemed like someone who had it all—looks, personality, and a quiet confidence that needed no effort to shine through.

I felt as though every eye in the meeting room was fixed on Ms. Grace with admiration… and I was no exception. She was stunning, and I had to admit, she was exactly the kind of woman I found irresistible.

Ms. Grace began outlining her goals and plans with sharp, concise words. “I intend to elevate this department to a higher level. The project launching next month will be a key turning point.”

She stood there, tall and poised, like a statue sculpted to perfection. I had never met anyone who exuded power the way she did—someone who didn’t need to try, yet commanded attention with every word, every glance, effortlessly demonstrating her control over the room.

As Ms. Grace continued speaking, I found myself struggling to focus on the content of her plans. Instead, my mind wandered to her beauty, her presence, and the way her gaze seemed to sweep across the room, giving every individual the same level of attention.

Or perhaps… not entirely the same.

Because for a brief moment, I felt like her eyes lingered on me longer than anyone else. And I thought I saw her smile.

It could have been just my imagination, but that smile sent my heart racing in a way I couldn’t control.

And that was the first time I met Ms. Grace.

..

That Afternoon

As soon as the meeting ended, Ms. Grace disappeared with her documents, leaving behind only the hushed whispers of my colleagues. I returned to my desk, trying to focus on the papers in front of me, but my thoughts kept drifting back to her.

“So, what do you think of our new boss? Ms. Grace, right? Think she’ll be okay?”

Kay asked, leaning in closer to me.

“Seems like she’ll be fine. She looks competent,” I replied casually, keeping my expression as neutral as possible.

“That’s it? Just fine?”

“Yeah.”

“Come on, give me more than that, Pim. You’re great at reading people!”

“Well… she’s beautiful. She seems like someone who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it,” I said, and even I could hear the admiration in my own voice.

Kay chuckled softly. “I heard that back at her previous company, she was a total workaholic—firing people left and right. Makes me wonder what her personal life is like, you know? Someone that dedicated to work must have a pretty interesting story.”

“How would I know anything about Ms. Grace’s personal life?” I said, trying to brush off the topic.

“I’m guessing a workaholic like her is probably single. Not married yet, right? What do you think, Pim?”

“What does being single have to do with being a workaholic? You’re just overthinking, Kay,” I replied.

Even as I said that, my hand instinctively picked up my phone. I searched for Ms. Grace’s name on social media, hoping to learn more about her. But I found nothing except a private Instagram account and a LinkedIn profile filled exclusively with professional achievements.

In the end, I still knew absolutely nothing about Ms. Grace’s personal life.

..

That Evening

Ms. Grace called for another marketing team meeting that evening. I quickly gathered my things, grabbing my favorite notebook before heading to the conference room. My footsteps echoed softly as I followed my colleagues down the hallway.

The moment I stepped into the room, my eyes instinctively sought her out. Ms. Grace was seated at the head of the table, exuding elegance. She didn’t need to speak to command authority; her calm, composed presence was enough to draw every gaze in the room, including mine.

Her sharp eyes scanned the table as the team members filed in and took their seats. “The project we’re about to start is crucial to our department’s success,” she began, her voice clear and deliberate, unhurried yet commanding. “I expect everyone to approach this with professionalism and complete dedication. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your potential—don’t let me down.”

The room fell silent, everyone listening intently. Then, her gaze turned to me.

“Pim,” she said, her voice breaking the silence and making me flinch slightly. Instantly, every pair of eyes in the room shifted toward me. “I’d like you to take on the role of sub-team leader for this project. Do you think you’re ready for this challenge?”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. I wasn’t entirely confident in myself, but the last thing I wanted was to disappoint her—especially in front of the entire team, who now awaited my response.

“I’ll do my best to meet your expectations, Ms. Grace,” I finally replied, my voice steady despite the nerves.

She gave a small nod, and a faint smile touched her lips. “Good. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the results.”

But what surprised me most in that moment wasn’t her decision to appoint me as sub-team leader—it was what she did next.

She rose from her seat and walked around the table toward me. When she reached me, she placed a hand lightly on my shoulder. Her touch was soft yet deliberate, and she began to gently stroke my shoulder in slow, deliberate motions.

It lasted just long enough to send my heart racing, pounding so hard I thought it might burst from my chest.

“I believe you can do it, Pim,” her voice was soft and reassuring.

I looked up at her, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes met. But in my mind, that moment stretched endlessly, beyond what words could describe.

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling my notebook almost slip from my hands. I tried to compose myself, but I wasn’t doing a very good job of it.

When she let go of my shoulder and walked back to her seat, it seemed like no one else in the room had paid attention to what had just happened. But for me, it was as if the sound of that interaction had been amplified, echoing loudly in my mind.

Was it normal for a boss to touch their subordinate like that?

The thought popped into my head immediately. If she had been a man, I would have marched straight to HR without hesitation. But because she was a woman, I hesitated.

Maybe it’s because we’re both women. Perhaps she didn’t think it was anything inappropriate?

But if it wasn’t anything… then why did it make me feel this way?

..

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