Chapter 3: Come to My Car

A New Morning

After yesterday’s marketing team meeting, I returned to my desk the next morning with a whirlwind of thoughts circling my mind. Being chosen as the sub-team leader for the major project Ms. Grace had assigned should have been a great opportunity for me—a turning point both in my career and personal life.

But the weight of responsibility that came with it felt overwhelming. I opened my laptop, intending to prepare a plan for this afternoon’s meeting, but my chaotic thoughts made it nearly impossible to focus.

As I tried to collect myself, my gaze drifted toward the glass office in the corner without me even realizing it. There she was—Ms. Grace, seated at her desk with her signature elegance. Dressed impeccably in her tailored work attire, her sleek ponytail neatly in place, she exuded calm authority. Her focused expression and the way her fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard made her look effortlessly in control, as if she possessed a power that could stop time itself.

I found myself staring at her, watching every small movement she made. Her simplicity combined with her poise was captivating, almost like a spellbinding charm.

Realizing what I was doing, I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the notebook in front of me—the only thing that seemed capable of distracting me from my spiraling thoughts.

“What’s wrong with me?” I muttered to myself, holding my forehead in frustration. “Am I… falling for my boss? God, you hopeless lesbian. Ms. Grace probably doesn’t even like women,” I whispered softly, shaking my head as if to dispel the ridiculous idea.

Just then, the sharp click of high heels echoed near my desk. My heart skipped a beat and seemed to stop as I slowly looked up.

Ms. Grace stood before me, holding a file in her hands, a faint smile gracing her lips.

“I’ve added some details to the project. Take a look when you have time,” she said, her tone calm but authoritative.

I nodded slowly and reached out to take the file. As I did, our fingers brushed ever so slightly, sending a peculiar warmth through me. A hint of her delicate perfume wafted in the air, so enticing that I had to consciously stop myself from taking a deep breath.

“Thank you, Ms. Grace,” I replied softly, my voice barely audible as I kept my eyes fixed on my hands.

Ms. Grace tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite place. Then she spoke words that made my heart pound so hard I could hardly breathe.

“It’s strange,” she began with a small, knowing smile. “Every time I’m near you, Pim, I notice this pleasant scent. Whoever gets to date you must be very lucky. I’d want to sit next to you all day just for that.”

Her words froze me in place, my heart racing to the point of nearly bursting. I stammered in response, “I… I don’t have a partner, Ms. Grace.” My voice was barely above a whisper, my cheeks burning hot.

She looked at me for a moment longer than seemed necessary, her eyes holding something unreadable yet undeniably satisfied. Then, she smiled again—a smile as mysterious as ever.

“Noted,” she said with a soft chuckle before turning and walking back to her office.

I watched her retreating figure until she disappeared behind her office door.

“If Ms. Grace were a man, that comment would’ve sent shivers down my spine,” I thought to myself.

“But since she’s a woman, maybe she didn’t mean anything by it…”

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder. Was it just a friendly compliment, a casual comment between women? Or was there something more hidden in her words? Could it even be possible?

I let out a deep sigh, trying to steady my thoughts.

“What am I even thinking? I’ve got work to do, and here I am, wasting time trying to figure out what my new boss thinks of me. I must be losing my mind.”

..

Then, the Afternoon Meeting Began

“Is everyone ready?” Ms. Grace’s voice was filled with confidence and authority. Her sharp gaze swept across the room, as though she was carefully assessing each person. The room fell silent, all eyes seemingly drawn to her.

Until her piercing eyes stopped on me.

“Pim, you may begin.”

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing before standing up to present the plan. My voice sounded steady at first, but the longer I spoke, the more I became acutely aware of her unrelenting gaze. It wasn’t an ordinary look—it felt as though she was reading my thoughts, as if she knew exactly what I was feeling.

I started to falter, the carefully prepared words catching in my throat.

“…And this is the strategy I believe would be effective for targeting the new customer segment,” I said, advancing to the final slide on the screen. I tried to steady my tone, making it sound as normal as possible. “Are there any additional suggestions?”

Ms. Grace raised her hand slightly, her voice calm but tinged with seriousness. “Your plan is well-structured, but it lacks some critical details, such as risk assessment. If you’re overly optimistic, the project might hit obstacles midway.”

Her words were direct, yet they didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. There was a sense of genuine care in her tone, more like constructive advice than criticism. I nodded and responded firmly.

“Understood. I’ll make the necessary adjustments.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a faint smile at the corner of her lips—a smile that seemed so ordinary yet made me feel as though the entire world had stopped spinning.

When the meeting ended, my colleagues began packing up and leaving the room. I remained seated at the table, slowly gathering my notes and documents, careful not to glance at her as she stayed seated at the head of the table.

My heart was pounding far too hard. I bit my lower lip softly, hoping the small pain might anchor me back to reality. My thoughts, which had started to spiral out of control, were difficult to pull back into focus.

..

Late Night at the Office

Ms. Grace’s feedback during today’s meeting had me working late into the night. The once-bustling office gradually quieted down. The chatter of colleagues faded, leaving only the sound of my typing and the harsh white light illuminating my desk.

The soft sound of footsteps broke the silence, startling me slightly. I looked up, and the figure behind the sound emerged from the shadows. “Ms. Grace.”

She walked toward me, a cup of coffee in her hand, the rich aroma arriving before she did. She placed the cup gently in front of me, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Still not done?” Her voice was calm, yet her gaze seemed to delve deep into me.

I quickly turned my eyes back to the computer screen, trying to steady my racing heart. “No, not yet. I want to make sure the plan is perfect before I submit it to you for review.”

“Have some coffee,” she said, pulling out a chair and sitting down beside me. “It’ll help keep you awake while you work.”

Our eyes met for a moment—a fleeting second that felt longer than it should have. There was a warmth in her gaze that left me breathless.

“Thank you,” I murmured softly.

The silence in the office felt different with her presence. She pulled the chair closer, sitting right next to me, making the world around us feel as though it had shrunk until it was just her and me.

“You know, Pim,” she began, her voice low and soothing, “the first time I had to present a major plan, I failed miserably. They tore my proposal apart.”

I turned to her in surprise.

“Really?”

She nodded, her gaze locking onto mine as if she was sharing something she rarely revealed. “It taught me that failure isn’t the worst thing. What matters most is the courage to try again.”

Her words stirred something inside me, a spark of determination that I hadn’t realized was fading. Before I could respond, she leaned closer, so near that I could feel the warmth radiating from her.

“I want you to know,” she continued, her voice steady yet tender, “that I see potential in you. Don’t let fear hold you back, Pim.”

Her smile appeared again, but this time it was different—so gentle, so genuine that I felt as though she could see right into my heart. The world around us seemed to pause. In that moment, before I could fully process the whirlwind of emotions within me, she leaned in closer.

Before I could react, her lips met mine.

The kiss was both tender and assertive.

The suddenness of it froze me in place, my breath caught in my throat. Yet the warmth of her touch seeped into me, melting away my resistance. It was a delicate balance—a soothing gentleness entwined with an undeniable yearning. It erased everything outside of her.

At first, I instinctively pushed against her shoulder, but the strength of my resistance waned. My arms fell limply to my sides as my body surrendered to the sensation of her lips.

“You’re sweeter than I imagined,” she whispered, her voice lingering close to my ear.

Before I could respond, she kissed me again, this time deeper, more fervent. Her slender fingers traced the outline of my face, a featherlight touch that sent shivers down my spine, before sliding to the nape of my neck. She held me firmly, as though making sure I wouldn’t pull away.

“Ms. Grace…” I breathed, my voice trembling as my lips quivered from her kiss. “There are security cameras in the office…”

She simply smiled, a confident, knowing smile that made my heart race even faster.

“The cameras don’t cover this angle,” she replied smoothly.

Her words left me speechless. Her eyes bore into mine, as though she could read every thought swirling in my head. Her gaze was deep, filled with a desire so intense it left me breathless.

She leaned in closer again, her breath grazing my ear as she whispered softly,

“Let’s go to my car. The windows are heavily tinted—no one will see what we’re doing inside, no matter how close they are.”

..

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