As I prepared for work, my mind kept drifting back to that dream. It felt so real, lingering like a shadow in the corners of my thoughts. Shaking it off, I focused on today's agenda. I opened my wardrobe, selected a flowing white short dress, slipped on matching shoes, grabbed my glasses, and stepped out of the house.

I had resolved to ask Dad to send Christi over. At least I would have someone to talk to. Living alone was growing increasingly dull. As I drove away, I muttered to myself, "It's so boring living alone."

“Good morning, Ma!” Blessing greeted me as she walked alongside me to my office.

“Morning,” I replied, appreciating her bright energy. The preparations for the product launch had everyone buzzing with activity. I opened my office door and was surprised to find Mike sitting there, waiting for me.

“Good morning, Mr. Mike! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Oh, I just wanted to surprise you,” he said with a smile that made me uneasy. Why was he here so early? Shouldn't he be in his own office?

“I know what you're thinking but I came so we could have breakfast together,” he said, not ready to take no for an answer.

“Mr. Mike, it's too early for that,” I replied, trying to maintain a professional distance.

“Okay, how about dinner instead?” he suggested.

I could see he wasn't giving up easily. “Alright, dinner then.”

“Great! I'll have my driver pick you up at 5 PM,” he said, standing up with a triumphant grin. “See you later, princess.”

I rolled my eyes as he left my office. Blessing remained by the door, and I turned to her, a frown forming on my face. “How did he get into my office?”

“Sorry, Ma. He said if I didn't let him in, he would make sure I lost my job and report me to you,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Blessing, this is an office—my office! It's not just any office; it's the CEO's office! You can't allow anyone to just walk in, especially if they could be an intruder. What if he had seen something confidential?” I said, frustration bubbling to the surface.

“I'm sorry, Ma,” she repeated.

“Just leave,” I said, calming myself. I sat down to sort through the documents on my desk. Nothing seemed missing but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Mike had touched some of my files.

I picked up the phone and called Jude's extension. “See me in my office,” I instructed.

He walked in shortly after, bowing slightly. “Good morning, Ma.”

“Jude, I came across a file meant for our Mexico partners, and the documents I received to sign didn't match what Blessing brought in yesterday. Your file shows 5,000 bottles of oil, but that's not what was delivered. Can you explain?”

I had noticed discrepancies in various documents, especially financial ones. Initially, I had brushed them off as simple mistakes, but this particular issue was too glaring to ignore.

“Some of the goods were sent back by our partners,” he explained.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I asked, staring at him intently.

“I didn't want to bother you over small issues,” he replied, looking down.

I didn't fully believe him, but I needed more evidence before jumping to conclusions. “Tell the heads of every department to meet me tomorrow for a meeting,” I instructed, handing him the file. “And send this to HR.”

“Okay, Ma,” he responded before leaving.

The day went by in a blur of meetings and discussions. Securing a contract with Trivia Company had sparked interest from other businesses, and I had no idea how the news had spread so quickly, but I wasn't surprised. Trivia was a reputable company.

Time flew, and soon it was 5 PM. Blessing notified me that Mike was waiting outside. I checked myself in the mirror one last time, trying to convince myself that it was just a harmless dinner. I stepped out to meet Mike, who had changed into a casual white T-shirt that looked good on him. He opened the car door for me, and I climbed in, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Having left this town for a while, I was unfamiliar with many places. As he drove, I gazed out the window, lost in thought, until we arrived at a stunning five-story hotel. Its elegant architecture hinted at luxury, and the interior dazzled with gold accents and exquisite decor.

As we walked through the halls, I realized this dinner was far more extravagant than I had anticipated. A beautifully set table for two awaited us in a private dining area. The ambiance was enchanting, but I felt out of place.

After we settled in and began to eat, Mike asked, “So, Maya, tell me about yourself.”

“There's not much to say, really. Just an only child,” I replied, feeling the weight of the conversation.

He smiled and started sharing stories about himself, his company, and friends. I nodded politely, but discomfort gnawed at me. I wanted to leave but felt tethered by my own commitment to this dinner.

A waiter approached to serve us drinks. He seemed familiar but I couldn't place him until he accidentally spilled a drink on my dress while serving me.

“I'm so sorry, ma'am!” he exclaimed, bowing his head in apology.

I looked down at my ruined dress, shocked. “Don't you know how to do your job properly?” Mike snapped, his face darkening with anger.

“It's just a mistake,” I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension.

“Please, show me to the restroom,” I said, eager to escape. I quickly stood and walked ahead, with the waiter rushing to lead me.

Once inside the restroom, I turned to the waiter and confronted him. “What was that all about?”

He removed his cap, revealing a face that sent a rush of recognition through me. “Saving you again,” he said with a grin.

“Alexander! What are you doing here?” I asked, a smile breaking through my irritation.

“I work here now. I noticed you were uncomfortable, so I thought I'd help out in my own way,” he explained.

I was annoyed about my dress but he was right: at least I wasn't stuck listening to Mike's endless stories. “Thanks for helping but be careful. You might lose your job trying to help someone,” I warned him.

“It's nothing,” he replied, his smile disarming.

I caught myself staring into his eyes, captivated by the spark in them. “Are you done checking me out?” he teased, breaking the moment.

I blushed, finally shaking off the tension. “Gosh, cut it out,” I retorted, heading to the female restroom to wash up.

When I returned to the dinner hall, I found Mike was nowhere to be seen. I asked a waitress,who approached me, looking apologetic. "I'm so sorry, ma'am but Mr. Mike had to leave suddenly. He said he had an emergency to attend to."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling annoyed. "He didn't even bother to say goodbye?" I asked.

The waitress shook her head. "No, ma'am. He just left in a hurry."

I sighed, feeling frustrated. Mike had brought me all the way here and now he had just abandoned me.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Mike. "Sorry for leaving suddenly,I had an emergency to attend to.I've booked a cab to take you home."

I rolled my eyes, feeling annoyed. "Great," I muttered to myself. "Just great."

Sighing softly, I stepped outside the hotel, waiting for the cab, my mind swirling with thoughts of the evening .