"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Schneider!" Laura quickly stood up and bowed to her boss. "I didn't know you were there!"
Matthew took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "What the hell were you doing, you idiot?!"
Laura trembled at the intensity of her boss's voice. In her seven months of working, she had never seen the CEO raise his voice or curse at her.
"I-I'm sorry," she bit her lower lip and looked down. "I just wanted to decorate your office because Christmas is near."
Matthew ran his hand through his hair. "Who gave you the right to do this, Laura?"
His voice softened, but there was an underlying menace. Laura felt tears welling up, but she bit her lips even harder, drawing blood to hold them back. Slowly, she gathered the decorations she had bought and placed them in a plastic bag. From the corner of her eye, she saw Matthew turn to face the glass wall.
Once she had everything packed, Laura faced the CEO, who still had his back turned, and offered her apologies while bowing. When she was out of Mr. Schneider's sight, Laura let the tears flow.
Matthew took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. It was supposed to be an ordinary Saturday until he entered his office and saw his secretary on a stool. Laura's shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing a glimpse of her milky waist, and her skintight black pants showcased her perfectly sculpted backside.
And then it happened. Just thinking about it was enough to make him blush with embarrassment. How could he get aroused in that situation? He chided himself for his lack of control.
"You just embarrassed yourself in front of your secretary," he muttered to himself.
Worse yet, Matthew had directed his frustrations at his innocent secretary. He couldn't shake the memory of Laura falling from the stool. If he hadn't acted quickly, she could have ended up in the hospital with broken bones.
He could vividly recall the image of Laura's glassy eyes and how she nervously bit her lower lip when he raised his voice at her. Immediately, he reached for the intercom and dialed the guard's number, his voice filled with urgency, "Mr. Brown! Please ensure that Laura doesn't leave the building. I'm heading down now to meet her."
Upon receiving a quick "okay, boss," from Mr. Brown, Matthew pressed the elevator button labeled G and began mentally rehearsing his apologies. A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened, revealing a puzzled Laura engaged in conversation with the guard. Her eyes appeared slightly red, and a pang of guilt washed over Matthew.
With determined strides, he took hold of Laura's arm and expressed his gratitude to the elderly guard. Gently guiding his secretary towards the elevator, Matthew pressed the button for the 44th floor once again.
An uncomfortable silence settled between them as they stood inside the elevator.
Laura avoided making eye contact, fixating instead on her feet while fiddling with the plastic bag containing Christmas decorations. Matthew's guilt intensified. Here she was, simply trying to decorate his office, while he, the ungrateful one, had hurled insults at her.
Matthew cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Laura?"
Startled, Laura raised her head but still avoided meeting the CEO's gaze. Her voice trembled as she responded, "Y-yes, Mr. Schneider?"
"Laura," Matthew spoke firmly, attempting to establish a connection with her. "Look at me."
Reluctantly, Laura met his gaze, her eyes filled with apprehension. Matthew let out a sigh, realizing the weight of his actions. This is your fault, idiot, he scolded himself mentally.
Gently, the CEO held Laura's chin, lifting it slightly to maintain eye contact. "Never keep your head down for anyone," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Laura nodded silently, her eyes still averted from Matthew's.
Once again, silence enveloped them, the tension hanging heavy in the air.
"I'm sorry," Matthew finally spoke up after a while, hoping to break the ice. His words caught Laura's attention, her gaze flickering towards him.
"I apologize, Laura. It wasn't your fault," the CEO said sincerely. "I was under a lot of stress, and unfortunately, I took it out on you."
Laura started to speak but hesitated, unsure of what to say.
"Furthermore, I was genuinely worried when I saw you falling off the stool. It was quite a height, and you could have been seriously injured... I'm also sorry for making you uncomfortable earlier."
Matthew noticed a gentle blush spreading across Laura's cheeks.
Ding!
They arrived at their floor, yet his secretary remained silent. Matthew decided to step ahead, understanding that Laura might need some space. As he approached the door to his main office, he felt a slight tug on his sleeve.
"Mr. Schneider?"
He swore no one could resist Laura's puppy eyes.
"I forgive you, but on one condition," the secretary hesitated.
"What is it?" Matthew inquired.
"Will you decorate with me?" Laura smiled, lifting a plastic bag filled with Christmas decorations. "Apparently, I'm not too short to reach the office ceiling."
Matthew had never imagined that decorating could be so exhausting. His petite secretary turned out to be a perfectionist, wanting every detail in its proper place. As a result, Matthew found himself taking down and re-hanging some of the decorations. Despite Laura's offer to hang the decorations herself because he looked tired, Matthew vehemently disagreed. He instructed her to stay on the ground and guide him through the process. It took them nearly two hours to finish decorating both the lounge and the main office.
The theme was navy blue and silver, selected by Laura with impeccable taste. The decorations were beautiful but not overly flashy, as they didn't want them to disrupt their work environment. With just a few materials, they managed to transform Matthew's dull office into a space with a cool tone and a warm ambiance. Matthew couldn't help but smile. It had been a long time since he had actively participated in decorating for Christmas, and despite the fatigue, he found it incredibly enjoyable.
Currently, Matthew lay on the lounge couch while Laura rummaged through a plastic bag, the rustling sound soothing him into a drowsy state. Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he felt a gentle poke on his right cheek.
Matthew opened his eyes and found Laura's face inches away from his, wearing a warm smile that illuminated her eyes. "Mr. Schneider?"
Sitting up, Matthew replied, "Yes?"
Laura extended a small candy cane towards him. "Here. It's a thank you gift for you."
Puzzled, Matthew accepted the candy cane. "What's this for?"
"It's my way of expressing gratitude," Laura explained.
Matthew smiled gratefully at his secretary. "You didn't have to go through the trouble. I'm sorry for making you cry earlier."
Laura's face crinkled with concern. "But you helped me with the decorations."
"Yes, I did," Matthew acknowledged. "But today, I shouted at you and called you an idiot."
Laura paused for a moment, absorbing his words. Then she spoke up. "You apologized, and that meant a lot to me. It was more than enough."
In that instant, Matthew's heart melted at her understanding. "Do you have your car with you, Laura?" he asked, realizing it was getting dark and she needed a ride home.
Shaking her head, Laura replied, "No, it's still at the repair shop. I'm scheduled to pick it up next week."
"Let me give you a ride home, then."
"Oh, no, no," Laura insisted, her voice filled with concern. "I've already troubled you enough with the decorations, Mr. Schneider. Besides, you look exhausted. I can manage to get home on my own."
Matthew wouldn't take no for an answer. He felt remorseful about raising his voice at Laura earlier. "You know I can't let you go alone. And I insist on taking you home."
"Okay," Laura finally relented, realizing he was genuinely concerned for her well-being.
Matthew burst into the mansion that Saturday night, catching his mother off guard. "Matthew!" Mrs. Schneider exclaimed, rising from her seat. "Is something wrong? Why are you here all of a sudden?"
Matthew nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "Why? Don't you want me here, Mom?"
Mrs. Schneider cooed affectionately, attempting to hide her surprise. "Of course, you're always welcome here. I'm just curious about the unexpected visit."
"I've been doing some thinking, Mother," Matthew confessed.
"Thinking about what?" his mother inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"About starting a family."
Mrs. Schneider couldn't contain her gasp of astonishment. "Oh my god! Pinch me, I must be dreaming."
"Mom," Matthew sighed, rolling his eyes. "I'm serious. I'm considering having a child."
His mother showered him with kisses. "Who's the lucky girl?"
"That's a secret," Matthew replied with a mischievous smile.
Later that night, as Matthew prepared to sleep, he held the note that was attached to Laura's candy cane. It bore his secretary's elegant handwriting, unmistakably.
Mr. Schneider, you're now my lifesaver too.
Thank you for rescuing me from a nasty fall.
Laura Jones