Alexandr was a young man in his early twenties, fresh out of university, full of ambition, and eager to make his mark. His academic background and a stroke of luck landed him a position in the administrative department of a well-known institution.

This department wasn't particularly large—just five people in total: three men and two women. Yet, despite its small size, it operated with the utmost formality, largely due to the woman in charge: Director White.

The director's name was Asha, but no one dared address her so informally. She was, after all, the deputy director. The old director had been ailing for years, and with no early retirement policy in place, the bulk of the department's management fell on her capable shoulders.

Though only the deputy, she effectively ran the show. Everyone, from Alex to the other men in the office, treated her with the utmost respect, always addressing her as "Director White" and always careful not to offend her.

Director White was a woman of stature in more ways than one. Standing at an impressive 1.68 meters, she had the kind of height more commonly associated with northern women, yet she hailed from the south, a region renowned for producing delicate, soft-spoken beauties. Director White, however, wasn't delicate. Her tall, statuesque figure and commanding presence set her apart from the more demure southern women Alex had heard about. She had the natural elegance of a southern beauty, yes, but it was paired with an aloofness and distance that kept everyone at bay.

Her elegance was undeniable—silky black hair often swept back into a neat bun, flawless skin, and an always perfectly tailored suit, usually in shades of deep blue or charcoal, which contrasted beautifully with her fair complexion. Alex had once overheard a colleague say that her husband, a man with significant influence, preferred she maintain this polished image, and she certainly did.

Rumors floated around the department about her husband. It was said that he held an important position in the government, which explained why Director White carried herself with such superiority. She didn't engage in idle chat with her subordinates, and she rarely, if ever, joked. This created an invisible barrier between her and her staff. Even Jane, the other woman in the department, felt intimidated by her. Jane would often whisper about her strict demeanor, but even she wouldn't dare say anything to White's face.

Among the three men in the office, Alex was the youngest and the only one still unmarried. The others, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Frederick, were both in their mid-thirties, settled with wives and children.

They'd often give Alex a knowing smile when he told them about his life in his single-person apartment, a temporary housing unit provided by the office. Despite being the youngest, Alex was quite popular in the office. His colleagues affectionately called him "Sisyphus" because of his diligent, almost never-ending efforts to keep the place running smoothly.

Alex didn't mind the nickname—it made him feel like he belonged. After all, he was responsible for keeping the office tidy and fetching water for everyone.

The director's office was a private room at the far end of the corridor, a stark contrast to the shared space where the rest of the staff worked. It was a place of mystery, and only those summoned by the director had the privilege of entering.

Alex, however, had a unique role in this regard. Since he was responsible for fetching water for everyone, he had permission to enter her office, but even then, strict rules applied. He had to knock politely, wait for her approval, and never linger. Any failure to adhere to this protocol would result in a sharp reprimand from Director White herself.

This routine had gone on for months, and Alex had grown used to the monotony. One day, as he was delivering water to Director White, he accidentally bumped into the coffee table in her office, causing a loud noise that reverberated through the room. The noise startled Director White, who had been quietly reading a document.

"How can someone young like you be so clumsy?" she said, her tone cold but with an edge of surprise.

Alex flushed with embarrassment. He had peeked at her personnel file once and knew that she was 38 years old—fifteen years his senior. To her, he was still a young man, though he hardly thought of himself that way. At 23, he considered himself an adult, fully capable of handling responsibility, but here he was, making such a silly mistake in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Director," he stammered. "I didn't mean to scare you."

She waved her hand dismissively, her sharp eyes returning to her papers. "Be more careful in the future. You usually do a good job, but this kind of clumsiness is unsettling."

Though her words were critical, Alex couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. This was the first time she had ever commented on his performance. It was almost like praise, though wrapped in the guise of a scolding. He hurriedly nodded, his face still red with embarrassment.

"I promise, Director, I'll be more careful," he said earnestly, then quickly added, "I'll do my best to serve you well."

To his surprise, Director White laughed. It wasn't a full laugh, but a soft chuckle, as if she found his earnestness amusing. Alex blinked in surprise. He had never heard her laugh before, and for a moment, he wondered if he had imagined it. How could someone as high-ranking and dignified as Director White find him amusing?

With a quick bow of his head, he left the office, his mind spinning. As he returned to his desk, he couldn't stop thinking about the brief encounter. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Mr. Lawrence approaching.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost," Lawrence said with a chuckle.

Alex blinked, then smiled sheepishly. "I kind of did. I knocked over something in Director White's office and got scolded."

Lawrence raised an eyebrow. "You're lucky that's all you got. She's been in a foul mood lately."

Alex frowned. "Really? She seemed normal enough to me."

Lawrence leaned in, lowering his voice. "Her husband was sent abroad for six months. She's not happy about it."

"Oh?" Alex said, genuinely surprised. "Isn't going abroad a good thing? It sounds exciting."

Lawrence shook his head. "Not for them. At their level, they just want stability and comfort. They don't want to keep traveling or dealing with new responsibilities. She was hoping for a promotion for him, not a reassignment."

Alex nodded thoughtfully. It made sense, in a way. He had always thought that people in power were always striving for more, but perhaps, at some point, they just wanted to settle down.

After that conversation, Alex became even more cautious around Director White. He took extra care when delivering water to her office, always making sure to knock gently and move carefully. But despite his efforts, Director White remained as distant and formal as ever. Her cold demeanor never wavered, and the staff continued to regard her with a mixture of respect and fear.

The following three months were uneventful, marked by the usual routines of office work, minor gossip, and Director White's stoic presence. She continued to hold the department together with an iron grip, her authority unquestioned.