I arrived at the office early, eager to dive into my new role. Ven had told me that today would be the first full day of working closely with Draven, the CEO, and I was more than ready to prove myself. The sleek, modern design of the office and its panoramic views of the city should have calmed me, but something felt off. The office was too quiet, and neither Ven nor Draven was anywhere in sight.
I hovered near the doorway, unsure of what to do. Was I supposed to wait for Ven to introduce me to Draven? Or was I expected to just get started? I was used to Ven's laid-back demeanor, but this new role felt more formal, more high-stakes. I shot a glance at Draven's empty desk, feeling a little lost.
A quick check of my phone showed no messages from Ven. Maybe he was running late? I dialed his extension, but it went straight to voicemail. "Hey, Ven. It's Seren. I'm here at the office, but it looks like you and Draven aren't around yet. Let me know if there's anything I should get started on before you arrive. Thanks."
As I ended the call, I felt a bit uneasy. Where was everybody?
Trying to shake off the nerves, I left Draven's office and made my way down the hall to my own desk. On the way, I passed Rebecca, one of the assistants, who looked up from her computer and smiled at me.
"Morning, Seren," she greeted warmly. "You looking for Ven?"
"Yeah," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. "I was supposed to meet Draven today for the first time. I'm a little thrown off since neither of them are here yet."
Rebecca gave a knowing smile. "Ven tends to run late sometimes, but don't worry. He'll show up eventually. Draven, though? He's a bit more of a mystery. He comes and goes when it suits him."
I nodded, trying to stay casual. "Right. Guess I'll just get started on my own then."
"Good idea. If you need anything, just ask. Ven's really hands-on once he's around. And Draven, well, if you see him, you'll know. He's got this way of making an impression."
I thanked her and continued on to my desk, trying to calm the swirl of thoughts in my head. I had been preparing for this new role under Ven's mentorship, but the idea of working directly with the elusive CEO was both exciting and intimidating. Draven's reputation preceded him, even though no one ever seemed to see him.
As I sat down and started unpacking my things, my phone buzzed. It was an email from Ven:
"Sorry for the delay, Seren. Got caught up in a last-minute meeting. I'll be in soon. In the meantime, review the attached docs and prep a summary for when Draven's free. Thanks for holding down the fort!"
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. At least Ven was still in the loop, even if he wasn't physically here. I opened the attachments and got to work, immersing myself in the tasks he'd outlined.
Hours passed, and I barely noticed the time flying by. Just as I was wrapping up my notes on the documents, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up, half-expecting it to be Ven. But to my surprise, there he was—looking just as sharp and confident as ever.
"Hey, Seren," Ven greeted with his easy smile. "Sorry I'm late. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, all good," I replied, trying not to sound as relieved as I felt. "I went through the documents you sent. I've prepared a summary."
"Perfect," Ven said, taking a seat at the desk beside me. "Draven's still in meetings, but I'll go over your summary and make sure everything's in order before we present it to him."
I blinked, a little thrown off. "Draven's not here?"
Ven shook his head. "Nope. He's a busy guy, always on the move. But don't worry, you'll get your chance to meet him soon. In the meantime, it's you and me."
I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. Ven always had this way of making things seem less daunting. He skimmed through my summary, nodding in approval.
"You're doing great, Seren," he said, glancing up at me. "This is solid work. Draven's going to be impressed when he finally gets around to reading it."
I chuckled, feeling a little lighter. "Thanks, Ven. I just want to make a good impression when I finally meet him."
"You will," Ven said with a wink. "Trust me. But remember, he's not some untouchable guy. He's just a person—like you or me."
As the day continued, Ven and I worked closely on a few more projects, with him offering guidance and feedback on the various tasks I was assigned. Every now and then, he'd mention Draven, but the CEO remained an elusive figure, almost like a ghost who ran the company from the shadows.
By the time the workday ended, I still hadn't laid eyes on the mysterious Draven, but my confidence had grown. Ven was proving to be a great mentor, and despite the uncertainty surrounding the CEO, I felt ready to face whatever came next.
As I packed up to leave, Ven clapped me on the shoulder. "Good job today, Seren. I'll let you know when Draven's available. In the meantime, just keep doing what you're doing."
"Will do," I said, smiling. "Thanks, Ven. I really appreciate all the help."
He gave me a thumbs-up before heading out of the office, leaving me with one final thought: I was ready to meet Draven—whenever he decided to show up.