Caleb leaned on his chair, rubbing his temples. He had been working non-stop after lunch, going over a presentation for a major client in Europe. Now, the sun had set, and the soft glow bathed the whole office through the floor to ceiling windows.
Most of the employees left already, but he and a small team were working overtime. He pressed the intercom and stated, "Bailey, order dinner for everyone. We won't be getting home any time soon. I need this report finalized by 8 p.m. Not an hour later."
"Yes, Mr. Reid," Bailey replied on the other line.
Caleb could see Bailey outside his office, her fingers flying over the keyboard. He smiled, thinking she was probably updating the slides and notes he sent her earlier. She had been here since early morning, moving from one task to another with her usual efficiency like a well-oiled robot. He was unsure of how she managed to stay on top of everything.
Even I couldn't keep up with myself, Caleb thought, shaking his head. He appreciated her more than he let on. Perhaps he should give her a raise; after all, she was the reason everything ran smoothly, especially on days when his mind was elsewhere.
An email arrived, and he went back to working. Five minutes later, he joined the team in Bailey's office.
"Bailey, can you adjust the third quarter projections again?" Caleb asked, his voice slightly hoarse from hours of talking. "They don't show the growth we're anticipating after the new acquisition."
Bailey nodded, already making the changes. "I'll have it ready in five minutes."
Caleb looked around, and it became instantly obvious that the team was slowing down. They were showing signs of fatigue on their faces. But Bailey seemed to have endless energy. Her hair was still in place, though a few strands fell around her face.
His hand ached to brush them back, but he stopped himself on time. What's wrong with me? He shook himself, distanced himself from her, and talked to another employee to distract himself.
Just as he was about to return to his laptop, the sound of heels echoed across the marble floor. He looked up, and his heart did a small, familiar flip.
Isabelle.
She came.
Isabell strode toward him, her presence impossible to ignore. If Bailey's was an understated type of beauty, Isabelle was the in your face type of charm.
Her flowing pale pink dress clung to her in all the right places, and she swept her dark hair back into a loose bun. The soft fabric of her dress seemed to shimmer in the low light, and it made her look like she just stepped off the stage. She probably just did.
Time seemed to pause along with everyone else, their eyes following her movements as she walked toward him.
"Caleb," she called out, her voice smooth and sweet as honey, "I thought I'd surprise you."
Caleb met her halfway; parts of his tiredness momentarily forgotten. But their relationship issues popped up in his head. A strained smile graced his lips.
"Isabelle," he greeted her, his tone warm but hiding tension in it. He placed a hand on her waist and kissed her cheek. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I finished rehearsal early," she said, smiling up at him with those large, doe-like eyes. "And I thought, why not stop by and see my handsome boyfriend?" Her voice was soft and playful, and she leaned into him just slightly, her fingers brushing the lapel of his suit jacket.
Hearing the conversation, Bailey's fingers paused on the keyboard, but she resumed typing just as fast. She didn't look up, even though she could feel Isabelle's eyes on her. Her lips pursed.
"And you're working late again, I see," Isabelle added, her gaze flicking to Bailey, then back to Caleb. Her tone remained light, but there was a subtle edge to it. "With your secretary."
Caleb tilted his head, exasperation evident in his eyes. Here we go again. Isabelle and her never-ending jealous saga.
He explained, "And my team of employees. We've got a big presentation in the morning. Just tying some loose ends."
Isabelle pouted slightly. "You work too hard, Caleb. You need to take a break." She glanced over at the team still working diligently at their table. "Surely you can let everyone go home and finish this tomorrow?"
Caleb's expression softened, but he shook his head. "We're almost done here; just a bit more to finish."
Isabelle sighed, though it was a delicate sound, more for effect than actual frustration. "Well, I guess I'll have to wait for you to finish your work." She smiled at him again, but this time her eyes slid back to Bailey, who was still typing away with a perfectly straight posture.
Jealousy flashed in her eyes.
"You don't mind, do you, Bailey?" Isabelle asked, her voice dripping with a sweetness that didn't quite match her expression. "Caleb and I haven't had much time together lately, with him being so busy and all. I'm so thankful that you take care of Caleb meticulously at work."
Isabelle made sure to emphasize work. There was no mistaking that subtle jab wrapped in a layer of politeness. Bailey didn't miss it, but she'd learned long ago how to handle Isabelle's barbs. She kept her gaze on her screen as she replied, her tone neutral. "Of course I don't mind, Ms. Laurent. I'm just doing what Mr. Reid is paying me: my job."
"Good!" Isabelle smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Because Caleb and I need some alone time."
Bailey stiffened, nodded at her, and resumed working quickly.
Isabelle moved toward her table, towering over her. She whispered sweetly, bending down so only she could hear, "It's kind of you Bailey to take care of my boyfriend. I'm glad you know your place."
Their eyes clashed for a second, and Bailey had some choice words to say. But she stopped herself. What was the point of arguing with her boss' girlfriend?
She forced herself to stay focused on her work even if she felt Isabelle's gaze lingering on her like some snake crawling over her skin. Bailey really had this nagging feeling about her, but she attributed it to her personal feelings. It wasn't her business to feel this way, though, so she always reprimanded herself.
Bailey forced herself to adjust to Isabelle's presence in Caleb's life. Isabelle was everything Bailey would never be: glamorous, graceful, and always the center of attention. As a ballerina, the spotlight was always on her.
But what people didn't see was the side of Isabelle that Bailey knew like the back of her hand. The side that popped its head when Caleb wasn't looking.
Isabelle always reminded Bailey of her place when Caleb wasn't paying attention.
That Caleb Reid belonged to Isabelle Laurent.
Bailey sighed as she pressed on the mouse with a bit more force. Isabelle was getting to her, and she couldn't allow this. Bailey excused herself, stating she needed to go to the comfort room.
Isabelle followed Bailey with her eyes, a subtle smirk gracing her lips. Go on, you little rat. Do you think I don't know? Isabelle thought.
"Isa..." Caleb called out.
"Caleb," Isabelle replied, her voice softening as she turned to him. "I was thinking, after you finish here, we can go and grab a late dinner? You and me."
Caleb glanced at his watch. He still had work to finish, but they needed to talk. He couldn't remember the last time they'd had dinner together without some kind of interruption.
Maybe it wasn't too late for them.
"Sure," he said, offering her a small smile. "We can do that."
Isabelle beamed, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm. "Perfect."
When Bailey came back, she witnessed the two acting like lovebirds. It felt like a knife was stuck in her chest. She tried to get used to the feeling for a while now, but it never faded away. It was a constant pang twisting inside her.
Fortunately, Bailey's phone buzzed on her desk, and it got her attention. With a slightly shaky hand, she opened the email. It was a message from one of the team members in Legal, confirming that the final contracts were ready for review.
She took a deep breath, cleaned the non-existent dirt on her coat, and turned to Caleb with a professional smile.
"Mr. Reid," Bailey interrupted them, walking over while holding out the tablet for him to see. "The contracts have been finalized. I'll send them over for your approval now."
Caleb's attention shifted back to work. He gave the tablet a once-over. "Okay. Make sure everything's in order before you send them."
Bailey nodded and quickly returned to her table, but not before she caught the look Isabelle gave her. It wasn't an overly hostile look; Isabelle was too careful not to damage her reputation, but the glint in her eyes made Bailey's stomach tighten.
"Always so efficient, aren't you, Bailey?" Isabelle commented, her voice light but laced with something else.
Bailey smiled politely, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Just doing my job, Ms. Laurent."
"Yes, well," Isabelle agreed, then started massaging his back, adding, "You should really give her a break, Caleb. She works so hard for you."
Caleb didn't notice the tension in Isabelle's voice as he let out a relaxed sigh. Still, his focus was on the screen in front of him as he reviewed the papers. "Bailey's the best at what she does," he said absentmindedly, his fingers tapping against the keyboard. "I trust her with everything."
Isabelle's smile tightened, though she quickly covered it with that sickly, sweet voice of hers. "Of course you do. But maybe she should take a step back sometimes. After all, you wouldn't want her to burn out, would you?"
Bailey pretended not to hear the conversation. This was just one of Isabelle's games, as she wanted her out of Caleb's life. Isabelle always treated her like a competitor in Caleb's life. She didn't get why Isabelle felt this way.
Bailey firmly believed that Caleb would never look at her the way he gazed at Isabelle.
Like she hung the moon, a voice whispered in Bailey's heart, and it sent an ache to her whole being.
Caleb was oblivious to it all, of course. He saw Isabelle as the sweet, supportive girlfriend and Bailey as the efficient, reliable assistant. He didn't see the way Isabelle's eyes narrowed whenever Bailey was around or how Bailey looked at him when her professional mask slipped.
But Bailey saw the real Isabelle. And Isabelle knew what Bailey was hiding behind the mask.
Caleb stood up, stretching slightly as he finished the final touches to the presentation. "That should do it," he said, glancing at Bailey. "Make sure the team gets some rest before tomorrow. We'll need everyone sharp for the meeting."
"Will do," Bailey replied, gathering her things.
Isabelle stepped closer to Caleb, wrapping her arms around his. "So, dinner?"
Caleb smiled down at her, his earlier tension easing. "Yeah, let's go."
As they headed toward the elevator, Isabelle glanced back at Bailey, her expression unreadable. But there was a clear message: Stay in your place.
Bailey watched them disappear into the elevator, her heart pounding in her chest.
For the five years she worked for Caleb, she had become indispensable to him. She knew his schedule better than he did, kept his life in order, and made sure everything ran smoothly.
Her life revolved around her family and Caleb. But it wasn't the same for him. She doubted if she was even a part of his world.
This is her life.
Reality was a really hard pill to swallow.