The workday finally wound to a close, and Lena felt a mixture of relief and exhaustion. The constant scrutiny from her colleagues had drained her, but there was a small part of her that had held onto her resolve, proving to herself that she could withstand it. She had survived the day without letting them break her, and now it was time to go home, take a breath, and recharge.
She packed up her things, stuffing her notebook, pens, and computer charger into her bag. As she zipped it closed, she stole a glance around her desk. It was a little piece of territory she had claimed for herself, even if no one else seemed to acknowledge it. She would be back tomorrow, ready to tackle whatever came next.
Lena stood up from her chair and stretched, feeling the tightness in her shoulders. She was about to head toward the elevators when her mind wandered briefly to the man she had seen earlier. The one who had caught her in the hallway when she had almost tripped. The same man who had crossed her path in the supermarket, at the gym, and again this morning in the reception area. The odd thing was, she hadn't thought much about it until now. But now that the day was over, her mind couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something about his constant appearances didn't feel quite right.
She took the elevator down to the lobby, the hum of the cables and the soft ding of the floors filling the silence. The doors slid open, and she stepped inside, ready to put the workday behind her.
But then she froze.
Standing in the elevator was none other than the man—the same one who had caught her at school, at the gym, and in the supermarket. He was dressed in a sleek suit, looking polished and professional, just like every time she had seen him before. His features were sharp, his jawline well-defined, and his eyes—dark, piercing—met hers as the doors closed behind them.
Lena's stomach did a small flip. A small knot formed in her chest. What was he doing here? She had never seen him at the office before. Was he following her? She couldn't shake the creeping feeling that something was off. She tried to ignore the rising tension in her body, but her mind couldn't help but spiral. Was he stalking her? How had he ended up in the elevator with her again? She wasn't sure, but something about it made her uneasy.
The elevator ride was eerily quiet. Neither of them said a word as they descended toward the lobby. The silence felt thick, suffocating even. Lena's thoughts raced, but she forced herself to breathe, trying to focus on something else to calm her nerves. Maybe it was just a coincidence, right? He could work in the building, maybe even on a different floor. She tried to rationalize it.
When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, the doors slid open with a soft chime. The man stepped forward, but before he could exit, Lena found herself taking a deep breath and stepping toward him.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice unsteady but firm. "Are you stalking me?"
The question slipped out before she could stop it. It was bold, maybe even a little reckless, but the uncertainty gnawed at her, and she needed to know if her suspicions were correct.
The man paused, an eyebrow rising slightly as he turned to face her. A small, knowing smirk played on his lips. He glanced her up and down, his gaze sweeping slowly from her face to her shoes, lingering just long enough for her to feel a faint blush creep up her neck.
Lena felt a twinge of embarrassment, but she held her ground. His look made her feel small, like she was somehow being measured and dismissed all at once. His silence spoke volumes, but he didn't say a word in response.
His smirk remained, and after a long beat, he turned to step out of the elevator without another glance at her. As he passed her, Lena's heart thudded in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn't quite believe what had just happened.
The man was leaving, walking away without acknowledging her further, without answering her question. But in that moment, she felt a chill run down her spine. He didn't have to say anything for his silence to feel like an answer. That smirk, that casual dismissal—she couldn't shake the feeling that it was intentional. That he had somehow made her feel insignificant.
She stood there for a moment, stunned, still processing what had just happened. The doors to the elevator slid shut behind her, and the hum of the machinery filled the space once more. Lena was left standing in the lobby, her heart still pounding, her mind racing.
Was he following her? Or was it just a series of strange coincidences?
The questions lingered, unanswered. The unease stayed with her as she exited the building, her footsteps echoing on the pavement. She didn't know what to make of the encounter, but she knew one thing for sure—she didn't want to cross paths with him again.
Lena's thoughts were jumbled as she made her way to her car. The whole day had been strange, filled with awkward glances, cruel comments, and now this unsettling interaction. She felt off balance, unsure of what the future held or what she could expect from the people around her.
But one thing was clear—she couldn't let this man or anyone else make her feel afraid. She was stronger than that. She had made it through the day despite everything, and she would keep moving forward, no matter what.
But still, a small part of her wondered: who was this man, really? And why did it feel like he was always just a step behind her?