It was a beautiful Monday morning, and for once, I made it to the office fifteen minutes early. I took my time in the quiet pantry, savoring the rare peace before the storm of emails and phone calls hit.
The hum of the coffee machine was oddly comforting as I poured myself a cup, watching the steam curl upwards. I wasn't exactly a morning person, but today felt different. Maybe it was the peace. Or maybe it was because I actually had a moment to breathe.
Ring, ring.
My phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was Chloe, our receptionist—and my closest friend since college.
"Hey, Jen! You in the office yet?" she asked, breathless.
"Yeah, why?" I cradled the phone between my shoulder and ear, stirring my coffee absently.
"I'm stuck in traffic. The new COO is coming in today—could you help me out? Just until I get there?"
"Sure, no problem. I'll take care of it." I said without thinking, already picturing myself managing whatever chaos Chloe usually had to deal with.
"Thanks, you're the best! I'll be there as soon as I can!" Chloe hung up abruptly.
I stood there, blinking at the phone. Had I just agreed to something I shouldn't have?
Taking a slow sip of my coffee, I let the warmth fill me for a moment before stepping out of the pantry. As I walked to the second-floor lobby, I glanced toward the entrance.
Someone was standing by the door, almost as if they were studying the decorations on the wall. I froze for a second, and an inexplicable electric sensation ran through me. The figure felt… familiar, though I couldn't place why. Either way, my curiosity kicked in.
I set my coffee down on the nearest table in the waiting area and walked quickly toward the elevator. My shoes clicked sharply on the polished floor, the sound amplifying the quickening beat of my heart.
"Hi, how can I help you?" I called as I approached.
The figure turned, and I finally got a clear look. For a split second, our eyes met, and I felt a shock of recognition, though I couldn't place it.
"Hi, I'm Elly Stefano. And you are?" The voice was calm, pleasant, with just a hint of amusement.
"I'm Jen," I replied, offering my hand a little too quickly. "Chloe, our receptionist was supposed to be here, but she's stuck in traffic. I'm the Finance Manager, but... well, today, I'm filling in for her."
Elly gave me a sheepish smile, clearly embarrassed by the mix-up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"No, no, it's fine," I interrupted, my voice soft. I was trying to calm myself, but I couldn't quite shake the strange sense of déjà vu I felt.
Elly then broke the tension, attempting to ease the awkwardness. "Honestly, I thought I'd taken a wrong turn. Chloe was right about the traffic, so I jumped on the metro. Didn't want to risk it."
I laughed softly and the tension melted a little. "I get that," I said, feeling more at ease.
We walked together toward the lobby, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. The silence between us stretched longer than I expected, and despite myself, I found my eyes drifting toward Elly, wondering what was going on behind that confident smile.
"Well, Elly, this is your office," I said, gesturing toward the door. "Would you like some coffee, tea, or juice? We've got the basics here."
"I'm good, actually," Elly replied, pulling a flask from the bag. "Brought my own coffee. Can't start the day without it."
"Fair enough," I smiled, already backing away. "Well, if you need anything, my office is just around the corner."
As Elly stepped into the office, the strangest sensation washed over me. It wasn't exactly déjà vu—more like a deep, nagging feeling that I should know, but... something had shifted.
I stood there in the hallway for a moment, the air thick with a tension I couldn't explain. There was a familiarity there, yes, but it felt distant, almost as if I were seeing Elly through a fog.
It was lunch time, and Jen was standing in the cafeteria line, eyes scanning the food options when Chloe suddenly rushed up beside her, nearly bumping into the tray in front of her.
"How was it, Jen?" Chloe asked, her voice light with curiosity.
Jen glanced over, trying to sound casual. "Elly's back, Chloe"
Chloe blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what? But I thought they hired a new COO?"
Jen sighed, still processing. "Yeah… That's what I thought too."
Chloe then asked, "So, did you tell Elly that you know each other before?"
Jen immediately dropped her voice and glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Hey, we can't talk about that! I don't want people to think I'm using that to get ahead or something. Let's keep that between us."
She paused for a moment and then, with a sly grin, added, "For now, let's just call Elly... Paellero."
Chloe burst out laughing, drawing a few stares from nearby tables. Jen rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile.
"Why Paellero?" Chloe grinned.
Jen leaned in a little, lowering her voice, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Let's just say… there's never been a paella left untouched when Elly's around."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, still grinning. "Oh, this I gotta hear."
Jen shook her head. "Maybe later. For now, just go with it."
Chloe smirked but didn't push. "Alright, alright. Paellero it is."
But as Jen and Chloe grabbed their trays and moved to a table, Elly entered the cafeteria. Immediately, all eyes shifted toward Elly. There was something magnetic about the way Elly moved, a quiet command that seemed to claim the space around. The same presence that had unsettled Jen earlier was now on full display. Elly didn't just fill the room; Elly seemed to own it. The effortless confidence radiated from every step.
Chloe, ever the observant one, noticed Jen's gaze lingering on Elly and smirked. "Careful, Jen. Paellero might melt under that look."
Jen snapped back to the moment, rolling her eyes. "Stop it, Chloe."
Chloe wasn't done, of course. She leaned in closer, voice dropping conspiratorially. "Joking aside, Jen, I like Elly's new look. There's this undeniable presence now. I mean, looking at that body, it's like Elly either spends hours at the gym or has some intense sports obsession."
Chloe continued to eye Elly from across the cafeteria. "But wait—looks like a snake's trying to slither her way into Paellero's circle."
Jen followed Chloe's gaze and spotted Nicole, their colleague who always seemed to be looking for an opportunity, leaning in just a little too close to Elly. Her voice was too sweet, her laughter too fake. Jen watched as Nicole's hand brushed against Elly's arm just a little too casually.
Jen's stomach churned, though she tried to shake it off. It wasn't jealousy—at least, not in the way Chloe might think. It was something else. Nicole always plays the game, she thought. She's got a knack for finding the people who can help her get ahead.
Nicole and Elly ended up sitting together at a table, deep in conversation, their easy laughter mixing with the hum of the cafeteria. Jen could feel a knot tightening in her chest. Nicole's making a move.
Chloe, of course, wasn't about to let this go. She glanced at Jen with a knowing smirk. "Looks like Nicole's already cozying up to Paellero."
Jen didn't even look up. "Yeah, whatever. I'm not bothered."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, not convinced. "You sure? Nicole's always trying to steal the spotlight."
Jen shrugged, though her tone was a little sharper than she meant. "I'm not worried. Paellero is smart"
Chloe smirked, clearly seeing through Jen's facade. "You sure about that? Nicole's always playing the long game. She knows how to get to people."
Jen sighed, but her gaze kept drifting back to Nicole and Elly, chatting away like old friends.
After lunch, Jen returned to her office, but her thoughts wouldn't quiet. The image of Nicole leaning in too close to Elly kept nagging at her. She'd always been protective of Elly in a way, even before they'd gone their separate ways all those years ago. They'd been close, at one point. But now? Now, Elly was Chief—a position that could be exploited.
A few minutes later, Jen glanced out her office window and saw Nicole talking to Elly again near the hallway. They were laughing, their body language easy, like they were already on the same page. Jen frowned, but only for a moment. She forced herself to look away and focus on her work.
It's just business. Nothing personal, she thought to herself
But the feeling lingered. There was something off about Nicole's interest in Elly—something Jen couldn't ignore. It wasn't just friendly. It was strategic. And Jen wasn't sure whether Elly even noticed.