She Stans The CEO

Chapter 2 - The Sudden Confession

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The sounds of footsteps hurriedly walking toward the elevator. Brown-chestnut haired woman was moving at a fast pace, it made her ponytail swing left and right like a pendulum. She paused, stood still, turned around, and ran back to the dark office room.

“Aigoo!” she cried. How stupid can you be, Kylie? - she cursed herself.

Once she reached her desk, she opened her drawer and grabbed her wallet and mobile phone that she forgot. It’s late. Everybody went home except for her. All thanks to her team leader who always seemed to give her troubles.

~The recap prior to her overtime work this afternoon, approximately 4.05 PM.~

“Where is the survey result, Kylie?” He asked - an hour before the office work time ended. He went to her desk with trouble painted on his face. The evil scowl expression, which gave the impression ‘I’ll give you problems, girl. You asked for it!’, was clearly shown.

“Shouldn’t I give it to you in 2 days?” She replied with a question. More like a statement since it’s agreed on the last meeting, the due date of her deadline - she even had the minutes of the meeting as proof.

“You think the report will be perfect in one try? No need for revision?” He asked - she took it as a rhetorical question since she knew if she answered he would scold her. “Come on, Kylie. Don’t overestimate yourself,” he scoffed.

See, although she’s restraining herself to answer, she still got scolded. Her lips slightly twisted, she’s annoyed. Even IF, let’s emphasize on that; EVEN IF it’s a perfect-to-the-tee kind of report. He would try to find a fault or perhaps make one out of thin air.

“Get it done today, Kylie,” he ordered. “I want to see it first thing in the morning. IN MY EMAIL!” He tapped three times on her desk for his three last words - as if it’s written with all caps lock words.

It’s useless to debate, he’s the type of douchebag that abused his authority. She nodded and turned her face away from him. Looking at his ugly face only made her eyes hurt, it’s not good for her health.

He’s startled by her actions. He stood there for two minutes until he left her alone.

“Is he returning to his seat?” She asked while her eyes were still looking at her laptop.

“Yes, but he’s still glancing menacingly at you,” her friend said - he sat in the cubicle across from her. “His eyes narrowed and his forehead furrowed, his expression shall fit perfectly to what a villain should look like.”

Did he just narrate their team leader for her? - she thought. She frowned.

“He’s now wickedly smirking at the hopeless girl. Knowing that to fulfil his request, the girl has to stay overtime. Unpaid overtime,” he continued - adding some dramatic tone to his narration.

“Oi! Jimmy! Can you stop narrating my life?” She said - annoyed.

Jimmy and her two other colleagues giggled.

“Ahem!” The devil team leader pretended to cough.

They stopped giggling, sat straight in their chair, and continued working.

Kylie sighed. How could she prepare the report when the survey data wasn’t even complete?

Argh! - she silently grumbled.

The survey deadline was set for tomorrow. Then after that, she could download the result and prepare her report. If she made the report now, it would end up as a badly written report.

Argh! - she grumbled in her mind again.

“The silent screams echoed in the girl’s mind,” Jimmy narrated again.

Kylie was squinting her eyes at Jimmy. She’s ultra pissed right now. Her right hand secretly kneaded a yellow post-it paper on her desk, and before she could throw it at Jimmy.

DING! - a message from Jimmy appeared in her chat window. It contained an attachment and a brief message ‘for your eyes only.’

She double-clicked to open it and a picture of Damian Rawlings queued for a coffee from his morning routine appeared.

And just like that, dear readers, simply like that; all her troubles poof-ed away. Her heart filled with spring warmth and blossoming flowers. She beamed at the sight of her idol; his handsome face was just purrrrrrrrfect - purring effect intended.

She sighed, but with a pleasant expression on her face. “He’s so…. so hmmm-” she was at a loss for words.

“Girl! Wipe that drool on your face,” Jimmy teased.

She blushed. Ah, it’s so obvious for others to see how she idolized Damien so much. She’s no longer upset, nor mad at Jimmy. She’s happy.

“Vitamin D is always good before overtime work,” Julia said - she’s the girl who sat on Kylie’s left. She’s a fellow stan, and her words held so much truth in it.

That’s what happened three hours ago. It’s now 7.00 PM, she’s alone and her stomach growled from hunger - demanded to be fed.

She ran faster toward the elevator as its door was about to close. “Stop! Please wait for me!” She screamed.

A hand from inside the elevator halted the door from closing. It opened again and revealed the owner of the hand who helped her.

“Ah!” she squealed, almost slipped from running. She froze.

“Are you coming in?” A husky baritone voice asked.

She’s in a daze - unable to answer.

“Miss, are you going down as well?” He asked again.

“Yes,” she squeaked. She was startled by her voice. She cleared her throat. “Yes, Mr. Rawlings, I’m going down.”

Damien Rawlings nodded and kept on holding the door for her.

Her legs were shaking, it’s almost impossible for her to move, but somehow she entered the elevator and slipped behind Damien. She clenched tight on the metal rail on her back; one reason was to support herself from falling - keeping her balance - and the other reason was to stop herself leaping on Damien.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! - she screamed in her head. In her mind, she’s jumping in happiness, hopping like a bunny in heat.

Look at that broad shoulder! Oh wow, his back is large - she observed him. How does it feel if you buried your face there? I bet he smells so yummy.

Kylie was stealing a glance at Damien. In her mind, she had done many things to him - inhaling his scent, resting her head on his back, and even holding his hand.

He was quietly studying her with the corner of his eyes. Weird girl - he thought. In two minutes, her face made many odd expressions.

Kylie was so absorbed in her daydream, she didn’t notice the quizzical expression Damien had on his face.

Oh! I wish the elevator stops moving so I could enjoy this moment longer - Kylie’s wishful thinking.

CLANG! - The elevator made a loud thudding sound, and it abruptly stopped.

Or! It’s not wishful thinking.

Both Kylie and Damien froze, startled by the sound.

CLANG! - Another loud metal thudding was heard and followed by the shuddering movement of the elevator. Then it stopped again. Everything fell silent.

“s**t!” Damien cursed. He brushed his hair with his fingers and desperation painted on his face.

Argh! I shouldn’t make that wish - Kylie cried in her thoughts. Was it a blessing or a jinx?

Damien heard sniffling sounds from behind him. He turned and saw the girl standing close in the corner, facing the floor. Is she crying? - he thought. He pushed the yellow emergency button.

“Hello, Jeff speaking,” a male voice was heard from the speaker.

“Hi, this is Damien Rawlings and we’re stuck in the elevator.”

“Mr. Rawlings!” the man shrieked. “I will contact the service people. Please hold on!”

Damien sighed. What a terrible day he had; from the chaos during the board members meeting, the glitch in the EarthFy game, and now stuck in the elevator. He guessed he’s not the only one having an unfortunate day. The poor girl still held onto the rail, she’s quivering. Is she claustrophobic? - he thought.

He felt pity for the poor girl. He couldn’t imagine how frightened she must feel right now, being claustrophobic and trapped inside the small space like this. He cautiously reached his hand to her when the cracking noise came from the speaker.

“Mr. Rawlings, the service guy will arrive here in 30 minutes,” the man from the control room informed him.

Damien sighed in relief. Half an hour was still bearable while he already imagined much worse than that. “Thank you. Please keep updating us.”

Suddenly, a pair of slim arms barged toward the elevator panel. Damien startled and jumped away instinctively.

“Jeff!” the girl called.

“Is that you, Kylie?” The control room on duty responded.

“Yes, Jeff.”

“Oh dear, Kylie. Hold on, girl!”

“Jeff, I’m hungry!” she cried.

Damien furrowed. Wait a minute, so she’s trembling because of hunger and not because she’s frightened? Well, it’s not like she told me she’s afraid - he thought.

“I’m craving for ‘Hectic Wednesday’,” she sobbed.

Oh, poor lady! She’s pregnant - Damien told himself. As a gentleman, he felt the responsibility to console her. “We will be out of here soon. Don’t be too stressed, it’s not good for your baby.”

Kylie flinched. “Who’s pregnant?”

“Well, aren’t you?” Damien frowned. Did I just make a mistake? - he thought.

Oh, my gawwd! Am I that fat to make him think I’m pregnant? - Kylie thought. Her jaw dropped and her eyes grew big in disbelief at his words. She had a bit of a tummy, but it’s not that visible to make him misunderstand. I just want to die! - she cried in her head - someone please kill me.

“Are you pregnant, Kylie?” Jeff - the control room man on duty - innocently asked.

“NO!” she barked.

Damien startled over her sudden firm refute. He flustered, knowing his mistake and making a fool of himself.

“Anyway, Jeff, could you order food for me? Moe’s last order is in 45 minutes,” Kylie requested. “Puh-lease?” She made it sound cute.

“It’s ‘Hectic Wednesday’ secret recipe spicy pulled beef burger? I might as well order one for me too,” Jeff responded. “What’s your order, ma’am? I’ll write it down.”

“One ‘Hectic Wednesday’ special with no pickle and extra grilled swiss cheese, one Cajun spice French fries large portion, mushroom fritters with ranch cream sauce dip….” She ordered.

“You treat the emergency speaker as a fast food drive-thru?” Damien asked.

“I’m hungry, Boss. Besides, it’s my favorite menu of the week,” Kylie answered without looking at Damien. “And Strawberry milkshake!” She said her last order in a cheerful tone. “Oh, you want to order too, Boss?”

Did she casually call me ‘Boss’? - Damien thought, puzzled by her casual manner toward him. Her orders were already over 3000 calories - he frowned. “No, I’m not hungry.” However, the moment he finished his sentence, his stomach growled in objection over his statement. He’s so embarrassed he wished to disappear right that instant.

“Jeff, could you also order for Mr. Rawlings? The vegetarian ‘Hectic Wednesday’, original sweet potato fries, a can of coke zero, and a bottle of mineral water,” Kylie added.

“I told you, I’m not hungry!” Damien said - displeased.

“My treat, Boss. It’s for your stomach and not for you. All I ordered are fewer calories, so it won’t damage your diet too much.”

Damien grimaced. How could she know that?

“Alright, I’ll make the delivery order now,” said Jeff.

“Thank you, Jeff! And please leave it in the lobby pantry so we can reheat it in the microwave later,” she instructed.

Kylie sighed in relief - at least she secured her dinner. She put down her bags and flopped down on the floor, she’s tired. Her back pressed against the metal wall as she let the coolness seeped on her skin.

“Do I know you?” Damien asked. His eyes were squinting and those sharp blue eyes were glued at her. He’s never been acquainted with her, but somehow she knew lots of little details about him - like the fact she knew about his diet. “I don’t recall we ever met.”

Kylie unconsciously took her bag and hugged it tight. She’s cornered by those eyes and in this situation, she couldn’t escape.

“You know about my diet and casually call me ‘Boss’,” he said - still with the gaze that could bore a hole in her head. “Why though?”

Kylie hugged her bag tighter. She didn’t dare to lift her head and looked at him. Because I’m your stan, Oh-mighty-Damien Rawlings - she answered his questions in her mind.

Damien knelt on the floor next to her, scurrying closer to her last border of defense. This lady was intriguing. Before this she was acting so casually around him, made many expressions in under five minutes, and now she’s acting timid - shivering in the corner like a wet cat after a bath. She flinched every time Damien took a step closer and this reaction of hers amused him - it made him want to tease her more.

Kylie peered, to have a quick glance at her object of adoration. His broad shoulder and firmed chest under the shirt looked so inviting. She wanted to touch it, caressed it, tore those buttons, and exposed those skin. She locked both of her arms together, hugging her bag closer to her chest, trying to hold herself from pinning him down on the floor. This desire she had in her might make her lose her job for s****l harassment to the ultimate final boss.

“Tell me, Miss Kylie,” he called her name with his husky voice.

She was stunned. Her body froze after she discovered that Damien’s lips were an inch away from her right ear. His warm breath left a tingling sensation all over her body. The hair on her back rose. Does he know her ears are her weak spot? - she thought.

“Why don’t you answer me, Kylie?” Damien deliberately whispered in her ear.

CRACK! - Kylie’s last wall of defense cracked, crumbling into dust. She closed her eyes and pushed him away from her.

“IT’S BECAUSE I’M YOUR STAN!” she yelled. Whatever will be, will be - she thought. She’s ready to be fired for being aggressive with her boss. But uh… Why did it feel so soft under her?

She opened her right eye. Lo-and-behold! She’s sitting on top of him.

DING! - The elevator door opened wide. Jeff was standing there, looking confused.

“Am I interrupting?” Jeff innocently asked.