The next few days flew by in a blur as I settled into my new routine at NovaTech. I was enjoying my work and getting to know my colleagues better. We would often have team lunches and breaks together, and I was starting to feel like I belonged.
One day, as I was working on a project, Mrs. Rachel called me into her office. I wondered if I had done something wrong, but she just smiled and told me to take a seat.
"Sharon, I wanted to talk to you about your progress," she said. "You're doing great, and I'm impressed with your work ethic. I think you're going to fit in well here."
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief and pride. "Thank you, Mrs. Rachel. I'm really enjoying it here."
She nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. I wanted to discuss a new project with you. We're going to be working with a new client, and I think you'd be perfect for the job."
My ears perked up, and I leaned forward. "What kind of project is it?"
Mrs. Rachel smiled. "I'll send you the details, but it's a big deal for us. We need someone with your skills and attention to detail. Are you up for the challenge?"
I nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. I'm ready for it."
Mrs. Rachel smiled. "Great. I'll send you the details, and we can discuss further, for now you have to know the project will be handled by you and Ryan."
I left her office feeling excited and motivated. This could be a great opportunity for me to prove myself and make a good impression.
As I walked back to my desk, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. What could this project be? And what did Mrs. Rachel mean by "a big deal"?
I sat down at my desk, and my eyes landed on my phone. I had a text from an unknown number. My heart skipped a beat as I read the message
"Be careful who you trust, Sharon. Someone who knows"
I felt a chill run down my spine. Who was sending me these messages? And what did they mean? The message came from the same strange number that called about four days ago.
I tried to shake off the feeling of unease and focus on the project but the message lingered in my mind, making me wonder if I was in danger.
I proceeded to texting Maxie immediately about the unknown number but I got distracted by Ryan...
"Hey foodie" he smiled looking at me
"Okay, okay don't food shame me" I laughed trying to defend myself
"Ohh sorry then... I heard we have a deal to work on together " he added looking more serious now
" Yes , Mrs Rachel told me but I do not have much detail about it right now"
He nodded his head then stretched his hand in an attempt to shake mine " whatever it is, let's eat them up like you do during breaks"
I threw the pen I held at him and he dodged while laughing playfully then Ava shouted from her desk
" For the love of the company ... I am reporting you both to Mrs Rachel now" she packed a few files while she went into the supervisor's office
" It's a new company and a new branch but we already have office romance" Liam added teasing us while the other's laughed then the door to the supervisor's office opened and Ava came out
" You both are going to get terminated. Rubbing my single life to my face... Huh"
I couldn't help but laugh
" Enough with all the talks, don't make my girlfriend shy" Ryan replied to them looking sternly
" Oh please" Samantha shouted from her desk
Maxie had already returned to her apartment so I was back to coming home to an empty house. We spoke on phone and I somehow forgot to tell her about the unknown number.
The rest of the week rushed by as Ryan and I worked on our project. We spent long hours at the office, brainstorming ideas and refining our plan. I was impressed by Ryan's dedication and work ethic, and I found myself looking forward to our meetings and discussions.
On the weekends, Ryan made sure we were both on the same page, sending me messages and updates on our progress. I appreciated his attention to detail and his enthusiasm for the project.
As Monday morning approached, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. We were finally going to start implementing our plan, and I was eager to see it all come together.
I walked out of the office with Ryan, feeling a sense of determination and focus. "Okay, let's do this," I said, smiling at him.
Ryan grinned back at me. "Let's crush it, Sharon."
We were heading to meet a new client to get a form signed, and I was looking forward to seeing how things would go.
As we walked to the car, Ryan smiled at me and said, "You're riding shotgun, Sharon."
I laughed and got into the passenger seat, feeling a bit more at ease. Ryan got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
"So, how's your first week going?" he asked, pulling out of the parking lot.
"It's been great," I replied. "Everyone's been really nice, and I'm learning a lot."
Ryan nodded. "Yeah, it's a great team. We're all pretty laid-back, except for Alex, of course."
I chuckled. "I've noticed that. He's definitely... intense."
Ryan laughed. "That's one way to put it. But he's a genius, so we forgive him."
As we drove, we chatted about work and our weekends. I was surprised by how easy it was to talk to Ryan. He was funny and charming, and I found myself laughing and feeling more relaxed.
When we arrived at the client's office, Ryan handled the meeting like a pro. He was confident and professional, and I was impressed.
As we were leaving, the client thanked us and handed me the signed form. "Great job, Ryan," I said, smiling at him. "You're really good at this."
Ryan grinned. "Thanks, Sharon. You're not so bad yourself."
I felt a flutter in my chest at his words, but I pushed it aside. I was just being silly. We were colleagues, after all but aside that Ryan was fine as hell.
As we drove back to the office, Ryan asked me about my interests outside of work. After I told him I was surprised by how much we had in common. It was nice to find someone who shared similar interests.
When we arrived back at the office, Ryan turned to me and said, "Thanks for being a great partner today, Sharon. I'm glad we're working together on this."
I smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "Me too, Ryan. Let's do it again sometime."
As we both went to our desks, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. Maybe this job wouldn't be so bad after all.
But then I picked up my phone again, staring at my phone for that particular name, the same way I've been staring for days.