The atmosphere in the office shifted the moment the elevator dinger sounded at 9:00 AM. We didn't need to see him to know he was back; the air itself seemed to stiffen.
I was at my desk, halfway through a BBA assignment I was sneaking in before my official work started, when the glass doors swung open.
The Manager walked in.
He didn't look like a "blissful groom." He looked sharp, professional, and perhaps even a bit more distant than before. He wore a dark suit, his wedding ring glinting under the fluorescent office lights—a constant, silver reminder that he now belonged to someone else.
He walked past the Advisor, past the senior staff, and straight toward his office. But just as he reached his door, he paused. His gaze swept over the room and landed directly on me.
I stood up instinctively. "Welcome back, sir."
He looked at me for a long beat. I wondered if he had forgotten the 18-year-old student he had hired in a rush before his wedding.
"Is the filing up to date?" he asked. His voice was just as deep and commanding as I remembered.
"Yes, sir. Everything is organized and ready for your review," I replied, my voice steady.
He nodded once, a curt gesture. "Bring the reports to my office in ten minutes. I want to see if you maintained the standard while I was away."
He stepped inside and closed the door. The "honeymoon phase" was clearly over for the office—it was back to business.