Love was the last thing on my mind when I first laid eyes on Ethan, I remembered how excited I felt everytime he smiled in my general direction but I always wrote it off as a mere infatuation. Four years have passed since then,yet he's all that occupies my thoughts, my gaze drifted out of the window and I felt a familiar ache of longing, as I was getting lost in memories Crescent bursts into the room, his cologne proceeding him.

"Why are you still Sitting there?, we have a deal to close in two hours "..

"Yes Cent I'm aware, one might think you're my boss with the way you're yelling "

My comment was of course ignored by him, he was too busy trying to rush me to be bothered by it, and I couldn't blame him, the Matrix deal was very crucial to the company, we had decided to invest in another sub branch of our company that kept growing rapidly and required a lot of money. This deal was supposed to help the company gain stability once more, anyone would be wondering why I wasn't treating it as serious as it was, though this lazy and unbothered attitude was reserved only for Cent,my assistant who weirdly acted like boss sometimes...

I regarded my dressing room as a visual representation of my inner thoughts and feelings, filled with colours, spacious, you could find almost everything in it, from cheap stuff to high class to rare clothing's and accessories, this room was a stark contrast to my office which gave the feeling of calm, orderly and control, It had more space and less contents than my dresser, it's walls were painted with less vibrant colors, black being the most prominent one, it has a very simple setting and was one of the few things I stood my ground on when the office was being styled, I believe simple is classy and that's exactly how I want my business partners to see me. AsI stepped into the dressing where the soft glow of LED lights illuminated the rows of tailored suits and designers, the air was filled with the scent of freshly laundered clothes and subtle tang of leather from my shoes, I took out the suit arranged for me to wear to the meeting, it looked uncannily like the current suit I had on but was told was "much more appropriate" for closing the deal. I slipped on the crisp white shirt feeling the starched collar fig gently into my neck, the fabric felt cool and smooth against my skin, giving me that extra boost of confidence I needed.

The muffled hum of the office carried through the door a gentle reminder of the chaos that awaited me on the other side.

"Lexi, you ready?, it's been like an hour now", stunned I look at the clock hanging on the wall that had been useless for a while now, just 15 minutes had passed..

As I emerged from the dressing room, Crescent was already positioned by the door, my suitcase and essentials at the ready. "Time waits for no one, shall we?" he said, his nervousness palpable. I suppressed a smile, recognizing the tension beneath his witty remark.

In the hallway, employees cast respectful glances my way, their admiration evident. Many had risen through the ranks alongside me, witnessing firsthand my tireless efforts to establish our company as a respected industry leader. The impending deal with one of the city's – if not the country's – most influential companies had generated considerable buzz. The fact that I had secured this opportunity was, frankly, astonishing.

With measured confidence, I made my way through the hallway, exchanging occasional greetings with employees. The journey to the meeting location proved unexpectedly smooth and efficient, as if fate itself was propelling me forward.

Upon arriving at the building, Crescent and I were greeted by two impeccably dressed individuals. "Miss Alexandria Keys?" they inquired in unison. Crescent responded crisply, "Yes?" The men nodded. "This way, please."

We were escorted to a solitary room on the floor, where one of our escorts knocked softly on the door. A low, resonant voice bade us enter. As we stepped inside, I froze, my eyes locking onto a familiar figure. A discreet nudge from Crescent prompted me to find my voice. "Ethan?"

As I stepped into the room, a thrill coursed through me, despite having planned this meeting for ages. Seeing him openly like this still had an unsettling effect. "Good evening, Miss Keys," that sultry voice brought me back to reality, and I felt my cheeks flush with heat. Whether it was embarrassment or longing, I couldn't quite tell.

Crescent, noticing my distress, offered greetings to our business partner. "Good evening, Mr. Ethaniel Slade."

"I hope you had a warm reception," Ethan asked, his eyes locked on mine.

Cent hesitated, unsure if the two escorts could be described as 'warm,' but responded positively nonetheless.

Regaining my composure, I introduced myself formally. "Alexandria Keys, CEO of Jewel Enterprises, pleasure to meet you," I said, extending my arm.

Ethan's gaze lingered on my hand before taking it. "Ethaniel Slade," he replied, his handshake soft, as if afraid to apply pressure.

"Please, make yourself comfortable," he suggested, nodding toward the seats.

Only then did I notice someone else in the room – his personal assistant, Valtor. A man people feared and respected almost as much as Ethan. While Ethan remained a mysterious figure to the media and his employees, I knew him intimately, down to his coffee preferences and personal habits.

A pang of envy rose within me as I looked at Valtor, but I quickly suppressed it.

Ethan glided fluidly from his desk to the lounge chair, gathering documents that I assumed were the contract papers. "Val, please make a cup of coffee for Miss Keys, and tell Drea to prepare one for her assistant."

Valtor moved to the coffee maker, inquiring about my coffee preferences. Another person entered with a cup of coffee for Cent, and I wondered how they had been informed.

The obvious special treatment Ethan afforded me made me feel warm inside.

"May I ask why you changed the deal from a month's supply of fabrics to two months?" Ethan asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. The truth – that I wanted to spend more time working with him – seemed too revealing.

"I feel that rushing or speeding things up would lead to mistakes, and I value the opportunity given to our company. I'd like to satisfy you and your company with the best products," I replied, trying to sound professional.

Ethan's gaze lingered on mine. "You're not in an interview, Miss Keys. You can speak freely."

A blush crept up my face. "I really want to leave a good impression by giving you and your company the best. Plus, we'll be getting twice the original amount, so it's a very beneficial deal that requires cautiousness."

Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "I see. You can review the contract contents. If you wish to make any adjustments, please let me know. Otherwise, please sign it, and we can close the deal."

After scanning the contract, I handed it to Crescent. His eyes widened in surprise at the benefits we would receive, but he maintained his composure. "It seems alright."

I signed the deal, and this time, Ethan was the one with the outstretched hand. I took it, feeling a spark of electricity.

As we bid each other farewell, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises lay in store.

Meanwhile, in the office...

"Val?" Ethan's voice was low and even.

"I know, Ethan," Valtor responded, a hint of fatigue creeping into his tone.

My day was going pretty well, as I stepped into my apartment after my morning jog, I couldn't help but think back to last night, we signed the deal, the company's well-being was back on track and of course Crescent's endless chatter on the ride home, he wouldn't shut up about Ethan giving me special treatment while he was left with, in his words, "the blandest coffee ever brewed"

I smiled at the memory, his exaggerations were always over the top. Something that got me thinking though was when; we stepped out of the office and Crescent excused himself to use the restroom. I was about to ask our escorts for directions when he glided effortlessly towards a section of the wall. With a fluid motion, he pushed open a door that blended seamlessly into the building's facade. I was taken aback - the door was camouflaged to perfection.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I questioned Crescent about it later. But he brushed it off with a nonchalant shrug, saying I wasn't attentive enough and our conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument.

It wasn't until later, when I had a chance to explore the Matrix building's design, that I got the gist of it apparently, the architects had used a unique aesthetic style, blending functionality with modern design. The camouflaged door was just one of the many clever features integrated into the building's layout.

Despite getting the reasoning behind the design, I couldn't help but wonder how Crescent's had much familiarity with the building's secrets, maybe the tension of the deal got to him and he studied it?..

I unlocked the door to my apartment which was on the fourth floor of a six-story complex, the familiar creak of hinges greeting me as I entered, the place was cozy, not too big just enough space for me to feel at home without feeling lost in it, long shadows were cast on the wooden floors by the large windows, the faint hum of the city, a constant reminder that life never stood still.

Cooking was never my forte, so i enjoyed a satisfying breakfast of Akara and Akamu, courtesy of my friend and coworker Amanda, I headed to the room farthest from the front door – a sanctuary no one else had ever entered, not even Crescent. I simply made up a convincing excuse about storing 'lady stuff' there, and Crescent, despite his lack of tact, respected my privacy , this behavior I found strange since he wasn't someone keen on the aspect of privacy.

This room was my haven, where I indulged in memories of Ethan – from his first deal to his company's launch, and even his home address. I knew it sounded creepy, but I couldn't help myself. Every 'accidental' meeting I planned ended in awkwardness, leaving me wondering how he perceived me. Yet, I kept going, driven by a desire to intertwine our fates.

Just as I was about to delve deeper into my daydreams, the faint sound of the key code indicated someone had entered my apartment. Crescent was the obvious suspect, given he was the only one with access. I rushed out of the room, knocking over boxes in the process, and locked the door just as Crescent emerged from the hallway, looking at me quizzically.