Chapter 5 Episode Five

Chapter Five

*First Person's Perspective*

~Marie~

It was a brand-new day, but I still carried the frustration from the day before. Mr. Lazarus's attitude was etched in my mind like a splinter I couldn't remove. As I walked into the office, I promised myself I wouldn't let him get under my skin again. I had my job to do, and I'd focus on that-nothing more, nothing less.

The office buzzed with activity as usual. Phones rang off the hook, heels clicked against the marble floor, and quiet conversations hummed in the background. I made my way to my desk and immediately got to work. Sorting through documents, answering emails, and coordinating schedules kept me occupied. I refused to even glance toward Mr. Lazarus's office.

By mid-morning, I was fully immersed in my tasks when something unexpected happened. A courier walked into the office, carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The arrangement was stunning-roses, lilies, and carnations all bundled together in a delicate white wrap.

"Delivery for Marie," the courier announced, holding the bouquet out.

I blinked in surprise. Me? Flowers? It had to be a mistake. "Are you sure those are for me?" I asked, my voice unsure.

He nodded, handed them over, and left before I could ask more questions. Feeling a little awkward, I set the bouquet on my desk. A small card tucked into the flowers caught my eye. I pulled it out and read the handwritten note:

"Thought this might brighten your day. Looking forward to seeing you again soon."

– Brandon

I couldn't help but smile. The memory of Brandon from yesterday surfaced. He had been so kind, so warm-so unlike Mr. Lazarus, who seemed to revel in making my life miserable. Brandon's gesture was simple but thoughtful.

I touched one of the roses gently, letting myself enjoy the moment. For once, something nice had happened, and I wasn't going to let anyone ruin it.

"Pretty flowers," a voice drawled behind me.

I jumped and spun around, finding Mr. Lazarus standing there. His eyes flicked to the bouquet before locking onto mine.

"Uh... thank you," I said hesitantly, unsure of where this was going.

He crossed his arms, his sharp gaze unwavering. "Don't you think personal deliveries are inappropriate during work hours?"

His words stung, but I kept my composure. "It was just a small gesture from a friend. It won't affect my work."

"A friend," he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief.

"Yes, a friend," I said firmly, meeting his gaze.

He didn't respond right away, his eyes narrowing as if he was analyzing me. Finally, he shrugged and turned away. "Make sure it doesn't happen again," he said over his shoulder before walking off.

I stared after him, my hands clenched into fists. Who did he think he was? First, he canceled our meeting without notice, then he tried to control my personal life. His audacity knew no bounds.

Shaking my head, I returned to my work. I wasn't going to let him ruin the only bright spot in my day.

As the day went on, I tried to push the incident out of my mind. I buried myself in tasks, doing my best to avoid Mr. Lazarus altogether. Thankfully, he stayed in his office, likely busy with his endless paperwork.

But, of course, peace never lasted long in this place.

Around lunchtime, I was typing up a report when I noticed Mr. Lazarus standing near the break room, talking to one of the senior managers. His eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to his conversation. Something about the way he looked at me sent a chill down my spine.

I shook it off and focused on finishing the report. I wouldn't let him intimidate me.

A few minutes later, I heard my name. I looked up to see Brandon walking toward me, a warm smile on his face.

"Marie," he greeted, stopping by my desk.

"Brandon," I said, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I was in the area and thought I'd drop by. Besides, I wanted to make sure you got the flowers," he said, gesturing toward the bouquet on my desk.

"I did. They're beautiful. Thank you," I said, smiling.

"I'm glad you like them," he said. "Have you had lunch yet?"

I hesitated. "Not yet. I was just about to head to the cafeteria."

"Why don't we go out instead? My treat," he offered.

Before I could respond, a voice cut in. "Miss Marie, may I see you in my office?"

I turned to see Mr. Lazarus standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

Brandon glanced at him briefly before looking back at me. "Is this a bad time?" he asked.

"No, it's fine," I said quickly. "Just give me a moment."

Brandon nodded and stepped aside as I followed Mr. Lazarus into his office.

The tension in the room was palpable as I closed the door behind me. Mr. Lazarus walked to his desk but didn't sit down. Instead, he turned to face me, his arms crossed.

"What's this about?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked at me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

"I don't want you bringing your personal life into the workplace," he said finally.

I frowned. "I wasn't. Brandon just stopped by to say hello."

"And the flowers? The lunch invitation?" he pressed.

"Those are private matters," I said firmly. "They have nothing to do with my work."

"They're a distraction," he said bluntly.

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my temper in check. "With all due respect, Mr. Lazarus, my personal life is none of your business."

His jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he walked around his desk and sat down, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

"You may go," he said coldly.

I left his office, my frustration boiling over. Who did he think he was, dictating how I lived my life? I had every right to spend time with whoever I wanted, and I wasn't going to let him take that away from me.

As I walked back to my desk, Brandon was waiting with a patient smile.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Absolutely," I said, grabbing my bag.

I didn't care what Mr. Lazarus thought. For once, I was going to enjoy myself.