Chapter 3 Office mess

"Ella, you okay? You look like you saw a ghost,"

Ava said, her voice sharp as she leaned over the café table, her red nails wrapped around a half-empty coffee cup.

Ella stirred her own drink slowly, watching the foam swirl and disappear. Her hands trembled slightly. The café smelled like cinnamon rolls and burnt toast, and the soft murmur of other customers filled the space. Her hazel eyes were tired, and her hair was messily thrown into a ponytail. Two days had passed since she woke up in Liam's penthouse, and still, the wedding dream haunted her like a shadow.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, her voice small and uncertain.

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Girl, don't lie to me. I've known you since college. You're shaking. What happened at the party? You went quiet right after."

Ella hesitated, staring into her cup. She trusted Ava, but this... this felt too big. Still, it was eating her up inside.

"I woke up in Liam's bed. The CEO's."

Ava gasped and nearly choked on her coffee. "Liam ? Mr. Suit-and-Tie CEO? You're kidding. You slept with him? Seriously?"

"I...I don't remember what happened. Not really. Everything after that second glass of wine is just... blank." Ella looked down, cheeks burning. "But when I woke up... I knew something had happened. My clothes were on the floor. He was there. In bed. Next to me,naked"

Ava leaned in, eyes wide with excitement. "Oh my god. That's insane! What did he say? What did you do?"

"I ran. I grabbed my things and left before he could say anything. He called my name, but I didn't turn back. I was too scared."

"Scared? Why?"

Ella swallowed, her hands curling into fists. "Because of the dream."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "What dream?"

Ella hesitated. Not many people knew her secret. Only Ava, really. But still, every time she said it out loud, it sounded ridiculous.

"I saw us... getting married. I was in a wedding dress, crying. Liam was at the altar. It felt too real, Ava."

Ava blinked, her voice softening. "Another one of your future dreams?"

Ella nodded. "Yeah. Like the one I had before Mom's car crash. Like the one before Nate left. They always come true."

"You think you're gonna marry him?" Ava asked, half-joking, half-serious.

"I don't know. But it scared me. It didn't feel happy. I was crying, Ava. Not smiling."

Ava leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Well, that's intense. But dreams don't always mean what you think. Maybe it's just your nerves. Or maybe... fate's got a messed-up sense of humor."

Ella gave her a small, grateful smile. "Maybe. But it doesn't change the fact that I have to see him every day now. I'm his assistant, remember?"

Ava grinned. "Talk about awkwardness. What's he like at work? Weird? Flirty? Pretending like nothing happened?"

Ella sighed. "Like nothing happened. He's all business. He gave me a list of tasks and just... walked away. Not a word about the night. Not a look. Nothing."

"Maybe he doesn't remember either," Ava said with a shrug.

"Or maybe he's pretending."

Ava reached over and grabbed Ella's hand. "Whatever it is, you'll figure it out. Just don't let it eat you up. Okay?"

Ella nodded, but her chest still felt tight.

***

Monday came, and the office buzzed like a beehive. Phones rang. Keyboards clicked. People moved fast, dressed sharp. Ella walked in wearing a navy-blue pencil skirt and a pale blouse. Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor. Her new desk was right outside Liam's glass-walled office.

Every time she looked up, she could see him inside,tall, calm, focused. His gray-blue eyes were glued to his computer screen, his sharp jaw tense as he spoke on the phone.

"Miss Carter," he said that morning, stepping out of his office. "I need the quarterly reports on my desk by noon."

"Yes, sir," she said, keeping her voice steady.

He nodded and turned away.

Not a word. Not a flicker of recognition.

Ella sat back down, exhaling hard. Was this how it was going to be?

The week dragged on.

Liam was polite. Professional. Distant. But then there were little things. A coffee cup placed on her desk with her name written in neat handwriting. His fingers brushing hers whenever she passed him a document. The soft, lingering look in his eyes when he thought she wasn't watching.

Once, she caught him staring at her through the glass. He quickly looked away, pretending to read an email.

Ava sent her constant texts:

AVA: Any progress? Does he stare at you like you're the last piece of chocolate on Earth?

ELLA: Stop.

AVA: Can't. I live for this drama.

ELLA: It's not a drama. It's a mess. A complete mess

That evening, Ella stayed behind to finish a project. The office was quiet, lights dimmed. Everyone else had gone home. She stood to stretch when something caught her eye...a folded note tucked into the back of her drawer.

Her heart picked up speed. She unfolded it carefully. The handwriting was sharp and neat.

"I know what happened. Be careful.'

Ella's blood ran cold. She looked around the empty office. No one.

"Who wrote this?" she whispered.

She shoved the note into her bag and grabbed her things. She didn't want to stay a second longer.

As she walked toward the elevator, she heard footsteps behind her.

Slow. Deliberate.

She froze.

"Hello?" she called.

But no one responded, everywhere was silent

She turned. No one was there. Her reflection in the glass windows stared back at her, pale and nervous.

She reached the elevator and pressed the button.

Nothing happened.

Then she heard it again. Scary footsteps.

She turned around, her breath catching in her throat.

A voice whispered, low and gravelly.

"You can't hide."

Ella's heart pounded as she banged on the elevator doors. Still nothing. They stayed shut.

"Please open, please open," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Behind her, the lights flickered again. The shadows seemed to move.

Then the elevator dinged. The doors slid open.

She rushed in and hit the button for the ground floor. As the doors closed, she heard it again.

"Ella."

Liam's voice. This time louder. Awake.

Her breath caught as the elevator began to move.

Was he coming after her?

Or had someone else been watching?

The dream of the wedding flashed in her mind. White dress. Tears. Liam's face, blurred but real.

She pressed her back to the cold wall of the elevator, clutching her bag tight.

She couldn't outrun her future. Not forever.

But maybe... just maybe, she could change it.