Chapter 5 At the Office

Aliah smiled warmly as she walked into the office, greeting colleagues along the way. Her eyes landed on her boss, Jake who was focused on his computer screen.

She has always secretly prayed for him to ask her out. Her admiration had blossomed into something more. But Jake seemed oblivious to her feelings.

Aliah's determination grew. Maybe today would be the day she'd finally get his attention...

Jake, 29, is the youngest billionaire to lead his family's multinational company. As the only child of the company's founder, he's been groomed to take over from a young age. Despite his youth, Jake has proven himself to be a shrewd businessman, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits.

Jake's charisma and wealth attract attention, particularly from women who often make advances at him.

The conference room is filled with a large wooden table and sleek chairs. Jake, the managing director, sits at the head of the table. Aliah, Emily, and Rachel, the other female colleagues, are seated alongside David, the male colleague.

Jake: "Alright, let's discuss the upcoming project. Aliah, what's your take on the marketing strategy?"

Aliah: (batting her eyelashes) "Oh, sir, I think you're absolutely brilliant. Your ideas always shine through."

Emily and Rachel exchange a knowing glance.

David: "I agree, the boss input has been invaluable."

Aliah: (leaning forward) "Yes, he has got a way of making everything seem effortless."

Jake: (smiling politely) "Thanks, Aliah. David, can you update us on the sales figures?"

Jake: "Has anyone heard from Sophia? She's usually here by now."

Aliah: (quickly intervening) "Oh, I think Sophia mentioned something about... um... having a rare allergy to office air. Yeah, she's getting some special treatment."

Emily and Rachel raise an eyebrow.

David: "Office air allergy? That's a new one."

Jake: "Alright, let's look into it. Aliah, you reach out to the receptionist to call and see if everything's okay?"

Aliah's expression turns slightly sour.

Aliah is a marketing specialist at the company. This role allows her to work closely with Jake on projects, providing opportunities for her to showcase her skills and subtlely flirt with him.

Jake shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his mind wandering back to Sophia's unexplained absence at work today. He tried to focus on the meeting, but his thoughts kept drifting to her. Had she finally had enough of his busy schedule? Maybe she'd decided to resign.

As the meeting adjourned, Jake couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He made a mental note to reach out to Sophia, but a part of him hesitated. What if she'd decided to distance herself from him? The uncertainty gnawed at him.

Jake's phone buzzed discreetly on his desk. He glanced at the screen, hoping it might be Sophia. Instead, it was a message from Aliah, asking about the project's next steps. Jake's response was brief, his mind still preoccupied with the woman of his dreams.

Jake's phone buzzed with an incoming message. It was Sophia.

"Hey, good morning, I've been dealing with some family stuff. Won't be able to come into the office today"

Jake's thumbs hesitated over the screen before typing out a brief response:

"Okay."

The memory of their last misunderstanding lingered, and Jake wasn't sure how to bridge the gap. He waited to see if Sophia would say more.

After a few minutes of silence, Jake sent another message.

"Is everything okay? You just dropped that message and went silent."

"I'm really sorry for not calling in today. I know I should have."

Jake

"What's going on? Is everything alright?"

Sophia

"To be honest,It's been really tough lately."

Jake

"I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want me to check on you after work? Maybe we can talk about it more then."

Sophia

"That would be nice, actually. Thank you."

Jake

"Alright, I'll swing by your place after work.

Sophia

"That sounds great, thank you."

Jake

"What would you like me to bring? Food, drinks, or something else?"

Sophia

"Oh, um, surprise me .Whatever you think I'd like is fine."

Jake

"Alright, but I'm not exactly a mind reader. How about I bring some soup or maybe some Nigerian jollof rice? Would you like that?"

Sophia

"Jollof rice sounds great, thank you."

Jake

"No problem, I'll grab some jollof rice and maybe some chicken or fish, I'm sure that will do.."

Sophia

Thanks, that's fine.

Jake

No problem, see you later.

Jake put down his phone and let out a soft sigh. He couldn't help but feel a flutter in his chest as he thought about seeing Sophia soon. He shook his head, a hint of a blush rising to his cheeks.

"Why am I still like this?" Jake muttered to himself. "I still miss her."

He cursed his own vulnerability, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite untangle.

Aliah knocked gently on the door, but there was no response. Assuming Jake was busy, she turned the handle and stepped inside.

Her eyes widened slightly as she took in Jake's flushed face. She hadn't expected to see her normally composed boss looking so... flustered.

Aliah sauntered closer, her hips swaying slightly. "Hell, Mr Jake," she said, her voice husky. "You look like you could use some... stress relief." She batted her eyelashes, trying to entice him.

Jake barely glanced up, his expression unyielding. "Aliah, I'll call you when I need you to work on something. That's all."

Aliah didn't seem deterred. She leaned in, her voice taking on a sultry tone. "I'm happy to help you with anything, sir. Anything at all."

Jake's expression remained firm. "Aliah, I mean it. I'll call you when I need you for work. You can go now."

With a flick of her hair, Aliah straightened up, her smile faltering. She nodded curtly and left the room, sensing Jake's disinterest.

After Aliah left, Jake took a deep breath and tried to focus on his work. He spent the next few hours reviewing documents and making phone calls.

The day went by real quick and it was time to close.

As the office building emptied, Jake gathered his belongings, preparing to leave for the day. His assistant, Rachel, hurried over to help him collect his suit jacket, laptop bag, and a folder full of important documents.

"Let me get that for you, Mr. Jake," Rachel said, taking the folder from him.

"Thanks, Rachel.

As they walked out of the office, Bontus, Jake's driver, was waiting by the car, holding open the door. Rachel handed Jake's belongings to Bontus, who carefully placed them in the trunk.

" I need to make a quick stop at the mall" Jake said while getting into the car.

"Okay sir."