Anastasia
Mondays and I have never been friends. But today, as the shrill cry of my alarm tore me from the comfort of sleep, I didn't linger beneath the sheets. I silenced it with a groan, sat up straight, and promised myself a good start. If I had to face another brutal corporate week, at least I would be armed with caffeine and composure.
The kitchen filled with the warmth of sizzling butter and brewed coffee. I cooked myself a hearty breakfast, refusing to rush. Eggs, toast, avocado slices, and a dash of chili - simple yet satisfying. A steaming cup of dark roast sat at my elbow as I scrolled absently through my phone, avoiding the endless flood of work group messages. There was always chatter, gossip, teasing, rarely anything urgent.
After breakfast and a hot shower, came my ritual, standing before the wardrobe, curating the armor I'd wear into the battlefield of the corporate world. Today, I chose a beige three-piece suit, crisp and tailored to perfection, paired with beige pumps that clicked elegantly against marble floors. Minimalist jewelry, just a whisper of gold at my ears and wrist, and nude makeup to complete the look. I liked looking presentable, composed as ever.
Talia always teased me about it. "If you ever get tired of working at the company, Ana, switch to fashion. You'd do great."
One last look in the mirror confirmed it. The reflection staring back at me was calm, collected, and ready. Even if inside, I was still shaking sleep off my bones.
I slid into my car. The engine purred like a beast awakened, and I let it carry me into the city's veins. My playlist greeted me with Chase Atlantic's "Walls", and the moody beat immediately seeped into my bloodstream.
Talia never failed to question my obsession with dark, intoxicating songs. But she had no room to talk; she worshipped The Weekend as if he were gospel. Between the two of us, our tastes were equally… morally questionable. And maybe that was why we got along so well.
By the time I rolled into the company's glass fortress, the parking lot shimmered with rows of luxury cars. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, all lined up like predators waiting to pounce.
My brows arched. Was the CEO making an appearance today? That would explain the glittering exhibition of wealth at our doorstep. His visits were rare, but when they happened, chaos usually followed. He really wields enormous power. I always admire him, but also terrified, as young as he was, he achieved everything. That is something to be proud of.
The moment I stepped through the lobby, the air was thick, charged. The polished marble floor echoed with hurried footsteps. Conversations sparked and died mid-sentence as people rushed past each other, heels clattering.
The elevator was jammed, bodies pressed in like sardines. I squeezed in eventually, but not without holding my breath, as if the entire building had forgotten how oxygen worked.
What on earth is going on here? Did the company go bankrupt? Shut it! how can that be? Didn't you see who is in charge, the devil himself? But Something was wrong.
On my way to my department floor, I spotted more employees rushing in every direction, clutching files like lifelines. My confusion doubled with each second until a firm hand caught my arm.
"Anastasia!"
It was Zoey, my co-worker, cheeks flushed, eyes wild like she'd run a marathon.
"What on earth is going on?" I asked, lowering my voice to match the frantic buzz around us.
"You don't know?" She blinked at me, incredulous.
"Clearly not. Someone enlighten me before my blood pressure does the honors."
Zoey leaned in, whispering as if the walls themselves had ears. "The product launch. The one scheduled for next month? It's been shifted. Next Monday. It's going public."
For a second, her words didn't register. They floated around in my brain, scrambled, senseless. Then it hit me. "What?" My voice cracked, earning curious glances from two interns scurrying past. "That's impossible. You can't pull something like that off in a week!"
Zoey threw her hands up in exasperation. "Tell that to upper management. Or better yet, to him."
"Him?" My chest tightened. "Don't tell me…"
"Yes," she cut in, grim. "The CEO himself ordered it."
I froze, stomach sinking. If he was behind this, then resistance was pointless. He was the law here. A shadow no one dared to cross. We are doomed.
Zoey's expression softened. "Ana, please tell me you checked the group chat. This was all over it last night."
Heat crept up my neck. "I… might have ignored it. I thought it was just the usual banter. Memes. Gossip."
Her jaw dropped. "Ignored it? Anastasia, the group was on fire! Where the hell were you?"
I sighed, running a hand through my perfectly set hair. "Out. With my siblings and my best friend. I needed a break, Zoey. A few hours where I wasn't chained to my phone."
"Ah." She gave me a look that was half sympathy, half scolding. "I hope you enjoyed yourself then, because the rest of us were drowning in panic. Honestly, girl, you need to check the group more often. Sometimes, buried under the nonsense, there's actual information."
I groaned. "The group is always lit and trending with nonsense. How was I supposed to know this time was different?"
Her lips curled in a smirk. "Consider this your wake-up call. Next time, don't underestimate chaos disguised as banter."
Despite myself, I laughed faintly. But deep down, unease clawed at me. A week. We had one week to pull off something that usually required months of preparation. And worse, if the CEO was directly involved, that meant he'd be watching. Closely.
And nothing unsettled me more than the thought of him stepping into our spaces.