Two hours after the official end of the workday, the corporate slaves finally got their freedom. I pretended to be engrossed in work as my colleagues left for the day. They gave me pitiful looks, but I knew they were relieved to not be in my place.

I was honestly just waiting for Noah to take us up to the pool.

I tapped my fingers on the desk and checked the time. Ten minutes to our swimming lesson. My gaze flitted to Noah’s office, and I scowled at the blinds again. Why did he have to be so cruel to me? I sighed and laid my head down on the desk. 

Although that wasn’t what I was most upset about. Noah had called in Henry this afternoon. But none of us knew what happened inside. Henry just left after their talk. We knew his mother was in the hospital—that’s why he had been late. 

But given Noah’s personality, he wouldn't have asked for a reason.

I sighed. In the empty office, I nibbled on biscuits to distract myself. Now that I was thinking about it, it really felt like Noah and I were secretly dating. 

Wasn’t this how it happened in movies? Two people left all alone in the office—with nothing but their clothes in between them. Colorful images flooded my mind, and I let out a throaty chuckle. 

Someone knocked on my desk. Startled, I looked up. Noah stood in front of me, his gym bag in his hand, and asked, “Ready?”

I checked the time. Could he be any more punctual? I sneaked one last biscuit in my mouth, and said, “Yes, sir.”

The sun had already set outside, and Patrick had turned off the main lights before leaving. I squinted to make out the path in the dim hallway. Noah strode ahead with no difficulties, and I hurried after him. 

We stopped in front of the elevators. There was a crackle, and the night lights flickered above us. 

“We should get that fixed,” Noah commented.

“I’ll get that done tomorrow,” I said and shuddered. With the deserted office and the flickering lights, it almost looked like a haunted house set.

We stepped inside the empty elevator. A chilly breeze blew through the air vents, and I rubbed my arms. I heard a distant rumbling noise and frowned. Was that the elevator? It wouldn’t fail on us, would it? I shook out the disturbing images and pressed the button to the top floor.

Click-clack. Click-clack. An unusual sound echoed in the hallway outside. I ignored it until I realized… weren’t we the last people to leave this floor?! 

Horror crawled over my skin, and I hurried to press the close door button. My finger tapped it again and again. The frequency of the noise increased. It was closer now. Louder. Noah said something, but my focus was on getting the door shut— 

Bam! Blood-red nails slammed on the doors and clawed them apart.

I screamed, and the gym bag flew out of my hand. Scrambling to a corner, I shut my eyes and raised my arms to defend myself.

“It’s me!” 

That… sounded familiar. 

I peeled an eye open. Sarah popped her head inside the elevator. I stared at her red manicure. She stepped inside, her stilettos clicking against the floor.

“Phew!” She laughed. “Almost missed the elevator. Are you okay?”

Okay? She almost gave me a heart attack! I clutched my chest and said, “Yes, Mrs. Kim.” 

She nodded and asked, “What happened to you, sir?”

With my soul back inside my body, I turned to look at Noah. He stood frozen behind me, holding my gym bag as if it were a weapon of mass destruction. My gaze rested on his face, and I gasped. 

I looked between my bag and his conspicuously red cheek. Did I… did I accidentally throw my bag in his face?

Of course I did.

“Sorry…” I squeaked out. Noah returned my bag and pretended nothing had happened.

Sarah pointed to the top floor button and asked, “Are you two going somewhere?”

My blood ran cold. I glanced at Noah, and he shot me an accusatory look. How was this my fault? I didn’t even know someone was still here! Least of all Sarah. She was the source of 99% of our office gossip. Born to be an actress but stuck here as a manager, she passionately re-enacted every illicit office affair during lunch breaks.

Sarah looked at our gym bags. As if getting a whiff of the situation, she asked, “Am I interrupting some—” 

“No!” I cleared my throat and said, “Just pressed the wrong button.”

“Oh.” Sarah nodded and pressed the button to the ground floor. 

And instead of going towards our destination, we descended in the other direction.

The elevator music blared over our silence. Noah coughed and nudged my shoulder. I looked at him. He motioned for me to take charge and deal with Sarah. I made a helpless face. He pointed at his watch as if pressed for time.

I wanted to ugly cry. What was I supposed to do?! If we didn’t play along with Sarah, it was akin to giving her a shiny new script and saying, Look! We’re together! Make this the highlight of your gossip session tomorrow!

And I was sure Noah didn’t want that.

The elevator stopped at the ground floor. Sarah took out her car keys and asked, “Do you want a lift?”

Any other time, I would have been ecstatic. But how do I turn her down now?

“Come on, don’t be shy.” Sarah hooked her arm through mine. The door opened, and she said, “See you tomorrow, sir.”

Noah and I stared at each other in horrified silence. Sarah walked out, dragging me along with her. I finally snapped out of my daze and pulled out my arm. I gasped. “Oh no! I forgot my phone upstairs!”

“Oh?” Sarah paused. “Do you want me to ring it? Maybe it’s in your purse.”

Of course it’s in my purse! I quickly added, “It’s on my desk. Thank you for the offer, but please don’t wait for me!” 

Sarah tried to say something, but I rushed inside the elevator. Noah was still standing there. She changed her target and asked, “Aren’t you coming, sir?”

I looked at Noah and prayed. Please make an excuse! Noah blinked. In the utmost monotonous voice, he said, “I forgot my pen. See you tomorrow, Mrs. Kim.” 

My jaw dropped. He couldn’t have imitated a robot better than this!

The elevator door closed on Sarah’s confused face. I slumped against the wall and sighed. We barely escaped her. I looked at Noah and asked, “Was our acting okay? Would she suspect us?”

Noah met my gaze and chuckled. “And what could she suspect between us?”

I almost said—the pool, or you know, dating—when I paused. The insult registered inside my head, and I shot him a glare.

Does he mean no one would even believe something is possible between us?!