"FIRST DAY, HUH?" Cameron said from the other line. Laavanya stood outside the Piper and Lawson Publishers' entrance. Her eyes were on the workers hustling around with files and attending calls. "How nervous are you?"

Things with Cameron had been...better. She knew she needed space from him. They maintained their distance. They had shared just two calls in the last three days. Cameron had been surprisingly good at this. He hadn't slipped about his reluctance to this 'problem' they were going through–although his tightened voice told her that he wasn't enjoying this. She couldn't help but feel freer than before. She didn't miss Cameron as much as she should have and that just scared her even more.

"I earned my place here. I am confident I will only be better than before."

"That's the girl I fell for." She knew Cameron was smiling from the other side but her confident smile dropped. She took a deep breath that almost made her suffocate in her white turtleneck.

"Cam–"

"What now?" He said, slightly annoyed. "I can't even tell you I love you?"

"No, I–" Laavanya sighed. "I gotta go, I am here." She didn't wait for him to say anything and hung up. The moment she cut the call, she knew she had made a mistake. She called him again. It took so long for him to answer that she assumed he was debating sending her to voicemail. "Cam, I am sorry. I shouldn't have invalidated your feelings like that."

He took an audible breath. "Good luck, Laav. Call or text me if you want to–or we can catch up some other time."

"Yeah, okay. Bye."

She cut the call and massaged her head. She knew Cameron didn't deserve this. She had to let them go but how was she going to do that? How was she going to tell the man who loved her more than anyone–that she didn't love him anymore? And the worst part was—she didn't even know why.

She pushed the feelings aside and held her head high. She shoved her phone in her purse and stood straight as she strutted into the lobby. The woman on the reception desk looked up and smiled. "Hi, I am Laavanya Shaw. It's my first day as a designer."

"Oh, of course. Ms. Shaw. I am Diana. Let me just inform one of your co-workers for a tour around. Welcome to Piper and Lawson's." She picked up the telephone and dialled someone. Meanwhile, Laavanya gazed around. When she first walked into her interview here, she was nervous and almost certain she was going to screw up. But now, she is an employee here.

She made it.

"Hi, you must be Laavanya." A woman said from her side. Laavanya turned around to find a petite lady smiling at her. She was wearing a black knee length pencil skirt and a blue shirt. Her brown hair reached her shoulders and they waved as she walked closer with her hands stretched out. "I am Jennifer Larsen, your co-worker. Why don't I show you around?"

Laavanya followed her as she showed her her new home. Piper and Lawson was a thriving publishing house and the office didn't hide it. There were so many best selling books published by this company. The awards and certificates were hung all around the walls. Jennifer had shown her everything except for telling her who the head of the department was. The tour ended with Jennifer giving her a little coffee tip as they reached Laavanya's desk. No one in the creative department had a cabin except for the Head whose cabin was in the direct view from her desk.

"So, that's it. Your computer has already been logged in. All the passwords are stuck on a sticky note on the soft board. If you have any questions, you can find me two desks away."

"Thank you for the tour, Ms. Larsen." Jennifer's smile stretched before she walked back to her desk. Laavanya stared at her empty desk for a while before taking a seat. The chair was comfortable and her desk wasn't the biggest but she'd make do. She filled her pen holder with some of her pens and markers. She switched her computer on and her eyes widened when she realised that she had the most recent version of the computer. She already knew she had to start saving for a better laptop. If she has the most upgraded version of features here, they'd expect the same work from the times she took her work home.

Woah.

The telephone on her desk rang, almost flinching her. She pulled it to her ears.

"Diana here–Mr. Edison expects everyone in the conference room in two minutes."

"Okay." And she hung up.

"I bet they're introducing the new head of the department," a voice spoke. She looked up to her right to find a boyish looking man peeping from the other side. Jennifer had introduced everyone's name from afar and they had simply looked up their desks and smiled. She had no clue who he was. "It's Samuel, by the way," he said after reading her confused expressions.

"Right, sorry." She smiled back. "Two positions hired on the same day?"

"I heard that Mr. Edison begged for the new head to join the company. I have no clue who it is. Let's see, shall we?" Samuel asked and stood up at the same time as Laavanya. They headed towards the conference room and sat beside each other along with the other co-workers.

Mr. Edison walked in a minute later. He tugged his blazer and stood at the end of the table with a sharp grin on his face. He met everyone's eyes and said, "As you have already known–you have a new co-worker in the creative department. I hope everyone gives a warm welcome to Ms. Laavanya Shaw as she surprises us with her works." He met her eyes and she offered him a smile before throwing a confident wave at everyone. "And I am happy to announce that we have found a perfect fit for the head of the creative department. Please have a round of applause for Mr.– '' Mr. Edison stretched his arm, gesturing at the door. Everyone's head turned around. And a man walked in. Laavanya's and his eyes met. "Ryker Morris." Her smile fell. Ryker's gaze didn't leave Laavanya as a look of shock moulded on her face. She broke eye contact and took a deep breath.

Ryker was her new boss.

Why was that so hard to digest? She didn't even know he was a designer. Frankly, she always thought he was a maths guy but now–it made sense. She remembered one time–a few years ago after the incident when she found him alone in a room. He had a large canvas in front of him. He was painting the ocean but all Laavanya's eyes had focused on were his bare back facing her. But she was filled with so much rage back then that she strutted right away. But–how was she going to work now? She had never worked with a friend, or more like—a mutual friend before. Her heart was pounding so loudly, she barely heard anything–until Ryker's voice cut through the crowd.

"I am glad to be here." She tentatively met his eyes and he was already looking at her.

"Ahem," Mr. Edison cleared his throat–resulting in breaking eye contact between them. "So are we. We hope to achieve great feats of accomplishment with you and your team." He shook hands with Ryker whose expressions remained unchanged. "With that being said, let's get back to work." Mr. Edison met Laavanya's eyes. "Ms. Shaw, I'd like to see you in my office."

Her heart sank further. Without sparing any glance at anyone, she followed him into his cabin–which was as big as her own room. Apart from a desk and chairs on both the sides, his cabin had his own bookshelf and a couch. The sunlight filtered in through the windows giving the view of the city's most popular skyline from the 20th floor. She never wanted to become an Editor but god, she would kill for a cabin like this.

Mr. Edison sat on his seat and rested both of his elbows on the desk. "So, Ms. Shaw, how has your first day been so far? Are you liking Piper and Lawson?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is great. I am looking forward to working here."

"Speaking of which, I will come straight to my point. Now, while I am not suspecting any foul behaviour but as you know, hiring you is still a risk. I don't want to regret my decision so I personally want to tell you this–" his smile stayed but it was no longer warm. "We don't extend deadlines. Designers don't engage with the authors without the Head's consent. And we do not promote workplace relationships. Now, I know it's not against the rules but we don't appreciate it. Especially those of higher authority to you. Do you understand, Ms. Shaw?"

What even...?

She fumbled. "I, uh. Yes, of course. I won't disappoint you."

"Perfect. Now, you should go meet Mr. Morris. He may have joined today but he already has the work ready for you. Impress us." Laavanaya tried to process the information as she walked out of his cabin.

What was happening?

She stood outside of his cabin longer than she was supposed to. Her hands were pressing to her side. It wasn't until a janitor looked at her funny when she made her way towards Ryker's cabin. She didn't want to face—so much as look at him. But she took a deep breath. No matter what, he was still her boss. She has to deal with that.

His cabin–like Mr. Edison's–was made of glass, giving it too much transparency which meant he could watch her and she could watch him at all times. That both thrilled and scared her. The rest of the cabin was mostly the same as Mr. Edison's–with the large windows and the view, she knew the night sight must be like a dream. While Mr. Edison's cabin walls had bookshelves, certificates, trophies and frames of his family—Ryker's had none. But he had just moved in so she didn't expect much on his white walls anyway. He was sitting at his desk, filling out some papers when she knocked at his door and pushed it open.

He lifted his chin–his faint stubble shaved from the last time they met. "Oh, Laavanya. Come in." No change in his emotions. He looked at her with a poker face.

She walked in as she closed the door. "Mr. Morris–" she forced out. "--Mr. Edison asked me to come see you."

"You don't have to do that when it's just us. No one can hear us," he said nonchalantly.

"You are my boss, after all. I am sure it was a surprise to you just as much as it was to me."

"I knew."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, Laavanya. I knew you were working for me. I got all the employee and project details the day before." He dropped his pen and leaned back on the chair. His blazer brushed away from his torso and she could make out the defined abs underneath his light blue shirt. He wasn't wearing anything proactive yet it made her shudder. It was probably just the nerves.

She folded her arms over her chest and shifted her weight onto her one leg. "So you could text me congratulations but couldn't add that you were my boss?" She scoffed.

"What good was it going to do to you?" He muttered. "You weren't going to quit because of the conflict of interest now, were you?"

"There is no interest here. You are my boss and I am your employee. That is where it starts and ends."

"You were turning awfully red when you found out that I'm your boss. That barely suggests the no interest part." The all-too-familiar smirk twisted on his face.

"Shut up, Ryker."

He snickered. "That's no way to talk to your boss."

Laavanya stared at him through her gritted teeth.

She wasn't a religious person but goddamn, she cursed her Gods for putting her here.

I haven't read or written much in this trope but I am excited to get started! what do you think? what are your theories about what happens next?