At Gutierrez's
Although Maximiliano's office was not nearly as large as Suzzanne's, it conveyed an aura of restraint and long hours.
Stacks of papers were neatly arranged, cabinets meticulously labelled, and the smell of coffee lingered in the air like a lingering memory, but Maximiliano was anything but composed.
The frantic pace of his movement caused him to open drawers, shift folders, rummage through file boxes as he half-muttered curses.
His blazer was thrown over the chair, his sleeves rolled up, the sweat still clinging to his temples as he recalls the encounter that left him shaken worse than he thought.
He was so engrossed in his activities that he failed to notice someone standing there observing everything he was doing inside, nor did he hear the knock.
Then came a voice, It was a sharp, casual voice, like a dagger hidden within a smile.
"You called?" The voice asked.
Maximiliano froze.
A man in his late twenties stood at the threshold with one hand still casually touching the doorframe, standing there with a broad-shouldered, tailored black suit, golden blonde hair perfectly swept back, piercing brown eyes scanning the room like a hawk.
Felix.
Maximiliano exhaled through his nose, "There you are, Felix, what took you so long to come?"
Felix arched a single eyebrow at Maximiliano, "You didn't exactly call with flowers in your hand, I figured it wasn't going to be a light afternoon."
With a soft thud against the wooden floor as he stepped inside, Felix tilted his head as he stood just a few feet away from Maximiliano.
"You haven't answered my question?" he repeated, voice low, gaze narrowing slightly, "What were you looking for?" Maximiliano stared at him for a long time.
A tense air filled the room, Felix waited. He didn't get a response, "Did you misplace something?" He asked again, the tone now sharper, the light gone.
Maximiliano clamped his jaw, "Find a new assistant for her!" he said suddenly, changing the subject.
"What?!" Felix blinked, suspicion drained from his face and replaced it with surprise, "Did she fire him?"
"Somewhat..." Maximiliano said quickly, but the way his eyes flickered said otherwise, Felix frowned.
"But he was competent, good at scheduling, always on top of things."
Rather than asking Felix where Arthur had gone, Maximiliano quietly said, "Maybe that's what triggered her."
His eyes darkened at the thought of what had happened in Suzzanne's office hours earlier, as Felix's brow furrowed, "Wait- you're telling me-" Maximiliano cut him off.
"I'm not telling you anything." Maximiliano cut in swiftly, "Just do what I asked."
The tension in Maximiliano's shoulders, the sheen of cold sweat, the disheveled desk, the problem was not about Suzzanne's matter, Felix studied him closely.
"Alright," Felix said slowly, nodding. "I'll start the process right away."
"I'll make sure it's someone quiet." Felix said after a brief pause."Someone who knows how to mind their business," he further added.
A small relief appeared on Maximiliano's face, "Good, that's what we need right now," but Felix was not smiling.
Taking another look around the office, he noticed that the papers were pulled out of place, the drawer was partially opened, and saw something half buried under the files, then turned back towards Maximiliano, giving a polite nod before leaving, he couldn't help but think, whatever Maximiliano was seeking wasn't just a file, and if Suzzanne was involved, it might already be too late.
Later That Day
The deep purr of the black Mercedes came to a halt outside a modest, square cut building tucked between larger commercial blocks, which looked insignificant to the untrained eye.
But Suzzanne Gutierrez knew better. With trained precision, Felix stepped out first, adjusted the cuff of his suit before gliding to the back passenger side of the car and opening the door, and Suzzanne emerged from within, radiant and powerful.
The tailored blazer sculpted to her figure with every sharp edge and polished seam adorned her sleek cobalt blue pantsuit.
A vibrant pop of color against the monochrome world around her was the wide leg trousers that draped elegantly over red stiletto heels, the bold pop of color striking against the monochrome world.
Underneath the blazer was a crisp white blouse adorned with barely noticeable blue patterns that teased softness beneath her strong lines. Her wrist carried a tan leather handbag with effortless grace.
As her long, waved hair spilled over her shoulders like a dark silk curtain, moving with every click of her heels, her face was composed, confident that every step she took was effortless command, Felix followed behind silent as her shadow, she didn't pause at the door, she walked right in without hesitation, without glances to either side, as if she owned the building, and she did.
As they approached the receptionist, who wore simply in slacks and a pale blouse with her hair tied back in a taut ponytail. She glanced up, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of Suzzanne standing there, her presence suddenly making the entire lobby seem too small.
"Where's Mauricio?" Felix questioned the receptionist.
The receptionist glanced at Felix before returning her attention to Suzzanne, "He's out of the country." and she paused.
Suzzanne stood still, staring at her with an unnerving, heavy silence hanging between them. "You can change your answer while I'm still being patient," she said softly, but with irony.
It was her fear that hit the girl's face as her hands froze mid typing.
Suzzanne spun on her heel and left without another word, the girl looked at Felix, what had just been said seemed to be all warning, part apology, he followed her.
They climbed the stairs in silence, the atmosphere growing heavier as they stepped higher and when they reached the upper floor, Suzzanne didn't waste any second, she strode straight up to the first door and flung it wide open without knocking.
She stepped into his dimly lit office, where Mauricio—early 40s, casual polo shirt half-unbuttoned, feet kicked up, a tablet in his hand and half-empty glass of whiskey on a side table—was lying on a sleek leather couch. He hadn't been prepared to entertain.
When his eyes fell toward the door—
He jumped.
"Ms. Gutierrez—!" he stammered, getting to his feet, wide-eyed and nearly knocking over his glass.
Suzzanne's stood in the doorway was a painting brought to a life— poised, immaculate, a danger.
"Hope we didn't cut short your vacation," she added coolly, entering with the grace etched into every thrust and tug of her limbs.
She strolled, her heels clicking on the tile.
Felix shut the door behind them.
Mauricio swallowed hard and stood up, wiping his hands on his jeans, looking totally uncomfortable. "W-What are you doing here?"
Suzzanne said nothing. She just came around the desk and sat down in his chair—which was now her chair. He got the symbolism.
"How's the club running?" she asked, not sparing him any glance.
He blinked, taken aback by the question. "I-It's going great. As always."
His answer was too quick. Too stiff. Too safe.
Her eyes raised, searching for his.
"You thought I didn't need to at least be in the room for the finals?" she snapped, and now her voice was sharp and thick with scorched disappointment.
She leaned back in the chair ever so slightly.
"No meetings. No reports. No call. Not even a damn email. Thought I should surprise you. Let you explain."
"I—I didn't mean—"
"You think I'm stupid, Mauricio?" she asked.
And it wasn't much of a question.
Mauricio froze. His throat constricted. He felt chilly droplets of sweat starting to travel down the back of his neck.
"No! No, not at all. I just — I didn't think it would be —"
"Whatever," she said, the softness of her finality as it cut him off.
She stood up.
"I'll be there for the finals tomorrow.
Mauricio blinked. "You'll be?"
He wished he hadn't asked that the instant it fell out of his mouth. There was no business of his what he questioned her about.
Suzzanne didn't respond. She didn't look back.
She was already moving, her heels hard and sharp against the hard floor as Felix pushed the door open for her.
And then she was gone.
Gone, but not out his mind.
Mauricio just stood staring at her, his mouth dry, his heart beating so fast and so hard that it threatened to drown out the silence in the room.
Author's Note:
Thankyou for reading<3
Regular updates from tonight on;)
Have a good day/night <3<3