CHAPTER FIVE— UNWANTED ATTENTION
The office buzzed with its usual rhythm: phones ringing, keyboards clattering, printers spitting out reports. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting long rectangles of light across the floor.
She sat at her desk, carefully reviewing the folder the boss had given her earlier. Client proposals, budgets, and charts danced before her eyes, but her mind kept wandering back to the morning's near-disaster in the locker room.
A soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Lin, hey—do you have a moment?"
She looked up to see Mei, one of the junior staff, standing beside her desk. Mei was cheerful, always impeccably dressed, with an easy smile that made her look younger than she was.
"Uh… sure," she said, forcing a casual tone.
Mei leaned against the edge of the desk, peering down at her. "I just wanted to say… you're doing really well lately. Everyone noticed."
"Thanks," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady. She avoided Mei's gaze, afraid that too much attention might unravel her carefully maintained façade.
Mei's eyes sparkled. "You know… a guy like you shouldn't be working so hard. You should have fun too. Maybe come with me and a few others for drinks after work?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Drinks? After work? She couldn't risk that.
"I… uh, I have plans," she said quickly, praying her excuse sounded believable.
Mei tilted her head, sensing hesitation. "Plans with someone special?"
She choked on the words in her throat. "Uh… family stuff."
"Hmm." Mei's eyes lingered on her a little longer than necessary. "Well, if you change your mind… I think you'd be perfect with someone."
Her pulse raced. She clenched her fists under the desk. Perfect with someone? She had to stay in disguise. Every second she spent pretending to be a man was a second closer to discovery.
As Mei walked away, she exhaled quietly, but the reprieve was short-lived.
By mid-afternoon, the office quieted again. Most of the staff had gone, leaving her alone with the persistent hum of the air conditioner. She had just settled back into her work when the door to the office clicked open.
The CEO stood there, holding a cup of coffee, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her.
"Lin," he said, stepping in.
"Yes, sir?" she asked, straightening in her chair.
He set the coffee down on the corner of her desk, leaning against it casually. "I saw Mei lingering around your desk earlier. Care to explain?"
Her stomach dropped. "Explain…?"
He raised an eyebrow. "She seemed… unusually interested in you. I just want to make sure there are no distractions while you're handling client proposals."
She forced a laugh. "No distractions, sir. I can handle it."
His gaze lingered, sharp and calculating. For a moment, it felt like he was seeing through her entire disguise.
"Good," he said finally, straightening. "Because I'll be watching closely."
Her hands tightened around her pen, and she forced herself to nod.
The rest of the afternoon was a delicate balance. She answered emails, double-checked reports, and avoided eye contact with anyone who looked at her too long. Mei occasionally glanced over, giving her smiles that made her heart race and palms sweat.
By the time five o'clock rolled around, she felt like she had survived a battlefield rather than a normal workday.
Just as she was packing up, a soft knock echoed from the side door.
"Lin?"
Her heart jumped. The boss's voice, calm yet commanding, sent a shiver down her spine.
"Yes, sir?"
He stepped inside, holding another folder. "One last task before you leave. Review these projections and summarize them for me tomorrow morning. Make sure you understand every detail."
"Of course," she said, accepting the folder.
He studied her quietly. "You're improving. Not bad for a guy who barely survived last month."
She laughed nervously, hiding the fact that the compliment hit her deeper than it should.
Then, just as she was about to leave, he added quietly, "Don't let Mei's… attention distract you. You're not… who she thinks you are."
Her blood froze. He suspected.
She nodded quickly, trying to look casual, but inside, panic surged. She had survived the day, but now, the boss was noticing something.
That evening, walking back through the crowded streets, she reflected on the day. The stolen glances, the laughter, the tension with the boss it was intoxicating and terrifying at the same time.
She remembered Mei's smile, the way the junior staff had already started whispering about her, and most dangerously, the way her boss's eyes seemed to search for something… or someone.
I can't get comfortable, she thought, hugging her bag closer. One slip and everything's over.
But there was another feeling too, something she didn't want to admit. Her heart… raced when she remembered the brief, intense look he had given her that afternoon.
It's just survival, she told herself. Don't think about him. Don't think about Mei. Just survive.
The apartment greeted her with its familiar cramped air. The younger sister was asleep on the sofa, exhausted from school. She quietly set her bag down, trying not to wake her.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she reviewed the boss's words over and over.
"You're not… who she thinks you are."
The weight of the secret pressed down on her chest.
If he was noticing, questioning, even slightly suspicious… then the danger wasn't just outside anymore.
It was here, too. In every glance, every gesture, every word exchanged.
That night, she fell asleep staring at the ceiling, knowing two things:
1. She had to maintain the disguise at all costs.
2. The boss was watching her — closer than she had ever imagined.
And she couldn't help but feel… a small, dangerous thrill.