Lucas Reed gazed at the folder on the desk as if it could burst open at any moment.
His name appeared clearly on the tab. Not scrawled. Not hurried. Flawlessly centered, as if it had been reserved for him well before he entered the room.
'This is terrible ' Lucas reflected. 'This is truly terrible.'
Victoria Hale positioned herself across the desk her stance casual arms gently placed on the surface as she leaned in slightly to bridge the space. The urban skyline visible, behind her seemed surreal as if it were a painting someone had put up merely to taunt him.
"You seem anxious " she remarked quietly.
Lucas gulped. "I tend to be when doors shut behind me."
She gave a smile. "You caught that fast."
"I observe details when it seems like my life is, on the verge of a change " he answered before he could hold back.
Victoria's eyes gleamed with amusement. "It all hinges on what you consider change."
She motioned at the folder. "Proceed."
Lucas paused briefly then extended his hand and unlatched it.
Within it lay papers. Evaluations of performance. Records of attendance. Notes on projects. His labor, carefully organized. Several sheets contained remarks, alongside the text. Her script.
Compliments.
Praise.
Observations.
He understood, heart racing, 'She truly has been observing me.'
"You're performing excellently " Victoria remarked, her voice both friendly. "Even more than you think."
Lucas nodded gradually. "Thanks. I do my best."
"I realize you do " she answered. "That's the reason I wished to talk with you "
He glanced upward. "Regarding my future?"
"Yes."
His belly churned.
Victoria stood up straight. Circled the desk her heels tapping gently on the floor. She paused next, to him near enough for him to catch the scent of her perfume. Light. Recognizable.
"You understand " she went on "I think potential ought to be fostered. Not squandered."
Lucas felt his throat dry up. "I concur."
She looked down at him. "I wish to entrust you with responsibility."
His eyes grew larger. "Really?"
"Yes " she replied. "However trust carries with it responsibility."
'Here it arrives.'
Victoria bent forward a little placing her hands on the armrest of his chair. "Do you have faith, in me Lucas?"
His heart almost ceased beating.
'Why does she phrase the question that way?'
"I do " he replied cautiously. "In my role, as your boss."
She chuckled quietly. "Certainly. That's what I intended."
Her gaze remained on his face for time than needed.
"Great " she remarked. "Then this should be straightforward."
Without hesitation she moved backward. Opened the door as though it had never been secured in the first place.
Lucas exhaled a breath he hadn't noticed he was keeping in.
"I'll provide you with information shortly " Victoria said. "You are free to leave."
"Yes ma'am " Lucas replied, rising promptly.
When he arrived at the door her voice halted him.
"Lucas."
He spun around.
She smiled more. This time it seemed distinct.
"Try not to dwell on things much " she remarked. "You have a habit of doing that."
He. Departed before his legs collapsed.
…
The remainder of the day slipped by in a fog.
Lucas went back, to his desk. His concentration had vanished. Figures merged indistinctly. Text failed to remain fixed. Whenever he believed he was settling his thoughts repeated Victoria's voice her gaze, the manner in which she uttered his name.
' responsibility ' he reflected. 'That's typical. That's positive.'
Nevertheless the sensation refused to depart from him.
He observed Lily staring at him frequently than normal. Whenever their gazes locked she averted her eyes swiftly her cheeks slightly flushed.
She sat opposite him at lunch picking at her meal.
"Are you alright?" she inquired nonchalantly.
Lucas blinked. "Yeah. What's up?"
"You've been gazing off into the distance all day " Lily responded. "It's unsettling."
"Sorry " he replied. "I'm just lost in thought."
She paused. "Regarding yesterday?"
His utensil became frozen.
"What occurred yesterday?" he inquired, feigning ignorance.
Lily's cheeks flushed immediately. "N nothing. Never mind."
She glanced down at her tray evidently unsettled.
"Things are deteriorating " Lucas mused.
Once his shift ended he departed away his mind throbbing from excessive rumination.
…
That evening slumber more evaded arrival, with ease.
Lucas was lying in bed gazing at the ceiling recalling the door the folder and the expression Victoria had given him.
'She's my superior ' he told himself. 'This is merely professional.'
His phone vibrated.
Message from an unknown number.
Lucas. Unfolded it.
Unknown: Did you make it home okay?
His heart missed a beat.
He wrote at a pace.
Lucas: Yes. Who is this?
The response arrived immediately.
Unknown: You realize who this is.
Lucas gazed at the monitor, heart racing.
A subsequent message was received.
Anonymous: Rest soundly this evening. Tomorrow holds significance.
He raised himself up in bed.
Lucas: About what?
A trio of dots showed up.
Then disappeared.
No reply.
Lucas settled back onto his pillow gazing at the phone.
'What was she implying by important.'
His phone vibrated more.
On this occasion a calendar alert appeared.
New Event Created
Title: Private Assignment
Location: Offsite
Time: Tomorrow Evening
Organizer: Victoria Hale
Lucas's breathing faltered.
'Offsite.'
He secured his phone. Gazed up at the ceiling once more.
Elsewhere in the city Victoria Hale was, in her office holding the phone gently smiling.
"Shortly " she murmured.
And this time, there was no one there to hear it.