The fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead as Scarlet clicked away at her keyboard, the monotonous sound of typing filling the office. At 21, she had already secured a job at a reputable marketing firm, and her days were a mix of creative brainstorming sessions and client meetings. Yet, despite the professional success, a quiet restlessness lingered within her.

Her longtime boyfriend, Kael, was a constant in her life. They had met in college, navigating the challenges of young adulthood together. Now, they shared an apartment, and Kael was a steady presence in her routine. But lately, a subtle dissatisfaction had crept into Scarlet's heart, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words.

"Scarlet, what time is your break?" Melissa ask. She's one of her colleague in her department. Scarlet met Melissa Canuire 6 months ago, that was the time when she was hired to have a job as a secretary in the firm.

"I'll take a break at 9:45, are you on break now?" Scarlet look at Melissa who sipping on her coffee.

Melissa just nods at Scarlet, "Oh good for you. My head is aching, this report is making me sick" Scarlet rants while still typing at her monitor.

"Don't worry girl, you have until 5 o'clock to finish that. No need to rush" Melissa sips to her cup again after saying that. She looks at the door when a man enters the room.

"Fudge, he's here again." Melissa rolls her eyes when she saw the man who enter.

"Good luck dealing with him girl" Scarlet mocking the voice Melissa use when she rants earlier. The guy who enter is Jace Muller, Melissa's suitor. Quite annoying and clingy, the reason why every time Melissa see him she become irritated.

"Gotta go girl" Melissa walks out the room but still Jace saw her, so he followed.

Scarlet just rolled her eyes then continued doing the report.

"Hey Scarlet, do you have the report last month?" There is this guy, Scarlet's desk mate and colleague. Alejandro Guirrero.

Their desks were side by side,, and they often collaborated on ideas, bouncing concepts back and forth. As the days passed, Scarlet discovered a warmth in Alejandro's presence that was both comforting and exhilarating.

"Nope, I guess Melissa works on that report last week. Go ask her" Dismissing the conversation with the guy.

"Okay chill. I'm just asking" Alejandro's chuckle a bit. "You're so mean you know"

"Whatever" Scarlet doesn't want to continue talking, as she knows that she might get attached. She's aware that what she feels are wrong since she have a long term boyfriend and she doesn't want to hurt him. However, she doesn't know what it is when Alejandro is around him.

"You know, you are so annoying. You are irritating Alejandro. I'm annoyed at you" Scarlet chants repeatedly. Alejandro looks at her and shakes his head.

"What? What did I do? You are blaming me again Scarlet, I'm not doing anything" Alejandro ask confused.

"Whatever, I'm going on a break" then Scarlet stand up whilst locking her computer then walks out of the room.

"Oh, is it break time? I'm going on my break too." Alejandro immediately locks her computer and headed to door following Scarlet out of the room.

On the afternoon, with the weekend just around the corner, the office are filled with a casual energy. Scarlet and Alejandro were wrapping up a presentation, finalizing details for a client meeting scheduled for the following week. As they closed their computers, Alejandro looked at Scarlet, a smile playing on his lips.

"Great work, Scarlet. We make a pretty good team," he said, his eyes holding a warmth that sent a flutter through her chest.

"Yeah, we do," she replied, attempting to mask the sudden nervousness that gripped her.

As they walked out of the office together, Scarlet felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The air was charged with unspoken words, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing, something she couldn't quite grasp.

"Hey Scarlet, are you going home? Where's Melissa?" Jace startled Scarlet with his sudden appearance. Distracted by him, she subsconsiously look at where Alejandro is. Seeing him walking away without saying any words cause her unidentified emotions.

"Scarlet" she looks irritated at Jace.

"You know, can you please get lost. I don't know where Melissa is, okay? So can you please get out of my sight?" after saying that she storms off the bathroom leaving Jace in confusion.

In the bathroom, at the front of the mirror, Scarlet reach for her phone to call Melissa.

"Oh, I'm almost done. Where are you?" Melissa says after answering her call.

"I'm in the bathroom, I met Jace, and he's looking for you." she said.

"Oh gosh, that man is really annoying. What should I do? He might be waiting for me outside." Melissa sounds distress.

Scarlet sighs. "Don't worry, I'll check if he's still on the lobby." she said.

"Okay, make sure you distract him. I'll go straight at the parking lot. See me there."

"Okay, okay" then she drops the call.

Scarlet walks out the bathroom to go to the lobby. She saw Jace talking with Alejandro, wait why is he still here? Didn't he leave earlier? Scarlet thinks on her mind.

She approached the two to distract Jace. Alejandro noticed her first whilst the other is still talking about something.

"Scarlet is still here, probably Melissa too." Scarlet immediately looks at Alejandro angrily. Alejandro raise his brow confused.

"Why are you still here? I thought you already leave?" Scarlet ask.

"Why? Am I not allowed to go back? I left my wallet on my desk." Alejandro explained.

"Whatever Alejandro" Scarlet looks at Jace who's observing them.

"What? Do you have something to say Jace?" Scarlet ask him.

Jace just shakes his head then smile. "Nope, it's just you two looks like a couple fighting over some nonsense things" then he chuckles a bit.

Scarlet froze, she can't look at Alejandro because of embarrassment. She didn't hear any objection from him.

For her defense, she acts unaffected. "Whatever Jace, just get lost. Melissa already leave the building 20 minutes ago. So you're just wasting your time waiting here." Alejandro looks at her confusingly, as he knows that she is lying.

"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Jace was shock so he quickly left hoping to catch up with Melissa. That left her with him awkwardly.

"What was that Scarlet? You lied to him?" Alejandro broke the silent between them.

"And so? He is annoying and he's bugging my friend. He's a creep, okay?." she doesn't know why she is arguing with him.

"Still you lied Scarlet, that is not very nice to do." She didn't answer because of annoyance. She don't know why, but she doesn't want to fight him.

"Anyways let's go. I'll get you a cab."

"No thanks, Melissa is still on the parking lot. I'll go with her" Alejandro shakes his head, she saw disappointment at him and she's annoyed because she is affected.

"Okay, suit yourself. I'm going now" Scarlet can't mutter any words while Alejandro is walking away from her.