Bounded by Office Hours
introduction
duck the writer
Umm thought I would try writing something just for fun . I hope it turns out interesting 😅😅
Lena Hart (shortcake)
Mc
Lena Hart
Age: 24
Chubby, soft features, dresses neatly but comfy.
Smart, kind, clumsy, and insecure.
Nervous habits: bites her lip, hums, talks to herself.
Bullied before, struggled at past jobs.
Goal: Do well at work and feel confident.
Adrian Knight
Age: 32
Tall, fit, sharp jaw, always looks serious.
Cold, strict, wants perfection.
Taps his pen, rarely smiles, notices everything.
Grew up pressured, hides emotions.
owns most of the city and has shares plus runs his own top company , secretly drawn to Lena.
Maya (MC bestie)
Lena’s best friend. Cheerful, stylish, outgoing, pushes Lena to try new things.
Ethan
Adrian’s colleague/rival. Charming, confident, flirts, creates tension.
mrs.knight (ml mom)
Mrs. Knight
55, elegant, sharp.
Polite but can be intimidating.
Loves family, keeps everyone in line.
Clare
Slim, confident, ambitious woman in the office.
Belittles Lena, competes for Adrian’s attention.
Forces Lena to confront her insecurities.
Sparks Adrian’s protective side.
duck the writer
that's all the characters 😊
The wrong coffee
Adrian’s office, early morning. Lena stands in the hall, coffee in hand.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(nervous, whispering to herself):
Okay… first day. Don’t trip. Don’t spill. Don’t—oh no, it’s too hot. Should I knock?
Adrian Knight
(from inside, cold, clipped):
You’ve been standing there for thirty seconds. Come in.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(jumping, rushing in):
Oh! Good morning, Mr. Knight. I… I brought your coffee
Her hands shake slightly as she holds out the cup.
Adrian takes the cup, raises an eyebrow, inspects it like it’s a crime scene
Adrian Knight
Let’s see if you can follow simple instructions.
Takes a sip, immediately frowns.
Adrian Knight
....what is this ?
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(blinking, flustered)
Uh… coffee?
Adrian Knight
(flat, annoyed)
This is burnt sugar water with milk. Miss Hart, do you ever read orders?
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(Cheeks burning)
I…. I thought maybe extra sugar would make it better?
Adrian Knight
(cold, setting cup down with a precise flick of his wrist)
I don’t pay you to improvise. I pay you to follow instructions.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(murmuring under her breath, but loud enough he hears)
Well, bitter seems more your style anyway.
Adrian Knight
(eyes narrowing)
… Excuse me ??
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(panicking, stammering, nearly dropping the cup)
I… I mean—I’ll fix it! Right away, sir! (She spins, nearly trips over a chair.)
Adrian Knight
(mutters under his breath)
… Shortcake.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(freezes, slowly turns )
.. shortcake?
Adrian Knight
Nothing. Just… hurry before you break anything else.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(muttering under her breath)
Grumpy cat
Lena Hart (shortcake)
…Yes, Mr. Knight?
Adrian Knight
(leaning back, tapping his pen, voice calm but dangerous)
Next time… don’t test me.
Lena bolts down the hall, cheeks flaming. Adrian watches her go, smirking despite himself, tapping the pen faster, annoyed at how easily she distracted him.
duck the writer
Anything in the brackets is an action done and () and #blablablabla # are inner thoughts ##
duck the writer
drop your thoughts on it 👋🏽
First impression
Lena Hart (shortcake)
Your coffee, sir. Black. No sugar. No milk.
Adrian Knight
… Finally. You managed to follow a simple instruction.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
… You’re welcome.
Adrian Knight
(glances up, voice flat)
I didn’t thank you.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(mumbles)
Of course you didn’t.
Adrian Knight
What was that?
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(straightening quickly)
Nothing, Mr. Knight.
Adrian Knight
(cold)
You’ll sit outside my office. Answer my calls. Clear my schedule. No mistakes. If you fail once, you’re gone.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
...yes sir
Adrian Knight
Say it like you mean it
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(firm)
Yes Sir
Adrian Knight
Good . don't disappoint me
[Her phone buzzes. Adrian notices instantly.]
Adrian Knight
(cold)
Put the phone away.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
I—it’s just my best friend, she worries—
Adrian Knight
(cutting her off)
You’re not paid to text. You’re paid to work. If you can’t manage that, leave.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
.....it won't happen again
Adrian Knight
(leans back, studying her with cool eyes)
Make sure it doesn’t.
[Knock on the door. Ethan walks in, cheerful.]
Ethan
Morning, boss. Morning, Miss Hart. Looking good today.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(Soft smile)
Thank you, Ethan.
Adrian Knight
(voice sharp, cold)
Do you have a reason for being here, or are you wasting my time with compliments?
Ethan
Relax, boss, I was just—
Ethan
Fine. Someone’s grumpy. [leaves]
Lena Hart (shortcake)
Frowning)
You didn’t have to be so rude. He was just being nice.
Adrian Knight
(cold glare)
Men don’t come into my office to be ‘nice’ to my secretary
Lena Hart (shortcake)
… Your secretary, huh? So now I’m property?
Adrian Knight
(tone sharp, )
You work for me. That’s all.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(softly, almost to herself)
You really do hate me
Adrian Knight
(cold smile)
Hate? No. Hate means you matter. You don’t.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(small voice)
right
[Silence. She lowers her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her blouse. Her chest feels heavy, but she forces a polite tone.]
Lena Hart (shortcake)
I’ll… get back to my desk then, Mr. Knight.
Adrian Knight
(without looking up)
Do that
[She turns quickly, blinking fast to hide the sting in her eyes. Her footsteps are soft, almost hesitant, as she reaches for the door.]
Adrian Knight
(calling out suddenly, voice sharper than he meant)
Miss Hart.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(pauses, not turning around)
Yes, sir?
Adrian Knight
(hesitates, then cold again)
…Don’t bring the wrong coffee tomorrow. I hate repeating myself.
Lena Hart (shortcake)
(forced a small nod)
understood
[She leaves. The door shuts. The office is quiet.]
[Adrian stares at the papers on his desk, but he isn’t reading them. His jaw is tight, pen tapping against the wood.]
Adrian Knight
(to himself, low)
Pathetic. Why do I even care?
[He exhales sharply, leaning back in his chair. For the first time, he admits to himself—her downcast eyes linger in his mind longer than they should.]
duck the writer
Thats it hope it interesting 😅😅
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
