Bounded by Office Hours Coffee, Chaos, and Cold Eyes

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Lena Hart (shortcake)

Good morning, Mr. Knight. Your coffee and schedule are on your desk.

Adrian Knight

(glances briefly) You’re five minutes late.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

I—I was here, sir. I only stopped at the copier to finish the files you asked for.

Adrian Knight

(takes the folder, flips through) Excuses waste time. Next time, be early enough to account for mistakes.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

…Yes, Mr. Knight.

Adrian Knight

(without looking up) And fix your handwriting on the notes. I don’t appreciate guessing games.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(quietly) Understood.

(She retreats to her desk, trying not to sigh. A few moments later, Ethan strolls over, grinning.)

Ethan

Miss Carter! Looking dangerously serious today. Planning world domination?

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(shakes her head quickly) Ethan, please. I’m working.

Ethan

And I’m helping—by reminding you not to frown so much. You’ll get wrinkles. Cute ones, though.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(flustered) Ethan! Someone might—

Clare

(snapping from her desk) We all hear you already. Should I file a noise complaint to Mr. Knight?

Ethan

(grins at Clare) You mean you want me to visit your desk next?

Clare

Don’t flatter yourself.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

Both of you, stop. Please. I don’t want trouble.

Ethan

(leaning closer, teasing) Then maybe smile at me just once. That way it’s worth the risk.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(whispering harshly) Ethan!

(Her phone buzzes. She sneaks a glance under the desk.)

Maya (MC bestie)

(text) Still alive under Mr. Ice Knight?

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(text) Barely. He said I was late when I wasn’t.

Maya (MC bestie)

(text) That man needs therapy. Or hugs. Or both.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(text) Don’t make me laugh. Ethan is already pushing his luck.

Maya (MC bestie)

(text) Oooh, Ethan again? 👀 Do I smell sparks?

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(text) Stop it. He’s just… annoying.

Maya (MC bestie)

(text) Annoying guys are dangerous. Careful, babe.

(Before Lena can reply, Adrian’s office door swings open. His sharp gaze sweeps at Lena's desk)

Adrian Knight

Hart. Office now

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(jumps up) Y-yes, sir.

Ethan

(smirks, whispering as she passes) Don’t worry, I’ll save you if he eats you alive.

Clare

(muttering) More like fire you alive.

(Inside Adrian’s office, Lena stands nervously. Adrian closes the door behind her.)

Adrian Knight

Sit

(Léna sits quickly, clutching her notepad)

Adrian Knight

(coldly) I don’t pay for chatter. You’re here to work, not to entertain my employees.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(blushing) I wasn’t—he just—

Adrian Knight

(cuts her off) I’m not interested in excuses. If Ethan distracts you again, you walk away. Do you understand?

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(gulps) Yes, Mr. Knight.

Adrian Knight

Good. Now, take down these notes for the board meeting. I expect accuracy. One mistake, and you’ll regret it.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(softly) …Yes, sir.

Adrian Knight

(dictates the points quickly, his tone clipped and precise) Did you get all that?

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(glances at her notebook nervously) Y-yes.

Adrian Knight

(leans forward, scanning her scribbles with sharp eyes) Your handwriting again. It looks rushed. If you can’t take legible notes, Miss Carter, then you’re useless to me in a meeting.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(stammering) I’ll… I’ll rewrite them immediately, sir.

Adrian Knight

(sits back, unimpressed) You should’ve written them properly the first time. I don’t have patience for sloppiness.

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(clutching her pen tighter, cheeks hot) Understood.

Adrian Knight

(coldly) I don’t want to repeat myself: you’re here to work. Keep Ethan—and everyone else—out of your focus. If you want to keep this job, you’ll learn that quickly.

(Silence fills the room. Lena nods, blinking fast to keep her eyes from stinging. She gathers her notebook and rises to leave.)

(Lena steps out quietly, her chest tight. Ethan looks up from his desk and winks at her as if to say “you survived,” but she doesn’t have the energy to smile back. Clare shoots her a sharp look, half smug, half curious. Lena slips past them, phone buzzing again in her pocket. It’s Maya.)

Maya (MC bestie)

(text) Coffee after work. My treat. Don't argue

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(mutters under her breath, half-smiling despite her mood) You know me too well…

(She types back quickly.)

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(text) On my way. Don’t order anything embarrassing this time.

Maya (MC bestie)

(text, instantly) No promises. See you in ten.

(Lena slips her phone back into her bag, the faintest relief warming her chest. Just as she’s about to step into the elevator, she hears Clare’s voice from behind, smooth and laced with something sharp.)

Clare

Rough night, huh? Don’t worry, you’ll get used to his… standards. Or you won’t. Then you’ll be gone.

(Lena stiffens, forcing herself not to react. She presses the elevator button harder than necessary, her knuckles white. The doors slide open, and she steps inside without replying. Clare’s smirk follows her until the doors shut.) (As the elevator descends, Lena leans her head back against the wall, eyes closed. Adrian’s cold words replay in her mind, cutting deeper than she wants to admit. She hugs her notebook to her chest like a shield.)

Lena Hart (shortcake)

(whispering to herself) Tomorrow… tomorrow I’ll do better.

(When the elevator opens to the lobby, the city lights spill in through the glass doors. For the first time all day, Lena allows herself a shaky breath. Somewhere out there, Maya is waiting with coffee, laughter, and a reminder that she isn’t as small as she feels right now. She squares her shoulders, steps into the night air, and walks forward—unaware that upstairs, Adrian Knight sits in silence, staring at the closed elevator number long after she’s gone.)

duck the writer

Thank for reading 😊❤️