Chapter 2 Familiar
Maddie's POV
Present Day
I sat at my desk, surrounded by the hum of chatter and the clicking of keyboards. The office was buzzing with activity, but my attention was fixed on one person, Mariko Donovan. He was the epitome of charisma, with his dark hair that was spiky at the top and warm golden brown eyes that seemed to be glowing and that held a universe of stories. Every time he walked by my desk, my heart fluttered, and I couldn't help but steal glances at him. He is the director at Sternpoint, second in command. He helps to make the decisions in the company. Since I started here at Sternpoint, I couldn't help but wonder if we had met somewhere before. Either way, he was one of those men that you don't easily spot in the media.
I hardly have friends, all I do is just work, go back to my comfy apartment and study. My mother went to go and look for my father in New York, who is currently in prison. I do not know what had happened that got him in there. I never met him because he left before my mother could tell him that she was pregnant with me. So all I can do is try to have some sort of normal life as a twenty-four-year-old who is an assistant to the CEO.
Today was no different. I pretended to be engrossed in my work, but my eyes kept drifting toward the hallway. And then, as if the universe was playing a game with my emotions, I saw him. Mariko walked by, his signature smile adorning his face, and my breath caught in my throat. I watched as he effortlessly charmed everyone he passed, his presence commanding attention without him even realizing it.
As Mariko came closer to my desk, my heart raced wildly, and my hands trembled. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks, turning them a deep shade of crimson. I quickly glanced down at my paper work, hoping he hadn't noticed my sudden nerves.
"Maddie," Mariko's voice cut through the background noise, causing me to jump in my seat. I looked up to find him standing right in front of my desk, his smile widening. "Mind if I ask you a question?" his voice was velvety, somehow that still felt familiar as if I had heard that voice before, ever since I had been working here and he spoke, I would wonder about it too.
My heart skipped a beat, and I stammered, "Uh, of course not. Please, ask me."
Mariko stood with his hands in his black pants pockets, his black dress jacket was open, exposing his white shirt, his presence filling the air with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He looked handsome in his black suit, which complimented his lean muscles. I tried my best to maintain my composure, but my mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
"So, how's your day going, Maddie?" Mariko asked, completely at ease.
I struggled to form words. "Oh, um, it's going okay. Just a lot of work to get through." I smiled nervously at him.
He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I know what you mean. These deadlines can be a real pain sometimes. But I wanted to ask if you're free this Friday night. There's this new art exhibition at Stern Art, and I thought it would be nice to go together."
My heart soared with elation, and I had to fight the urge to squeal with delight. Did Mariko Donovan just ask me out? The realization sent waves of happiness running through my veins.
Trying to keep my voice steady, I replied, "That sounds amazing. I would love to go with you."
His smile widened, and a spark of excitement danced in his eyes. "Great. I will swing by your desk later to finalize the details."
I could hardly contain my excitement as Mariko started to walk away. But then he stopped and turned around to face me again. "There are interns and some of us that are going to the club just to chill tonight, would you like to join us?" he asked, his hands were still in his pockets.
"Yes, I would love to, I will meet you there," I said.
"We can go together," he suggested.
"No, I insist. I need to take care of a few things before going to the club."
He nodded, "I will see you there," he smiled again, leaving me in a state of joy and anticipation. I watched him walk away, his confident stride filling my heart with hope and happiness.
As the office buzzed around me, I couldn't help but feel that this chance encounter was the beginning of something extraordinary. A simple glance turned into an invitation, and my crush on Mariko had blossomed into something more, a spark of possibility that could ignite a beautiful love story...I could only hope.
Perhaps I could be reading into this entirely wrong. Maybe he doesn't see me as anything more. What if he is doing this out of pity? It's not like he knows my story. I do know that Lana, the CEO of Sternpoint, wouldn't say anything about my situation. She gave me a bursary from the Stern Foundation because I am literally working to get money in order to do my studies online. I don't want Mariko to see that part of my life.
With renewed determination, I turned back to my work, eager to finish the day so that I could be with the person who had captured my heart.
I could feel eyes on me and when I looked up from my work, I saw Mariko standing amongst a group of men dressed in expensive suits. He was watching me intensely. My heart continued to flutter as our eyes stayed connected. He was a great man, but am I ready for him to know my past and everything that had happened? What would he think about my dad being in prison? I snapped out of my thoughts. Maddie, he isn't into you, stop thinking that way. He is happy on his own, he doesn't need you. Thanks to my subconscious, I need to let this go. I never dated rich men for a reason after Ash. Rich men will do anything to get what they want and make you feel pathetic, they will try to destroy you too and I was stupid...my whole mood changed as the past kept on making itself known to me.