I woke up feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I prepared myself for the first day of my new job. Having just graduated, I was ready to take the first step into my professional life. I chose a white sleeveless shirt with a high neck and paired it with average jeans and elegant white high heels, aiming for a formal yet stylish look. Grabbing my bag, I stepped out of my apartment, feeling the butterflies in my stomach.

I hopped into my little red mini cooper, started my playlist, and hit the road, enjoying the music and the anticipation of this new chapter in my life. As I arrived at the company, I made my way to the boss's office to inquire about my desk. He promptly led me to my workspace, which, to my disappointment, turned out to be a shared office with five other colleagues. Being more of an introvert, I had always fantasized about having my own solo office. Nevertheless, I decided to make the best of the situation and get along with what I had for now.

I went around to meet my new colleagues, shaking hands with Marcus, Haizel, Elisabeth, Angelo, and Mia. As I familiarized myself with my new surroundings, I caught a glimpse of someones office facing ours from the other side of the hallway, as I walked past his office, I noticed his brown shiny eyes and his unhealthy posture while he was completely buried in papers on his desk. He seemed completely focused and didn't notice my entrance until I stood in his doorway, a smile on my face. His voice snapped me back to reality.

"Hi!" he greeted me his face’s features were so fine that i couldn’t take my gaze away .

"Oh, hey! I didn't want to interrupt your concentration. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm the new employee," I replied with a warm smile.

"Hey new employee I'm Romain, Romain Caseaux" he said, interrupting me.

"Nice to meet you Romain, and by the way my name is Ema. So what do you do in the company?" I couldn't contain my curiosity, noticing the stark difference between his office and the others.

He smiled and answered graciously, "I'm the piping projects manager. Which department are you in?"

I took a moment to recall my tasks and organize my thoughts before responding, "I'm trying to figure out but for now I'll be working on supports and equipment modeling soon later i might join in piping tasks."

"Looks like we'll be working together a lot. I wish you good luck, Ema," he said, his eyes reflecting surprise, perhaps because I appeared inexperienced and petite for such a task. I didn't dwell on his reaction and thanked him before leaving his office and heading back to my desk, trying to familiarize myself with my new PC.

As the day came to a close, I prepared to leave and noticed Romain getting ready to leave as well. Our offices were as i mentioned separated by a hallway, and with a slight turn of my head, I could see whoever passed by. "Goodbye!" he said in a soft, audible voice. Everyone responded in their own way, and I followed behind him as he prepared his Vespa to go home. He noticed me, but we didn't interact, except for exchanging smiles. Haizel and Mia, who were behind me, asked if I could drop them off at the bus stop since they didn't have a vehicle.

"So, Ema, how did you find the place?" Haizel asked.

"It's fine. I'm still trying to adapt," I replied briefly, preferring short answers.

"I saw you talking with Romain. He's not very talkative. I wonder how he interacted with you on your very first day, i thought you knew each other since before" Mia couldn't contain her curiosity and asked.

"Really? I just met him today I didn't notice anything weird. Although he seems quiet and shy yet he seems such a brilliant person," I replied, not particularly interested in discussing Romain's personality.

"He's so shy! We've been working together for two years now, and all our conversations were limited to 'good morning' and 'goodbye'," Mia continued talking about how introverted he was throughout the entire ride she obviously was so into him i mean even a blind man could notice it.

I must confess, I had always been drawn to people who didn't engage in much gossip. I found myself attracted to those who appeared mysterious and enigmatic, but my focus was completely on work. Especially since I had recently ended one of my longest relationships, I wasn't ready for anything other than immersing myself in hard work.

As we reached the bus stop, Haizel and Mia bid me goodbye, expressing their gratitude for the ride. I watched as they boarded the bus before making my way back home.

Fatigue from the eventful day began to set in as I stepped into my cozy apartment. Seeking solace, I indulged in a warm shower, allowing the water to wash away the day's stress. Hunger tugged at me, and I opted for a simple sandwich using the leftovers from the previous night's meal. With the sandwich in hand, I settled on the sofa, switching on the television to unwind.

Just as I was about to relax, my phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. It was a message from my ex-boyfriend, Gills. Memories of our three-year relationship flooded my mind, and a mix of emotions washed over me. We had parted ways due to our divergent desires for the future, and although we still maintained sporadic contact, responding to his message would only reopen old wounds.

To shield myself from unnecessary longing and regret, I turned my phone face down, switched off the television, suddenly without even noticing i found myself replaying my day as a flashback I’ll be laying if i neglect the fact that i was kinda interested in my new colleague in a surprising way i couldn’t handle any emotion so i just left thinking and closed my eyes and allowed sleep to claim me on the sofa, providing a much-needed escape from the day's whirlwind of events.

As the sun began to rise, its gentle rays peeking through my window, I woke up to embrace my second day at work. I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up, and just as I was about to leave, my phone started ringing incessantly. I assumed it might be my brother or father, as they were the only ones I kept in close contact with since the passing of my mother last year. Having sought solace in a new city, I rented my current apartment but still cherished my family connections.

To my surprise, when I checked my phone, it displayed an unknown number. Curiosity piqued, I answered the call with a greeting, and a familiar voice responded, "Hello, Ema. It's Marcus. I got your phone number from Mr. Ruth, our boss. We were planning to invite you to lunch since you just joined us. I'm calling to ask about your preferences."

I chuckled softly, amused by Marcus's eagerness to cover all the details. Suppressing my laughter, I replied, "That's very kind of you guys. However, I don't have any specific preferences when it comes to food. You can choose whatever you'd like for me."

Although Marcus seemed a bit dissatisfied with my response, he couldn't argue further. "Alright then, see you at the office," he said before ending the call.

Leaving my phone aside, I continued getting ready for the day. As I drove to work in my beloved car, I decided to call my family to catch up. Even though they were doing well in my absence, I couldn't help but worry about them. Ensuring their happiness and well-being was always on my mind, and hearing their voices alleviated my concerns.

Arriving at the office, I gradually acclimated to the work environment and began immersing myself in my tasks. Determined to make a positive impact, I applied my skills and knowledge to deliver the best results. As I delved into my work, I suddenly felt a presence beside me. Raising my eyes, I discovered Mr. Ruth standing there, a smile gracing his face.

"You're a quick learner, Ema. I have no doubt I made the right decision in hiring you," he complimented me, his words warming my heart.

I returned his smile, expressing gratitude. "Thank you, sir. I hope to contribute significantly to the company's success."

"Has Marcus informed you about the team lunch?" he asked, his gaze shifting to the vicinity where Marcus stood, a few steps away.

Marcus perked up, aware that I had caught their conversation. With an expectant smile, he awaited my confirmation. "Yes, sir. He called me this morning. Thank you so much for the kind invitation. It's very considerate of you," I replied, acknowledging their thoughtfulness.

Mr. Ruth seemed proud as he walked away, stating, "It's no big deal. We simply want you to feel comfortable with us, Mrs. Gwindlen."

Having settled into my work routine, I approached Mia, whose desk was behind mine, and asked her about the location of the coffee machine. She kindly guided me, and upon reaching the machine, I found Romain standing in front of it, seemingly undecided about his coffee choice. Mia and I patiently waited for our turns, and when Romain noticed our presence, he turned towards us, surprised by my voice.

"Good morning. I apologize for not noticing you earlier. Please go ahead and order," he said, his tone friendly and polite.

I smiled warmly at him before stepping beside him and suggesting, "I think you should start your day with a medium coffee to avoid any stomach discomfort." I pointed out the specific type he should choose.

Blushing slightly, he followed my recommendation without a second thought and thanked me gratefully. As Romain made his decision, it was finally our turn, and I gave Mia a glance, silently asking about her coffee preferences. To my surprise, she seemed shocked and stared at me as if I had tamed a wild beast.

"What's wrong?" I asked, unable to contain my laughter.

"I envy you, Ema. You have such an easy way of approaching people. I mean, Romain is like a Rubik's cube, and you effortlessly solved it by suggesting his coffee. It's as if you've been friends for ages," she remarked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"He's not an enigma, Mia. He's just like any of us. If you try talking to him, he would respond just as well," I assured her, not revealing my own initial reservations about Romain's reserved nature.

As lunchtime approached, we gathered in the break room, where a table filled with various meals awaited us. Among the faces were colleagues from different departments, but as an introvert, I didn't feel compelled to socialize extensively. I stood by Mia and Haizel, engaging in light conversation. Mia recounted our coffee encounter, which seemed to intrigue her greatly. I dismissed her lingering curiosity and made an effort to connect with them.

To my surprise, Romain was nowhere to be found in the room. My mind began to wander, questioning the reason behind his absence. I decided to visit his office, where I found him completely engrossed in his work, seemingly unapproachable. A mischievous challenge played in my mind as I approached him and cleared my throat to announce my presence.

"Why aren't you in the break room?" I initiated the conversation, breaking the silence.

"I have some unfinished work that needs to be completed today. I can't even take a five-minute break," he replied without lifting his eyes from his tasks.

I couldn't resist remarking, "You should take care of yourself. Nourishing your body is essential for concentration."

A smile formed on his face as he acknowledged my words. "You're right, but I really have to finish this. Thank you for the reminder, though."

Feeling compelled to help him, I returned to the break room, picked up two dishes, and made my way back to his office. Ignoring any protests, I cleared a space on his desk and made room for the food. Romain didn't say a word, allowing me to take charge. I knew he would appreciate the gesture later, as there was no benefit in working on an empty stomach. Together, we ate in silence, and as the moment passed, I broke it by saying, "Would you mind explaining the project you're working on?"

He began explaining, and as I listened intently, I couldn't help but notice the subtle details of his face. His eyes were captivating, with a depth that drew me in. His dark, slightly messy hair added a touch of uniqueness to his appearance. Engrossed in his explanation, I found myself lost in the moment, appreciating the calmness of his voice. At some point, he realized he had finished his meal and stared at me guiltily for initially rejecting my offer. With a reassuring smile, I told him, "You should take care of yourself if you want to make progress." Together, we cleaned up the table.

At the end of the day, we successfully completed Romain's work. While we had only gotten to know each other on a professional level, a few jokes here and there allowed us to laugh comfortably.

"You were a great help, Ema. I appreciate it," Romain expressed his gratitude.

"I'm glad you accepted my assistance. I would never let someone work without eating. My mom always emphasized the importance of taking care of oneself," I replied, a happy expression adorning my face, before returning to my desk to prepare for my departure.

As I arrived home, a familiar car stood in front of the building—it was my brother's. Joy overwhelmed me as I realized that my family had come to visit. The warmth of their presence brought a sense of comfort and contentment, reminding me of the love and support that surrounded me.

With my family by my side and newfound connections at work, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. Each day presented new opportunities for growth and friendship, and I eagerly looked forward to the chapters that lay ahead, knowing that the journey was just beginning.