Under the Sky

The Intern

Lilliam

The morning started like any other, with the usual rush to get ready and make it to the office on time. I managed to arrive a few minutes early, hoping to have a few moments of peace before diving into another hectic day. As I settled at my desk, my phone buzzed with a message from my boss, Mr. Thompson.

_Liliam, please come to my office. I'd like to introduce you to our new intern._

Curious, I made my way to Mr. Thompson's office. I knocked lightly on the door before stepping in, my eyes immediately falling on the figure sitting across from my boss. My breath caught in my throat.

There he was—the man from the bar. His black hair was well-groomed, slicked back neatly. He was dressed in a button-up shirt and tie, looking every bit the professional. The square glasses perched on his nose gave him an intellectual air, but there was no mistaking those piercing green eyes. They were the same eyes that had captivated me that night. As I took in the sight, a strong aroma of coffee and chocolate filled the room, instantly reminding me of the mysterious allure he had.

I gaped at him, momentarily stunned. He looked up, and recognition flickered in his eyes, though he maintained a composed expression.

"Liliam, this is Zeff Gunnolf," Mr. Thompson said, gesturing towards him. "He's our new intern. Zeff, this is Liliam Black, one of our top employees."

"Nice to meet you, Liliam," Zeff said smoothly, standing up and extending his hand.

I shook his hand, my mind racing. His touch was warm and firm, sending a shiver up my spine. "Nice to meet you too," I managed to reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

Mr. Thompson continued, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. "Liliam, I'd like you to show Zeff around and help him get acquainted with our processes. He'll be shadowing you for the next few weeks."

"Of course," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll make sure he gets settled in."

As we left Mr. Thompson's office, I couldn't help but steal glances at Zeff. He looked so different in the daylight, in a professional setting, yet there was something undeniably familiar about him. The memory of the bar, his intense gaze, and the lingering scent of coffee flashed through my mind.

"So, we meet again," Zeff said quietly as we walked down the hallway.

I glanced at him, my heart pounding. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Neither did I," he replied, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The scent of coffee and chocolate seemed to intensify, wrapping around me like an invisible cloak.

I led him through the office, showing him where everything was and introducing him to a few colleagues. The whole time, my mind buzzed with questions. How did he end up here? What was he really after? But I kept my thoughts to myself, focusing on the task at hand.

When we finally reached my desk, I turned to him. "This will be your workspace," I said, pointing to the empty desk next to mine.

"Thanks," he said, sitting down and adjusting his glasses. "I'm looking forward to working with you."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was going to be an interesting few weeks. As I sat down at my own desk, I couldn't help but feel that our paths crossing again was more than just coincidence. The scent of coffee and chocolate lingered faintly in the air, a reminder of the strange connection we seemed to share.

*****

Zeff

The morning started like any other, but I was filled with a sense of anticipation. I had managed to secure a position as an intern at Liliam's company, thanks to some strings pulled by Josh. As I made my way to the office, my mind raced with thoughts of seeing her again, of being close to her.

I arrived a few minutes early, settling into the chair across from Mr. Thompson. The office was typical corporate, with bland colors and neat, organized furniture. But my focus was elsewhere. My heart pounded in anticipation as I heard a knock on the door.

The door opened, and there she was. Liliam. Her presence immediately filled the room, and my breath caught in my throat. She looked radiant, even in the mundane office setting. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, strands of it framing her face. Her eyes, those captivating amber eyes, widened in surprise as they locked onto mine.

I couldn't help but notice every detail. The way her blouse fit perfectly, hinting at the curves beneath, and how her skirt hugged her hips. Her skin had a natural glow, and the scent of blackberries, her unique fragrance, filled the air.

"Liliam, this is Zeff Gunnolf," Mr. Thompson said, gesturing towards me. "He's our new intern. Zeff, this is Liliam Black, one of our top employees."

"Nice to meet you, Liliam," I said smoothly, standing up and extending my hand, trying to keep my composure.

Her touch was warm and sent a shiver up my spine. "Nice to meet you too," she replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a mix of emotions.

"Liliam, I'd like you to show Zeff around and help him get acquainted with our processes. He'll be shadowing you for the next few weeks," Mr. Thompson continued, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension.

"Of course," she said, forcing a smile. "I'll make sure he gets settled in."

As we left Mr. Thompson's office, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. She looked so different in the daylight, in a professional setting, yet there was something undeniably familiar and comforting about her. The memory of the bar, our intense gazes, and the lingering scent of blackberries flashed through my mind.

"So, we meet again," I said quietly as we walked down the hallway.

She glanced at me, her heart pounding—I could almost hear it. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Neither did I," I replied, a small smile playing at the corners of my mouth. The scent of coffee and chocolate seemed to intensify, wrapping around us like an invisible cloak, creating a bubble that separated us from the rest of the world.

She led me through the office, showing me where everything was and introducing me to a few colleagues. The whole time, my mind buzzed with thoughts of her. How did she end up here? What was she really like outside of this corporate facade? But I kept my questions to myself, focusing on her every word, her every gesture.

When we finally reached her desk, she turned to me. "This will be your workspace," she said, pointing to the empty desk next to hers.

"Thanks," I said, sitting down and adjusting my glasses. "I'm looking forward to working with you."

She nodded, looking a mix of excitement and apprehension. I could tell she felt the same strange connection that I did, the pull that was more than just coincidence. The unmistakable scent of blackberries was an ever-present whisper of the destiny that had brought us together.

As she settled back into her own desk, I couldn't help but admire her. Every movement, every glance, made me want to hold her, to tell her everything. But I knew I had to be patient. This was just the beginning, and I needed to gain her trust, to show her that I was here for her. My heart swelled with a mixture of hope and longing, and I knew that whatever it took, I would make her see that we were meant to be together.