Heart Affairs| On Going (Office Romance)

Chapter 3

lily P.O.V

My alarm blared, pulling me out of sleep. Normally, I'd hit snooze for a few more precious minutes, but not today. Today was my first day at JPL, and I needed to be on time.

I tossed back the covers and headed straight to the bathroom, excitement giving me energy as I stepped into a hot shower. The warm water cleared away the last fog of sleep, and I quickly washed my hair, savoring the fresh, citrus scent of my shampoo. Once I finished, I wrapped myself in a towel and padded over to my closet.

The outfit Jane and I had picked out yesterday caught my eye: a crisp white blouse paired with a light orange jacket and matching pencil skirt. The colors made me feel polished yet vibrant, and I smiled, thinking of Jane's approval. I dressed, then plugged in the blow dryer and went to work on my long brown hair, brushing it until it was smooth and sleek. A bit of makeup followed, just enough to look put together but natural.

By the time I finished, it was 7:30 a.m. The bus left at 7:45, and my shift started at 8:30. Perfect timing.

I hurried downstairs, where I found my mom in the kitchen, flipping pancakes. She looked up with a warm smile. "Stay for breakfast, honey," she called.

"I'd love to, but I can't." I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my bag. "I'll grab something on the way though."

"Alright, sweetie. Be safe, and don't stress too much," she replied, her eyes full of that usual mom-concern.

"Love you!" I said, stepping out the door.

"Love you too!" I heard her call as I shut it behind me.

As soon as I scrambled onto the bus, I let out a shaky breath. Made it. Barely. The seats were crammed with people heading to work, the air thick with morning grogginess and the scent of stale coffee. I squeezed past shoulders and bags, finally spotting a seat at the back. Dropping into it, I put on my earphones, hoping music would calm my nerves.

The city streamed by in a blur, and I let myself sink into that moment, trying to imagine I was somewhere else, somewhere less frantic. But beneath that little main-character moment, my mind kept churning over one thing, my first day. Today had to be perfect. It couldn't go wrong.

Ten minutes in, the bus jolted to a stop, throwing a few people forward. My heart thudded as whispers and groans filled the air, heads craning to see what was going on. I tugged out my earphones, straining to listen.

A quick check of my phone showed 8:15. Fifteen minutes to go. Every second was ticking down to what felt like a disaster.

The driver was on his phone, his voice low but urgent. A few moments later, he turned to face us. His voice crackled over us. "Attention, everyone. We've had a bit of a situation, one of the tires is flat. Backup's been called, and they should be here within fifteen minutes."

Fifteen minutes. I felt my stomach twist. That was exactly the time I needed to be at work. I could practically feel the judgment of my new boss, Mr. Pierce. How would it look if I was late on my first day?

I checked my phone again, desperate for the time to slow down. My breath was shallow, each inhale sharp and thin. Why now? Why today? I'd planned everything perfectly. Set three alarms. Skipped breakfast. I had left the house early, determined to make a good impression. All of it now wasted.

People around me were talking, but their voices blurred, my focus glued to my screen as the minutes slipped by. I swallowed hard, a tear creeping down my cheek. I hated crying in public, but here I was, my whole body betraying me. I felt trapped, utterly helpless.

Minutes dragged by painfully slowly, each one ticking away my chances of making it. At 8:30, I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, then froze as it started ringing. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.

"Hello, Lily Rose speaking." My voice sounded too high, too shaky.

"Hello, Lily. This is Alexa, the secretary at JPL Corporation." Her voice was sharp and no-nonsense, each word pressing down on me like a weight. "Why haven't you arrived at the office yet? Is everything alright?"

I felt myself unraveling. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Alexa. The bus... it got a flat tire, and I'm stuck here," I stammered, each word spilling out faster than the last. "I didn't plan for this—I swear. I left early, I skipped breakfast, I just wanted to be on time. Please, please, I'll be there as soon as I can."

She sighed, and I felt myself crumble further. "Ms. Rose, this is not acceptable,You're supposed to have a meeting." she said each word cold and clear. " However, I'll attempt to delay it by thirty minutes."

Relief surged through me, but it barely lasted a second before she added, "But if you're not here by then, you'll have to answer directly to Mr. Pierce, the director."

I could barely manage a response. "Thank you. I'll be there in thirty minutes. I promise."

The call ended abruptly. I sat there, clutching my phone, feeling every tick of the seconds slipping away. The anxiety pressed down, so heavy I thought I might choke. I imagined Mr. Pierce waiting in his office, checking the time, maybe already making up his mind about me.

Just then, the driver's voice rang out, announcing that the backup had arrived and the tire had been replaced. Relief washed over me, quick and intense, and I gripped my purse tightly. Finally. If the bus could just get moving, I might still make it.

As the bus rumbled back to life, I closed my eyes, whispering a silent prayer for each streetlight, each stop to be clear. My mind raced with possible scenarios, playing out every version of what Mr. Pierce might say if I arrived late.

"Please, just let this work out," I whispered to no one in particular, feeling my heart pound with every second we edged closer to my destination.