By Day and by Night

Chapter 1- Another Day at the Office

Agitated fingers twisted behind her back, hidden from the men before her. Several sets of bored, dead eyes stared through her, unseeing. "Alright, that concludes business and presentations. Are there any questions regarding deadlines, or the dates of our press releases?" C-E-O Adelae Newman asked from the head of the room. Office chairs filled with men whose suits were more expensive than their customers' monthly income surrounded the sleek wooden table of the top-floor conference room. Light spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end, the glow of the sun in the evening reminding Adelae of the hour. 

Her twisting fingers faltered when the hand of Viktor Walsh rose into the air. The Board of Directors meetings for Kratos Incorporated were more of a formality to keep communications running smoothly throughout the company than an actual decision-making space. Walsh kicked a foot into any doorway Adelae closed, making it difficult to lead and run the company with any efficiency these days. "Mr. Walsh?"

To no one's surprise, Walsh rose from his seat with his chin jutting forward to begin his usual droning on about this thing or that. "Of course, I admire the direction you're taking with this month's products," he began, though his compliment did nothing to dispel his snide tone, "but some members of the board here, myself included, are concerned with your obvious neglect of the, er... elephant in the room." He cleared his throat, looking pointedly at the empty seat at the table, then around to the men on either side of him who made little noises of agreement, his eyes passing over the guest near the windows. With their silent assurance, the man continued. "We would like to hear your plans for appointing another board member after Mr. Bergman's unfortunate resignation." Walsh requested. Adelae clenched her teeth.

Every board meeting ended this way, with Walsh offering some sort of suggestion or problem, intending to catch her off guard. Every time, Adelae answered with something to soothe concerns. Without missing a beat, Adelae plastered on her warmest smile, replying gracefully. "Of course Mr. Walsh. In regards to Mr. Bergman's position, I will take suggestions and applications-"

"Mrs. Newman, I have already-" interrupted Mr. Walsh.

"-Via email between now and our next meeting, upon which date-"

"Really now, my suggestion-" Walsh tried to add.

"-we will consider any candidates that have the potential to fill the role." Adelae finished, unflinching. "That will be all, meeting adjourned."

The council hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, before rising to file out of the office. Adelae remained standing, smoothing the imaginary creases in her pinstriped navy pencil skirt until all but one man had left the room. She peered up at him under her lashes. He approached Adelae with sure steps, his hands in the pockets of a well-fitted charcoal grey suit. A flirty smile played across his lips.

"Well done." He praised, approaching her and taking her hand. "Walsh was unnecessarily ruthless today."

"He's been... particularly difficult these past few weeks. He really wants me to step down. Of course, he would never say that." She commented offhand, smoothing her already smooth hair back.

"Of course he does. You're a threat," he smirked, bringing her fingers to his lips, locking eyes with her.

Adelae's cheeks burned in discomfort at being called a threat. She smirked back, taking a deep breath. 

"Dinner?" Varrin offered his arm, offering his signature charming, dimpled smile. A shy grin crept across her lips, and the stress of being the leader of a major sports-clothing development company fell away for just a moment.

Arm in arm, they strolled through the aisles of cubicles, where people gathered their belongings to leave for the day, making their way toward the elevator nearby, when she saw it.