The place had seemed quiet, in a peaceful way, a couple of hours ago, compared to now.

A work place that had been a safe place.

Anthony had been hitting on Julia again. And though she had a pout on her lips, her eyes occasionally twinkled and she was doing that thing with her hair that proved she enjoyed the attention and could flirt away if she wanted.

Matthew was losing it with whoever he was speaking to on the phone, you could tell by how his ears and face were beginning to turn red. It was a good thing that I wasn’t the phone who had his job. I would have quit. You can never truly satisfy anyone and his face right then had been a testimony of that.

“Here is your coffee.” McKenna’s small but charming voice was right next to me. She had a small, beautiful smile on her lips that lightened up the whole world.

“Thank you,” I took the coffee from her with much appreciation. This was the favourite part of my day. Standing there, a latte in hand and the smile of the most beautiful woman in the world. If I could dare to tell her myself. I averted my gaze from her face when I thought that my heart was going to explode if I kept staring at her that way. Her small nose, her tiny lips, the fringe that covered the small part of her forehead. It was all but perfect.

“Are you alright?” She called back my attention. Our eyes met and her cheeks turned red. I smiled, foolishly and looked away again when my phone beeped. I should have probably ignored it. Matthew’s job was hell most of the time but mine….

I took it up in giddiness but froze mid air at the number calling.

A lump appeared in my throat and dread settled at the pit of my stomach. I could have ignore the call, i should have ignored the call, I could….

oh but I couldn’t. I reluctantly picked the call and placed it in my ears.

“WE.LOST.THE.PROJECT?” Her voice sprang alive and vicious from the other end of the line. My inside curled with dread.

“Good morning ma.”

“We lost the contract?” Her voice came again, this time dimmer, colder, but the threat in her tone was molten and hot. My palms turned sweaty. I had no idea what she was talking about.

Almost immediately, some people from the marketing team came strolling in. Their faces a mixture of chagrin, exhaustion and frustration. They had gone out earlier for a presentation that was supposed to bring a large contract from a prestigious company. How did she know that they had failed when they only just walked in.

“Ma’am….”

“Get everyone in the office, I will be right there.” Her words cut me off before I could say anything more. I froze in place, sweat bidding around my scalp and forehead and body entirely.

“Are you okay?” McKenna asked when I still remained still, the phone in my ear.

“The raven is coming.” My words came in spluttering jibberish. Fear descended on her. Her eyes widened and she quickly took steps back. The calm but petite woman different. Disorganized, she looked around, probably wondering what she should do or what direction she ought to take. She finally turned to the office and with quick steps, started towards it. Everyone was working and smiling, but by the time she got to her desk, I was sure those smiles would have disappeared.

I pulled myself together and closed my hands into a fist before I turned to the team that were still making their way towards the office.

“What happened?” I could barely recognize my own voice.

“There were a lot of concepts there.” One of them responded dejectedly.

“Even with those concepts, I thought and believed we had a chance.” Another entered with a pout.

“They didn’t play fair. It was all a favoritism play.” The team leader spoke.

“Hope you have a lot of backup to go with that.”

“Because the raven is pissed.” They paled, even I felt like crying. I feared I would have a heart attack before she actually arrives.

“And she is on her way here.” I added. Their eyes widened but almost instantly, chaos ensued as they ran past me towards an already chaotic office.

And when the familiar car stopped rather ungraciously at the entrance. I could imagine the stut look she would have, the terrifying gaze in her eyes and the ever present exterior of steel and dominance. I shivered knowing that once she stepped her feet adorned by heels that could put a hole through a man’s head, we would have a crisis in our hands.

Damn it, we already did.