Just an Hour Before the Wedding, the Bride Read a Text on His Phone and Froze… But Her Answer at the Altar Left Everyone in Tears!
He is so simple
But he is so simple, without a single spark of wild fire inside. Absolutely, painfully predictable. And besides, to be completely honest, the workplace is absolutely not the right environment to be spinning office romances. I have so many daily tasks and crushing deadlines that sometimes I don’t even have a second to blink, let alone make googly eyes at my male colleagues.
Maddie knew perfectly well that behind her back, the entire office staff called her the “Iron Lady”. In this massive, cutthroat company, where she fiercely fought for her rightful place under the sun, there was certainly no shortage of ambitious men. However, the managers of adjacent departments always kept a very respectful, cautious distance, fearing her unshakable principles and razor-sharp intellect, while her direct subordinates simply trembled in her presence. They constantly fawned over her, lowered their eyes, and were terrified to say a single extra word, just so they wouldn’t be left without their highly desired quarterly bonus of five thousand dollars.
Of course, Maddie occasionally went on dates outside the sterile, glass walls of her office building, but these fleeting encounters usually left behind nothing but a bitter aftertaste of profound disappointment. One eager gentleman would nervously knock over a steaming cup of expensive dark roast coffee all over his brand-new trousers within the first five minutes of their meeting. Another would spend the entire, agonizing evening chattering endlessly about absolute nonsense, proudly recounting his amateur golf tournaments without letting her slip a single word in edgewise. Her polite interest always faded as quickly as a fragile match struck in the howling Chicago wind.
The familiar
But the familiar, strictly regulated rhythm of her corporate life drastically malfunctioned the very day Nate joined their expansive marketing team. He was tall, remarkably well-built, with incredibly broad shoulders and a constant, barely perceptible, cheeky smirk playing on his lips. He confidently strutted into their downtown “Apex Horizon” office and instantly commanded the undivided attention of the entire female half of the floor.
From the young receptionists to the senior data analysts — everyone followed him with lingering, appreciative glances. However, corporate fate dictated that this undeniable heartthrob had to work under the direct, uncompromising supervision of Maddie. Or, more accurately, Miss Madeline Harrison, as she was officially and respectfully addressed in all formal company correspondence.
Nate, who was evidently entirely accustomed to constant female flirting, languid stares, and generous, unearned compliments, was initially genuinely surprised by her icy, impenetrable demeanor. She, although technically the same age as this confident new employee, had long ago learned to strictly evaluate people exclusively by their actual, measurable work results, not by their beautiful brown eyes or the pleasant, husky timbre of their voice.
When it came to actual work
And when it came to actual work, Nate’s performance was an absolute, undeniable disaster from the very start. His weekly marketing reports were simply riddled with gross, amateurish errors, crucial client documents mysteriously vanished into thin air, and hard deadlines were mercilessly blown, one after another.
One gloomy, overcast Tuesday morning, Maddie’s famously long patience finally snapped completely. She decisively pressed the sleek intercom button on her desk and dryly summoned him into her private office. It was a spacious, light-filled room with a luxurious, sweeping view of the magnificent Chicago River, where the air constantly smelled of freshly ground espresso beans and expensive, thick printer paper.
— Take a seat, Nate, — she began in a frosty, even tone, not even offering him a polite cup of coffee.
In her manicured hands lay his latest, disastrous campaign report, heavily crossed out with a thick red marker from top to bottom.
— I sincerely hoped that you would pass the standard adaptation period and quickly blend into our fast-paced rhythm. But looking at this, I see that I was deeply mistaken. Your endless coffee breaks and charming corridor chats are clearly your top priority. Actual work, meanwhile, sits somewhere at the very bottom of your list. So, let’s dot the i’s and cross the t’s right now: do not expect a single dime of your quarterly bonus this month. This is my final decision, and quite frankly, it’s more than fair.
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