C2 2

Rosa

I arrive at the sleek, glass-fronted building where SAR is located and head inside. The lobby buzzes with early morning activity. I make my way to the locker room, where I change into my cleaning wear—a simple shirt emblazoned with a mop logo and loose trousers. Heading to the elevator, I notice Carlos, a fellow cleaner, waiting. His wide shoulders and medium height are familiar, and his red baseball cap sits jauntily atop his head.

“Hey, Carlos,” I greet him with a smile.

“Hi, Rosa,” he replies, his warm brown eyes crinkling at the corners.

“How was your weekend?”

“The usual—spent time with the kids, had some quality moments with my wife, and went to a family gathering.”

“Your family gathers every week?”

“Yeah, we’re pretty close-knit. It’s nice to stay updated on everyone’s lives,” he says, his smile broadening.

“That’s so wonderful. I wish I had something like that.” I reply wistfully.

“Nosy relatives? He inquires, eyebrows lifted.

“No,” I reply, chuckling. “Family members who care for me, who will gather for dinner, chat, laugh, and catch up on my life.”

“Yeah, right, trust me, not so much.”

The elevator arrives, cutting our conversation short. Carlos hauls our cleaning supplies into the elevator, and I follow. “Thanks for taking my stuff too,” I say.

“You know you don’t need to thank me for that,” he replies with a chuckle.

We work for the same cleaning agency but on different floors. The ride up is peaceful, the silence only broken by the hum of the elevator. The bell dings, announcing our arrival at the tenth floor.

“See you tomorrow, dear,” Carlos says as he steps out.

“Alright, take care,” I reply, watching him go before the doors close again.

Alone with my thoughts, I ponder the dream I had, a familiar mix of anticipation and dread filling me. Part of me hopes not to encounter Mr. Cross today, though deep down, I secretly desire even a fleeting glimpse of him. Reaching the top floor, I exit the elevator with my supplies, noticing that the receptionist, Anna, is already at her desk.

“Good morning, Anna,” I greet her.

“Hey, Rosa. No one’s in yet except for Henry, so you can go in,” she replies with a smile.

“Thanks.”

I have the pleasure of knowing several remarkable individuals who consistently arrive at the workplace early, and I find great delight in encountering them there! Henry serves as Mr. Cross's secretary, yet on particularly hectic days, he occasionally arrives early. It's quite likely that today is one of those days.

I step through the wooden office doors, the only rooms on this floor apart from the secretary’s workspaces. Mr. Cross's office is contemporary and sophisticated, featuring glossy wooden furniture and expansive windows that provide a sweeping city view. I begin tidying up by cleaning surfaces and sorting papers and documents. The office is relatively clean, a testament to Mr. Cross’s organizational skills, though it lacks the sterile precision of the other executives’ offices.

As I gather my cleaning supplies and reach for the doorknob, it suddenly swings open from the outside. I quickly move to the left, narrowly avoiding being struck.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Rosa. I didn’t realize you were still in here,” Henry says, looking genuinely apologetic.

“No worries, I didn’t get hit. Anna told me you were in, but when I passed your desk, you weren’t around,” I reply.

“Yeah, I left to set something up in the conference room. We have an executive meeting today.”

“Okay, well, I’m off to the other rooms. Better hurry before the bosses get here.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

I'm about to respond when he receives a call.

” Hello, this is Henry Allerton; yes, the PA of Samson Cross.”

He walks away, talking to the person on the phone.

I quickly make my way to the offices of the other CEOs to get them cleaned up. I begin with Mr. Aiden's spotless office, since he is very particular about neatness. On the other hand, Mr. Rafael's office looks like a disaster after a party, with papers strewn about, coffee spills, and dirt covering every surface. I concentrate on working quickly in this disorganized space. Once I gather my cleaning supplies, I return downstairs to the first floor.

The elevator doors slowly slide open, and I step out. I walk down the corridor to our storage room to organize and put away my cleaning supplies. After changing out of my uniform into the comfortable jeans and T-shirt I wore when I arrived, I quickly but efficiently made my way through the rest of the buildings on my schedule for the morning. All of which are residential properties where I work throughout the day. As I turn the corner, my eyes lock onto a man standing at a towering six feet tall, with curly blond locks and intense blue eyes. His sleek, sculpted visage is framed perfectly by a rich blue Italian suit that accentuates his strong physique. He exudes a captivating charm, drawing the attention of every woman—and even a few men—in the vicinity as he strides through the entrance hall with unwavering confidence.

Mr. Cross heads to the elevator designated for the CEOs only; it goes directly to their floor. Even though he’s walking to the elevators behind me, I can’t help but imagine that he’s coming for me. I keep staring, my heart pounding, and I find myself mumbling nonsensical words. He briefly glances at me as he walks by, and I feel a little swoony because I just locked eyes with Mr. Cross.

I know it was only for a couple of seconds, but it still happened. I’ll sound like a crazy person explaining this to my girls. That reminds me, we have our weekly Monday luncheon around 2 p.m. I better hurry up so I won’t be late.

I start my walk out of the building to finish my remaining work for the morning, a small smile playing on my lips. This encounter makes today feel like it’s going to be a perfect day. It felt good to think about it, but I know the universe always has its own plans. For now, I’ll hold onto this small moment of joy and see where the day takes me.