Gray arrived at the Lancaster Building just a little past 11 in the morning. He stepped into the elevator, pressing the button that led to one of the higher corporate floors, particularly to Chloe’s office.
As the elevator ascended, Gray leaned back against the mirrored wall. A small smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the last time he saw her.
It had been weeks... maybe even a month since he last saw the woman.
Their last meeting was when they ate together at a restaurant. After that, they haven’t met or even talked to each other. The only thing he knew was that Chloe had been very busy.
From what he heard from the employees, Chloe has taken a more serious role in the company while still studying on the side. He was actually proud of her that she was able to do that now.
He remembered that time when she was still struggling with her studies. It seemed like their tutoring session really helped her. He was genuinely happy with that.
When the elevator doors opened, Gray stepped out into the familiar hallway of the Lancaster executive floor. The corridor wall was filled with framed photos of company milestones and awards.
From a distance, he could already hear the voices coming from the offices at the end. It was where the marketing division was located. He knocked on the door twice before gently opening the glass door that led to Chloe’s office.
Inside, the office was bright and modern, even maybe a little girly too.
Chloe’s office was neat. It mostly used white as its color, with a few colors of red and pink here and there. There was also this faint scent of rose that lingered in the air. With his memory, it was Chloe’s favorite scent.
"Chloe..."
And sitting behind the wooden desk in the office was Chloe. Her hair was tied back neatly into a ponytail. Her brows were furrowed slightly as she flipped through a pile of documents.
When she finally noticed him by the door, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Gray!" she exclaimed out loud, immediately putting down her pen. Her face lit up, "You’re here already!"
"Yeah. You look busy, though. Should I come back later?" Gray smiled as he stepped inside.
Chloe shook her head quickly, standing up from her seat. "No, no. Please, sit! I was just finishing some reports." She walked around her desk and motioned for him to take a seat on the couch near the small coffee table.
"I didn’t think you’d really have time to come visit. You must be swamped with the store construction."
"I am," Gray admitted as he sat down, watching her as she walked to the small cabinet where she kept some tea and snacks for her and some important visitors. "But I figured it’s been a while since we last talked."
Chloe smiled at that, her back turned to him as she poured tea into two cups.
"You’re right. It has been a while." She muttered before sighing to express her disappointment with the matter.
Gray chuckled at it. It’s fun to know that they could still joke around like that when it’s only the two of them. Though he had to admit that she’s really grown. Now, there was a sense of maturity to her.
Chloe’s movements were composed now and not unrestrained. When she came back and handed him a cup, her expression softened.
"You look tired, Gray," she teased gently. "Are you working too hard again?"
"Well, you could say that. The store’s almost finished now, so things are picking up fast."
"Really?" Her eyes brightened with excitement. "That’s amazing! You’ve really been making things happen lately."
"I’ve had help," he said lightly.
"You make it sound like you’re some kind of overworked CEO." Chloe laughed softly, sitting across from him
"Oh well, I am," he said jokingly with a grin. "Can I be one of the domineering CEO now?" he wiggled his brows and looked at her playfully.
That made Chloe laugh out loud. Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned slightly back on her chair. She was smiling widely as if she couldn’t quite get over his joke.
"You? A domineering CEO?" she said in between small laughs. "What a good joke. Haha." She muttered.
"Hey, I’m not joking!" Gray raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended.
"Sure, sure," Chloe grinned, teasing.
That made him laugh again, shaking his head. "Wow, you’ve really changed, huh? You have become mean now.
"Oh, did I?" she said, pretending to look smug before letting the act drop and giggling softly.
Gray chuckled at it.He took a small sip of the tea she’d prepared before asking casually, "So, why did you ask me to visit you? Do you have any problems or what?"
Chloe blinked, then sighed dramatically, slumping back on the couch as if the question alone exhausted her.
"Ah, there it is. Straight to business, as always."
"Well, you sounded serious when you texted me yesterday. I thought maybe something happened." Gray chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah, you’re right," she admitted, waving her hand lazily before sitting up again. "I do need your genius mind, so I called for you."
Gray leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "Oh, good," he said with mock seriousness. "Then you just called the right person."
"You really haven’t changed, huh?" Chloe laughed again, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Of course not," he grinned. "Consistency is one of my best traits."
"Uh-huh. Along with shameless confidence."
Their laughter filled the small office again, echoing lightly against the glass walls. It felt warm and almost nostalgic. For a brief moment, it was as if the stress and deadlines outside that room didn’t exist.
It was as if it was just the two of them again.
"You know... I actually missed this," she admitted. "Our small talks. Your sarcastic remarks. It’s been quiet around here without you." Chloe leaned her chin on her palm, smiling softly as she looked at him.