Daniel pressed the elevator button. I had time. The doors opened. Clare stepped inside, then turned before the doors closed. Daniel, right?
He nodded, surprised she remembered. Right. She smiled. Thank you. The elevator doors closed, carrying her toward the meeting she had come to lead.
Daniel turned back toward the lobby, completely unaware that within minutes, everyone on that floor would stand when she walked through the doors. Why was everyone suddenly standing? Daniel Carter stepped out of the maintenance hallway just as the elevator doors opened, expecting another ordinary morning. Instead, the lobby seemed to change in an instant. One executive straightened his jacket.
Another closed his laptop. Then three more employees stood at once. Daniel looked around confused until he saw the woman from earlier walking toward them. Clareire Bennett, the same woman who had been sitting alone beneath the tall glass windows only minutes before. the same woman he had teased about waiting for someone who was already late. Now people were greeting her with careful smiles and respectful nods.
Daniel froze. Clare saw him immediately. Her expression did not change except for the smallest hint of amusement in her eyes. Good morning, Daniel. He swallowed.
Good morning. A nearby executive turned toward him with surprise. You know Miss Bennett? Daniel looked at Clare, then at the room full of people who had just stood for her. We met in the lobby.
Clare stepped closer. He helped me find the conference room. Daniel felt his face grow warm. He suddenly wished the elevator had stayed closed. "I did not know," he said quietly.
Clare smiled. "I know." She walked past him toward the executive offices, but before she disappeared, she looked back once. And for the record, Daniel, I did not mind the flirting. He stood there speechless as the elevator doors closed behind her. Marcus Reed appeared beside him a moment later.
What just happened? Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. I think I just flirted with the new chief executive officer. Marcus stared at him. You did what?
Daniel sighed. I need coffee. But upstairs, Clare was already entering the executive conference room. She took her seat at the head of the table as the room settled into silence. The same executives who had stood for her in the lobby now waited for her first instructions.
Richard Hail, the chief operating officer, opened his folder. We are ready when you are. Clare looked around the table. Good. Then let us begin.
She listened as each department leader introduced himself and explained his responsibilities. Yet every so often, her mind returned to the lobby. Not because Daniel had flirted with her. It was because he had done something more unusual. He had spoken to her without checking her title first.
He had offered help without expecting anything. He had made her laugh on a morning when she had arrived carrying more pressure than anyone in that building knew. Richard noticed her distraction. Is everything all right? Clare looked up.
Everything is fine. He nodded then continued. The facilities report is on page 12. Clare opened the document. Who manages facilities maintenance reports through operations?
Richard said. The team is small. Clare scanned the page. And who has been here the longest? Richard glanced at the report.