8
Amanda arrived at the office early again, coffee in one hand and her tablet in the other, ready to take on another day. After yesterday's unexpected detour to the massage parlor, she was curious to see if there would be any lingering effects on Ericka's mood.
As she made her way to her desk, the office was still quiet, the usual morning rush not yet in full swing. She glanced at Ericka's door—it was still closed. Either she hadn't arrived yet, or she was taking a rare moment to ease into the morning.
Amanda smiled to herself. Progress.
She set her things down and opened up Ericka's schedule for the day, double-checking all the meetings and appointments.
Everything was in order, and she had already anticipated potential roadblocks.
There was a follow-up meeting with the investors, a design review for the upcoming collection, and a private lunch scheduled—though Amanda wasn't sure if Ericka would actually take the time to enjoy it.
As she finished up, the elevator chimed, and a familiar figure stepped out. Ericka.
Amanda looked up just in time to see her boss walking in, looking refreshed—well, as refreshed as a woman running a massive fashion empire could look. Her outfit was as impeccable as always, her heels clicking against the floor with purpose. But there was something different.
Less tension in her shoulders. A subtle ease in her movements.
Ericka's eyes landed on Amanda as she approached. "You're early. Again."
Amanda smirked. "I like to be prepared. Someone has to make sure you don't overwork yourself."
Ericka let out a soft chuckle, something Amanda didn't hear often. "Is that part of your official job description?"
Amanda tapped her chin in mock thought. "Hmm. Not technically, but I'd say it's an unspoken requirement when working with you."
Ericka shook her head with amusement before glancing toward her office. "Anything urgent I need to know before I even sit down?"
Amanda handed her a neatly organized folder. "Your schedule is set, but I've flagged a few things for you to review before the investor meeting. Also, I confirmed your lunch plans—though I fully expect you to actually take the break this time."
Ericka took the folder, giving Amanda a knowing look. "You're relentless."
Amanda grinned. "You pay me to be."
Ericka sighed, shaking her head but with an undeniable hint of appreciation. "Fine. I'll try."
Amanda hesitated outside Ericka's office, fingers hovering over the door handle. It had been an unusually quiet morning—no emails, no calls, not even a single request from Ericka, which was completely out of character. She always had something that needed to be done.
Something felt... off.
With a deep breath, Amanda pushed the door open. "Hey, just checking in—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Ericka was sitting at her desk, but she wasn't working.
She wasn't on the phone, typing furiously, or reviewing documents like she normally would be.
Instead, she was staring out the window, eyes fixed on the sprawling city below.
One hand rested limply on the desk, while the other was curled slightly under her chin.
Amanda took a cautious step forward. "Ericka?"
No response.
Amanda swallowed, closing the door behind her softly before walking toward the desk. The closer she got, the more she could see the tension in Ericka's jaw, the slight furrow in her brow. Whatever she was thinking about, it wasn't business-related.
"You okay?" Amanda asked, keeping her voice gentle.
Ericka blinked, as if shaking herself from a trance. Her head turned slightly, but she didn't fully look at Amanda. "Just... thinking."
Amanda leaned against the edge of the desk, following her gaze out the window. "About?"
A moment passed before Ericka finally sighed. "Everything."
That was vague. And completely unlike her.
Amanda hesitated before speaking again. "Want to talk about it?"
Ericka gave her a small, tired smile. "You've been here, what? A week? Already trying to fix me?"
Amanda shook her head. "No. But I do pay attention."
That earned her a soft chuckle, but it faded just as quickly as it came. Ericka rubbed her temples and finally turned to fully face Amanda. "Some days, everything feels like it's moving too fast. And other days, it feels like it's slipping through my fingers."
Amanda's chest tightened at the honesty in her voice. "That sounds exhausting."
Ericka gave a dry laugh. "It is."
Amanda exhaled through her nose, then did something she normally wouldn't do in a professional setting—she reached out and placed a hand lightly over Ericka's. It was a simple touch, nothing too much, but it was grounding.
"You don't have to handle everything alone," Amanda said softly. "Not all the time."
Ericka stared at their hands for a moment before slowly pulling away—not harshly, but carefully, as if she wasn't sure how to react. She straightened in her chair, pulling the walls back up piece by piece.
"I appreciate the concern, Amanda," she said, voice smooth but quieter than usual. "But I'm fine."
Amanda didn't believe that for a second, but she also knew when to push and when to back off.
For now, she let it go.
"Alright," she said, standing up. "But if you ever need to just 'think' somewhere that isn't your office, I'll cover for you."
Ericka smirked, though there was something unreadable in her expression. "Noted."
Amanda gave her a lingering look before turning to leave. She paused at the door, glancing back just in time to see Ericka looking out the window again.
She wasn't fine.
And Amanda had a feeling she was one of the only people who actually saw it.