11
The office was nearly empty, the hum of the city outside the only real sound filling the space. Amanda sat at her desk, the glow of her computer screen casting soft shadows across her face as she worked through the last of the reports.
Most people had left an hour ago, including Ericka. But Amanda knew better than to walk away when there was still work to be done. The faster she finished up tonight, the smoother tomorrow would be—and after the way today had gone, she wanted everything to be perfect.
She stretched her arms above her head, rolling her neck as she scanned the schedule for the next morning. Meetings, emails, another follow-up on the investor deal—she could already tell it was going to be just as packed as today.
She glanced at the time: 9:42 PM.
It was later than she thought, but that didn't surprise her. She had always been the type to stay ahead, to anticipate what needed to be done before anyone even asked.
Reaching for her coffee cup, she took a sip only to grimace at the now-cold liquid.
She sighed, standing up to make another cup in the break room.
The fluorescent lights flickered slightly as she filled the machine with fresh water and grabbed a new pod.
The entire floor was silent now—no ringing phones, no rushed footsteps, just the occasional honk of a car from the streets below.
She had to admit, there was something peaceful about working late.
A few minutes later, coffee in hand, she returned to her desk and got back to work.
She combed through the final emails of the day, flagged a few messages for Ericka to review in the morning, and updated a handful of reports. Then, she started prepping for the early meetings, jotting down notes, printing out summaries, and making sure every detail was accounted for.
By the time she finally leaned back in her chair, satisfied, it was almost 11 PM.
She let out a deep breath, rubbing her tired eyes. The day had been long, but at least now she could walk in tomorrow morning knowing everything was handled.
Just as she was shutting her laptop, she heard the elevator ding.
Amanda frowned, turning toward the sound.
Footsteps echoed down the hall, slow and steady, until a familiar figure stepped into view.
Ericka.
Amanda sat up straighter, surprised. "I thought you left hours ago."
Ericka, dressed in the same sharp suit from earlier but now with her blazer draped over one arm, gave her a knowing look. "I did."
Amanda narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you back?"
Ericka smirked slightly. "I could ask you the same thing."
Amanda sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Just wanted to make sure everything was ready for tomorrow."
Ericka hummed, stepping closer, her gaze flicking to Amanda's desk—neatly stacked folders, prepped notes, the schedule already updated for the morning.
"You really don't stop, do you?" Ericka mused, something unreadable in her expression.
Amanda leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "I could say the same about you."
Ericka smirked again but didn't argue. Instead, she studied Amanda for a moment, then finally said, "Come on."
Amanda blinked. "What?"
Ericka gestured toward the elevator. "It's late. You're done. Let's go."
Amanda hesitated. "You're waiting for me?"
Ericka arched a brow. "You waited for me last night, didn't you?"
Amanda's lips twitched slightly before she shut her laptop and grabbed her bag.
Fair enough.
___________________________________________
Amanda stepped into the office early, as usual, but today felt different.
It was Friday.
And not just any Friday—the Friday she had been looking forward to for weeks. Tonight, she was finally going out with her best friend, Samantha. They had made plans ages ago to grab drinks, dance, and let loose a little after what felt like an eternity of non-stop work.
She needed this.
Sure, she enjoyed her job. And, yes, she had grown to... appreciate her dynamic with Ericka. But that didn't mean she wasn't dying for a night where she wasn't thinking about meetings, schedules, or last-minute contracts.
She made her way to her desk, setting down her coffee and logging into her computer. The office was still quiet, which gave her the perfect chance to get ahead on the day before the chaos started.
As she scrolled through emails, she mentally checked off everything that needed to be done before she could escape for the weekend.
? Finalize Monday's meeting agenda.
? Confirm the last-minute investor report.
? Make sure Ericka actually took a lunch break (a task she had unofficially added to her job description).
The elevator dinged, pulling her from her thoughts.
Ericka stepped out, looking every bit the powerhouse CEO that she was. Today, she wore a deep navy suit, her hair pulled back into a sleek style, heels clicking against the floor as she walked. The usual.
But something about her felt different, too.
Maybe it was the way she seemed just a little less intense, a little less weighed down by the week. Or maybe Amanda was just imagining things.
"Morning," Amanda called, taking a sip of her coffee.
Ericka glanced at her, nodding. "Morning. You're early. Again."
Amanda smirked. "And you're surprised by that?"
Ericka sighed but smirked slightly. "Not anymore."
Amanda watched as Ericka made her way into her office, already lost in whatever was waiting on her desk.
For a brief moment, Amanda considered mentioning her weekend plans. It wasn't like it was a big deal—just a casual night out with Samantha.
But something stopped her.
Instead, she turned back to her computer, checking off another task from her to-do list.
One more workday to get through, and then it was time to let loose.
Nothing—not even Ericka Matthews—was going to get in the way of that.
Amanda dove into her work, determined to get everything done before the end of the day. The faster she wrapped things up, the sooner she could enjoy her weekend without a lingering to-do list in the back of her mind.
She powered through emails, confirmed reports, and ensured every loose end was tied up before anyone could ask her to stay late.
By 11 AM, the office was fully awake, phones ringing, conversations humming through the open space.
Ericka had already been through two meetings, neither of which had required Amanda's direct involvement—which meant she had even more time to make sure her exit was smooth when the clock hit five.
She stretched her arms above her head, checking the time again.
Six more hours.
Amanda was about to grab another coffee when Ericka's voice broke through the chatter.
"Amanda, in my office."
Amanda sighed, pushing herself up from her chair. So much for a quick break.
She stepped into Ericka's office, finding her standing behind her desk, flipping through a report.
"Everything set for next week?" Ericka asked without looking up.
"All meetings confirmed, reports finalized, and I double-checked the investor call for Monday," Amanda said. "Everything's in place."
Ericka finally looked up, studying her with that unreadable gaze. "You seem eager to get out of here today."
Amanda raised a brow. "That obvious?"
Ericka smirked slightly. "A little. Big plans?"
Amanda hesitated for a second before deciding there was no harm in sharing. "Yeah, actually. I'm meeting my best friend, Samantha, for drinks tonight. We planned this weeks ago, and I fully intend to enjoy every second of it."
Ericka's expression shifted just slightly, something flickering in her gaze before she nodded. "Sounds like a good way to spend a Friday night."
Amanda smirked, crossing her arms. "Don't tell me you're one of those people who just goes home and works all weekend?"
Ericka gave her a pointed look. "I don't just work."
Amanda narrowed her eyes playfully. "Uh-huh. And when was the last time you went out just to have fun?"
Ericka tilted her head slightly, considering. "Define 'fun.'"
Amanda laughed. "Oh, that's bad. That means it's been way too long."
Ericka sighed, shaking her head. "I don't exactly have the luxury of spontaneous nights out, Amanda."
Amanda shrugged. "Then maybe you should schedule one. You schedule everything else."
Ericka actually smiled at that, shaking her head. "I'll take that into consideration."
Amanda took a step back, nodding toward the door. "In the meantime, I have five hours left before I'm officially off the clock, and I plan to make sure there's nothing that will make me stay a second later than I have to."
Ericka chuckled softly, leaning against her desk. "Noted. Go finish up."
Amanda turned to leave but paused for just a moment, glancing back at Ericka. "You should try it, you know."
Ericka raised a brow. "Try what?"
"Having a little fun."
And with that, Amanda walked out, leaving Ericka standing there, watching her go.
Amanda returned to her desk, feeling oddly satisfied with the exchange. She didn't expect Ericka to suddenly drop her CEO persona and hit the clubs, but at the very least, she had planted the idea in her mind.
The rest of the afternoon moved quickly. She wrapped up final reports, checked in with the last few departments, and made sure nothing would pull her back into the office over the weekend.
By 4:45 PM, her desk was clear, her inbox organized, and her bag slung over her shoulder. The anticipation buzzed under her skin—she was so close to freedom.
Just as she was about to step toward the elevator, her phone buzzed.
A message from Samantha:
Can't wait to see you! What time are you heading out?
Amanda smiled, quickly typing back.
Heading home now. Should be out by 8! Ready to finally let loose.
She barely hit send before a familiar voice cut through her thoughts.
"Amanda."
She turned to see Ericka standing just outside her office, arms crossed, watching her with that same unreadable look from earlier.
Amanda raised a brow. "Yes, boss?"
Ericka hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding toward her desk. "I have everything I need for Monday?"
Amanda smirked, lifting her bag slightly. "Checked, double-checked, and confirmed."
Ericka nodded once, still not moving.
Amanda narrowed her eyes playfully. "Are you stalling?"
Ericka let out a small, amused huff. "No."
Amanda tilted her head. "You sure? Because it kind of feels like you are."
Ericka's lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smirk but wasn't serious either. "Just making sure you're not slipping up before your grand escape."
Amanda chuckled, shaking her head. "No slip-ups. I am fully off-duty."
Ericka studied her for a moment before giving a small nod. "Then enjoy your night."
Amanda took a step toward the elevator, pressing the button, but before stepping inside, she looked back one last time.
Ericka was still standing there, hands in her pockets now, watching her with an expression Amanda couldn't quite read.
"See you Monday, Matthews," Amanda teased, stepping into the elevator.
The doors slid shut before she could see if Ericka reacted.
Amanda leaned against the cool metal wall, exhaling slowly as the elevator descended.
Work mode: OFF.
Weekend mode: ON.
It was finally time for drinks, dancing, and absolutely no thoughts about Ericka Matthews.
...Or at least, that was the plan.