My life had become monotonous.

It was wake-up, feed Walter, grab a coffee, go to work, go home, sleep, and repeat. Or some variation of that mind numbing task list. Two years out of graduate school and nothing was how I imagined it would be. The only thing that I'd accomplished was getting hired at PK Corporation, my dream company, but instead of the marketing department; I'd made it as far as head of the mailroom.

Truly the foulest mixup of my life. But I wasn't the type of girl to bow out gracefully. My ambition and pride would never allow for that. Maybe I was born in the wrong time—perhaps I was made to be a warrior on a battlefield. Though women of the 21st Century might say we were already warriors on a battlefield, it just had a different appearance. Either way, two years passed and my goal to see my name printed along those I'd long admired in the world of advertisements hadn't happened.

But I wasn't the type of girl to lose heart. My position did afford me the ability to network with people from every department of this company. That was a positive thing. I'd wracked up quite a few IOU's in the past several years, and made friends with people much higher than myself. It was my hope that one of them might help me out of my current position.

As things were, if I had to spend another year sorting mail I was going to lose what was left of my sanity. There was only one thing that broke up the monotony of my life (or at the very least made it worth something).

A rumble of whispers prickled my awareness, pulling my attention away from the discussion at my table. My gaze tracked the length of the cafeteria and there he was, the man who made it easier to get up and drag myself into work everyday: Alexander Vega.

So, today it was a navy suit and white button up, the first couple of buttons left undone, teasing his admirers with a healthy dose of his collarbones. Still professional, but casual enough to be inviting. Light brown hair set back off his forehead; almost the same tone as his honey brown eyes. Everything about him was warm, like the sun incarnate. Everyone wanted to be close to him.

And I wasn't an exception; more like the rule. Although, my original intention in getting close to Alex wasn't so carnal. But it was hard to not fall for someone who was dedicated to his work, looked like a roman god reborn, and had the heart of a golden retriever. Shouldn't a person have at least one obvious flaw? Something about his genetic make-up was criminally unfair! 

Maybe he sensed my gaze because our eyes met over the distance. A heat bubbled up from my chest, racing up the back of my neck and exploding over my face. Alex lifted a hand and gave a small wave, a friendly smile cracking his lips and exposing bright, straight teeth.

It was hard to know if I was flattered or ashamed at the direct attention. But I gave a small, returning wave before turning away and focusing my attention on my food. The sound of my heart thumping wildly drowning out any other noise for a moment.

"Kate?" a gentle voice called to me, trying to gain my attention.

"We've lost her," Max said, casting a quick glance over my shoulder. "Now that the beloved Alex is here." 

"Does he even know who you are?" Adele asked, a look of pity on her face.

My cheeks burned even hotter. "He knows!"

Max snorted, tearing their roll in half and dipping it into their soup. "Really? Since when?"

I fought the urge to narrow my eyes. "Since a couple of weeks ago. He finally called me by my actual name."

"I'm curious, what was he calling you?"

"...Kelly," I mumbled under my breath, pushing at the limp leaves of my salad.

Adele attempted to get her curls to stay behind her ear. "Haven't you been delivering his mail for almost two years, Kate?"

"He's the head of a department, cut him some slack. Imagine how many people he's interacting with on the daily."

Max leaned over and patted Adele's arm, gaze fixed on me. Their dark eyes were bright with silent laughter, definitely at my expense. "Just leave her to her delusions, Deli. It's easier."

I rolled my eyes, stabbing my fork into a few leaves and stuffing them in my mouth. This salad was as disappointing as my love life. College ended two years ago, I thought things would be easier but finding the time to meet and date someone and land my dream job—was that even a possibility?

"Hasn't he been dating Chloe Kang?" Max asked.

Adele perked up, eyebrows lifting. "The actress?"

"Yep, the very one," Max mumbled as they stuffed a soggy piece of bread into their mouth.

"Oh my god! I loved her on Golden Coast. Wasn't she casted for the next season of that Fantasy Show everyone's been screaming about on the socials?"

Max's cheeks were full of bread and soup, but they nodded, reaching up to cover their mouth. "Court of Shadows."

Adele snapped her fingers. "That's it!"

"Can we talk about something else?"

"More like someone else."

"Max!" I whined.

"Don't be a hater, kitty kat."

I narrowed my eyes. "We talked about that nickname."

They gave me a toothy grin, eyes squeezed shut. "But doesn't it fit you too well?"

Adele snickered, glancing between the two of us. Max and I met in college and have been together since. I don't remember the moment we became friends, it wasn't a grand or memorable thing. More like one day they were suddenly there with me; sarcastic remarks, chipped black nail polish, and undying loyalty.

We picked up Adele when we got hired at PK Corporations. She was a new face like us. Though more on the quiet side, it didn't take long for her to come out of her shell around us. The softness that she brought into our lives gave our duo the balance it needed.

My gaze drifted over to Alex. He was chatting with the woman behind him in the line to buy food. His smile was bright and perfect. Seriously, it was hard to look at him and believe he was a real person. 

I stabbed at my salad again. "I just don't think we should gossip about one of our bosses' dating life."

Max tilted their head, and persed their lips. It was obvious they didn't want to let the topic slide that easily.

But I pushed the conversation further away; in an entirely new direction while I was leading the charge. "What are you guys doing this weekend?"

"Well, since I've finished my part of the coding for the game—Nothing, I guess," Adele said with a genuine smile.

"Oh? You Tech babies working on something in your dungeon?" Max asked, allowing the conversation to turn and I was grateful once again for Adele.

"It's nothing special. Just experimenting with app creation, and trying to cure our own boredom."

"I could use a cure for my boredom." Thinking about returning to the Mailroom sent a shudder down my back.

"It should be ready for beta testing soon. I could ask them for you, if you're really interested..." 

"Yeah, put me on your list or whatever."

Adele smiled bright at my words. Maybe this was a little more than some experiment to her, by that response.

"If the Mailroom is that bad why don't you leave?"

"Blasphemer!" I threw my fingers up in a cross, playfully warding off Max's words. "I'm not about to throw away two years of schmoozing. This might seem ridiculous to you, but I know that my opportunity is going to come."

Max shook their head, a shadow of a smile on their face. "You really are delusional. There's no saving you. I don't know why I even try at this point."

"Now, you sound like Becca."

"Well, she's smart, but don't tell her I said that. Her head is big enough."

Adele leaned toward Max, whispering out the side of her mouth. "Who's Becca?"

"A know-it-all, loud mouth—"

I interrupted. "She's my childhood friend, more like my sister at this point."

"We all went to college together, unforunately," Max muttered before diving back into their soup with their roll.

"They didn't want to work here too?"

Max snorted at the question. I rolled my eyes. "She doesn't do well with authority."

"More like she wants to be the only point of authority," Max said with a full mouth.

"She started her own Marketing company with some people we met while in college. Honestly, she has done pretty well. I'm proud of her."

"That's amazing!"

"It is but don't ever tell her that," Max interjected.

"While we're on the topic, she's having a get together this weekend. Celebrating landing some big shot client, reserved a VIP section—"

"Bottle service?"

"This is Becca we're talking about."

"Count me in. If I can drink on her dime then I can put up with her gloating and constant tirade of recruitment." Max turned to Adele with a lifted brow. "What about you, sunshine?"

Adele's cheeks turned a brighter shade than her blush. "Are you inviting me?"

"Of course. It'll be fun and you said you had nothing going on." I added, not that she needed much convincing if her reaction to Max was anything to go by. 

"Then count me in, I guess."

"I'll warn you now, Becca will try to poach you."

Adele glanced at Max then turned to me as if seeking confirmation on this matter. With a tired sigh, I nodded my head. "She's been trying to get me to quit for two years and join her company."

"Unlike us—" Max leaned over and threw an arm around Adele's shoulder, pulling her closer. "it might actually be a real opportunity for you." 

I glanced over my shoulder with a frown, Alex was waving goodbye to the cashier, eyes shifting over the room and catching mine once more. He gave me a fleeting smile that sent my heart into overdrive before turning and walking out of the cafeteria with his coffee and boxed sandwich.

"And we've lost her again."

Adele laughed, and I found myself smiling at the infectious sound. As much as Max might be right about Becca's company being an opportunity for me to actually work in my field.

PK Corporation had always been a leading force and eight years ago, they started making innovative moves. It was what probably brought all three of us here. It would be a shame to give-up with nothing to show for my time spent here. I could wait a little longer, there was a feeling in my gut saying that my opportunity was right around the corner.