Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Made The Untouchable Man Curious
By the end of the week, everyone at Gallow Holdings noticed something strange.
Victor Gallow was waiting for the elevator.
Not once.
Not twice.
Every morning.
Arthur noticed first.
"You realize this is becoming obvious."
Victor continued reading his tablet.
"What is?"
"You arriving five minutes earlier than necessary."
"I have meetings."
"You've had the same schedule for three years."
Victor looked at him.
Arthur immediately stopped.
"Just saying."
Victor ignored him.
Then Harper appeared.
Late.
Again.
She ran across the garage.
Her coat was open.
Her hair was messy.
And she was holding a stack of papers that nearly fell apart.
She stopped when she saw Victor.
"Oh no."
Victor looked at her.
"What?"
"You."
"Problem?"
"No."
She stepped into the elevator.
"You just have the exact expression of a man who has never been late."
Victor pressed fourteen.
"I haven't."
Harper sighed.
"Of course you haven't."
She looked at him.
"Do you ever do anything normal?"
"No."
The answer came so quickly she laughed.
Actually laughed.
Victor froze slightly.
He couldn't remember the last time someone laughed around him without fear.
"You were serious?"
"Yes."
"That's tragic."
Victor looked at her.
"What is?"
"You."
She pointed at him.
"You look like you own buildings."
"I do."
"Exactly."
She smiled.
"But do you own a weekend?"
Victor didn't respond.
Harper shook her head.
"Thought so."
The elevator opened.
Before leaving, she looked back.
"You should try it sometime."
"Try what?"
"Being a person."
Then she walked away.
Victor remained inside.
Arthur looked at him.
"She insulted you."
Victor watched the closing doors.
"Yes."
"And?"
A pause.
Victor quietly said:
"I don't think she meant to."
---
That afternoon, Victor saw Harper again.
Not in the elevator.
In the lobby.
She was arguing with a manager.
"I understand the deadline."
Harper held a folder.
"But changing the entire campaign design overnight isn't realistic."
The manager crossed his arms.
"Maybe if you worked faster—"
Victor stopped walking.
Harper noticed him.
The manager did not.
"You are a junior designer, Harper. You should be grateful you have this job."
Victor's expression changed.
Arthur immediately noticed.
Danger.
"Enough."
The lobby went silent.
The manager turned.
"Mr. Gallow."
Victor looked at him.
"Is there a problem?"
The man became nervous.
"No, sir."
Victor looked at Harper's folder.
"She said the deadline was unrealistic."
"She was mistaken."
Victor glanced at Harper.
She didn't look away.
Most people lowered their eyes.
She didn't.
"Was she?"
The manager swallowed.
Victor continued.
"Because according to the numbers, her department has completed every project ahead of schedule."
Silence.
Harper looked surprised.
Victor turned back.
"Perhaps the issue is not her speed."
The manager immediately understood.
"Yes, sir."
Victor walked away.
Harper followed him.
"Victor."
He stopped.
Nobody called him like that.
She held her folder.
"Thank you."
"I didn't do it for you."
"I know."
That surprised him.
She smiled.
"You did it because you hate inefficient management."
Victor looked at her.
She shrugged.
"Am I wrong?"
For a moment...
Victor had no response.
Then, unexpectedly:
"No."
Harper smiled.
"See?"
She walked away.
Victor watched her leave.
Arthur approached.
"You defended her."
Victor looked at him.
"She was right."
Arthur nodded.
"Of course."
A pause.
"But that's not why."
Victor's eyes sharpened.
Arthur chose his next words carefully.
"You are starting to care."
Victor looked away.
"No."
Arthur didn't argue.
Because for the first time...
May you like
Victor sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
---
