Lillian's inbox pinged just as she was finishing up a report.
She squinted at the subject line: "Urgent: Sebastian Wolfe – Smart-Home Interface Meeting, Dallas".
Her heart sank.
She clicked it open. The email was from a senior project manager in Dallas. The company wanted Sebastian in their office immediately to finalize the new smart-home interface project. The tone was formal, polite, but urgent.
Great, she thought. Just what we need — more work. And a trip. And of course, I have to go.
As his secretary, she knew it was her responsibility to notify him. But the timing couldn't have been worse. Monday had already been tense. The office still carried the weight of Sebastian's bad mood, and she wasn't sure she was ready to confront him today.
She straightened her skirt and took a deep breath. "You've got this," she muttered to herself.
She stood up and turned towards Sebastian's office, bag in one hand, laptop tucked under the other.
He was at his desk, hunched over the keyboard, fingers tapping with impatient rhythm. His jaw was tight, and his usual sharp blue eyes were locked on multiple screens.
Lillian cleared her throat. "Mr. Wolfe?"
He didn't look up. The tapping continued.
"Sir," she tried again, slightly louder. "There's… an urgent email you need to see."
He finally lifted his eyes, cold and piercing. "Urgent?" he asked, voice clipped.
"Yes. From Dallas," she replied, placing the laptop gently on his desk. "They want you there immediately regarding the smart-home interface project."
His eyes narrowed. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Immediately?"
"Yes," Lillian said, her voice calm, though her stomach twisted. "They emphasized that it's critical for the next stage of development. And… I'll need to accompany you, as usual."
Sebastian's lips pressed into a tight line. He didn't speak for a long moment. His eyes flicked back to the screen, then returned to her. "Travel today?" he said slowly, irritation clear in every syllable.
"Yes, sir," she said softly. "Flights are available in the afternoon. I can arrange everything."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. "It's Monday," he muttered, more to himself than her. "The office is already… poisoned by gossip. And now this?"
Lillian nodded carefully. "I know, sir. But the project is high priority, and this meeting is necessary. The Dallas team needs your input."
He exhaled sharply and leaned back in his chair, eyes closing for a brief moment. When he opened them, the blue glare was sharper than ever.
"Very well," he said finally. "Set it up. Notify everyone. I'll leave when I'm ready."
"Yes, sir," she said, typing notes quickly into her planner.
Lillian hesitated before she left the office. She had to say it. Something she couldn't ignore. "Sir… do you want me to schedule the hotel, the transport, and your documents for the trip?"
He didn't respond immediately. Then, without looking up from the screen, he said, "Yes. All of it. And make it seamless. I don't want to think about logistics."
"Yes, sir," she said, her fingers moving quickly on her laptop.
She paused, unsure if she should push further. "And… sir, do you want to leave the office early today? You haven't had a proper break since you returned."
His eyes snapped to hers, piercing. "I leave when I'm ready, Miss Parker. Until then, everyone works. Including you."
Her stomach tightened. She nodded. "Understood."
Walking back to her desk, she noticed Chloe observing her. The smirk on her friend's face was small, but knowing.
"Go tell him?" Chloe whispered, nodding toward Sebastian's office.
Lillian took a deep breath. "I did. And… he's not pleased."
Chloe tilted her head. "That's an understatement. Monday, gossip, office tension, and now a last-minute trip. He's probably on the verge of snapping at anyone who breathes wrong."
"I know," Lillian admitted, shaking her head. "But I have to go. Flights, hotel, documents… it's my job."
Chloe leaned back, smirking faintly. "Careful. He's already irritable, and you're about to add travel logistics into the mix. This could get… interesting."
Lillian felt her cheeks warm. Interesting? That's one word for it.
She turned back toward Sebastian's office, laptop and planner in hand.
He hadn't moved from his desk. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, eyes scanning numbers, diagrams, and emails with sharp precision. The office was silent except for the rhythmic tapping of his keys.
She cleared her throat softly. "Sir, I have the itinerary options ready…"
He didn't look up. "I said I'll leave when I'm ready, Miss Parker."
"Yes, sir. I just wanted to confirm the options for the flights and hotel…"
His head snapped toward her, blue eyes flashing. "Options?" he barked, irritation sharp and dangerous.
"Y-yes, sir," she said quickly, holding her planner closer. "I have three flights that would get us there in time for the meeting. The hotel is available with conference facilities, and I've already prepared the necessary documents for you to review during the flight."
He exhaled sharply, leaning back. "Fine. Send them to my email. I'll decide."
"Yes, sir," she said softly.
There was a pause. Then, he muttered under his breath, almost to himself, "Of course… travel, more meetings, people… everything on a Monday…"
Lillian swallowed and stepped back slightly. She knew better than to comment. She didn't say anything, just nodded.
Back at her desk, she tried to focus on her own work, but she couldn't stop thinking about Sebastian's frustration. The tension from earlier, the gossip, and now this trip… she realized how much the office had shifted in just one day.
Chloe sidled up to her desk. "So… first day back, and he's already snapped at everyone?"
Lillian nodded. "Yeah. And now we're flying to Dallas. I don't even know if he's planning to speak to anyone in the office before we go. Everyone's just… tense."
Chloe smirked faintly. "You're going to spend hours in a plane with him. Good luck surviving that without getting snapped at."
Lillian rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling faintly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Chloe shrugged. "Just being realistic. Monday's already rough. Add travel and he's not going to be forgiving. But hey… you're always prepared. You've got this."
Lillian exhaled. "I hope so."
Later, Sebastian's office door opened slightly, and she peeked inside. He was still at his desk, working with laser focus. He didn't look up when she entered, but she knew he was aware of her presence.
"Sir," she began carefully, "the email said they need a meeting tomorrow. I've prepared all the logistics, flights, and documents. Shall I send them to your email for review?"
He tapped the desk impatiently. "Do it. I'll review when I'm ready. And Miss Parker…" He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. "Make sure everything is precise. No mistakes."
"Yes, sir," she replied, voice steady despite the tension rolling off him in waves.
He returned to his screen, typing furiously, fingers flying over the keys. She stepped back quietly, leaving him to work.
By late afternoon, the arrangements were nearly complete. Lillian had booked flights, confirmed the hotel, and ensured all documents were ready. Yet she couldn't shake the tension from the morning.
Sebastian hadn't spoken to anyone else in the office. He had barely looked up from his screens. Even Chloe had kept her distance, whispering only brief updates.
Lillian paused at her desk and glanced toward his office. He was still there, the blue glare occasionally flicking toward her. Even without words, she felt the weight of his frustration pressing down.
She exhaled slowly. This is going to be a long trip, she thought.
But there was no turning back now. The email had arrived, the trip was scheduled, and as his secretary, she would accompany him — whether he liked it or not.
And she knew one thing: dealing with Sebastian Wolfe in a bad mood, while traveling across the country for a high-stakes project, would be… unforgettable.