The soft hum of the city filtered through the large windows of Sebastian's sleek, modern living room. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow across the polished floor. Sebastian sank deeper into his leather armchair, letting out a long breath as he tossed his phone onto the glass coffee table.
Josh, sprawled casually on the plush sofa, shook his head with a grin. "Man, you always work too much. It's like your life's just one big board meeting."
Sebastian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not all bad. Work's... work. Keeps me on my toes. But yeah, sometimes it's a grind."
Josh sat up, narrowing his eyes. "You ever think about slowing down? You know, enjoying life? Maybe getting yourself a girlfriend or something. Some fun outside those spreadsheets and conference calls."
Sebastian laughed again. "A girlfriend? You mean like some random girl from the office? Nah, man. That's a disaster waiting to happen."
Josh nudged him playfully. "You don't have to be so serious all the time. Speaking of girls, you mentioned something earlier about bumping into a girl this morning? What's that story?"
Sebastian's eyes lit up, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Oh yeah. So, I was out jogging in the park near Lancaster Estate—trying to keep the stress in check, you know—and out of nowhere, this girl literally bumps right into me. Coffee in hand, and bam, it spills all over my shirt."
Josh raised an eyebrow. "Coffee on the CEO of a major company? Classic."
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. She was apologizing like crazy, looking all flustered. But the weird thing is... I feel like I saw her before. Like at the company or something."
Josh leaned forward, intrigued. "Oh? You think she works there?"
"Not exactly works, but she was definitely there for something official—like an interview or something. I'm almost certain she was one of the candidates."
Josh smirked. "So you're telling me she bumped into you on purpose? Maybe she already knows you're the CEO and wanted to make a grand entrance."
Sebastian laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, man. She looked totally innocent—like she had no clue who I was. Just some girl trying to get by."
Josh gave him a knowing look. "Come on, bro. Did she look beautiful or what?"
Sebastian tilted his head, pretending to think. "I can't really remember. It was early, and I was still half asleep, I guess."
Josh scoffed. "Bro, if you're already this spaced out over a girl whose name you don't even know, that's a clear sign she's drop-dead gorgeous."
They both burst into laughter, the room filling with the easy camaraderie that only years of friendship can build.
"Alright," Sebastian said, wiping a tear from his eye from laughing so hard. "So, what else is new? How's the dating world treating you? Still single and ready to mingle?"
Josh groaned dramatically. "Single as ever. But hey, at least I don't have to deal with coffee stains on my shirts from mysterious joggers."
Sebastian smirked. "You're missing out, man."
Josh rolled his eyes, grabbing the remote to switch the TV to a football match. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's watch some real action. Football, not romance."
Sebastian settled back, the earlier tension melting away as the game started, the two friends slipping comfortably into their usual banter about sports, life, and everything in between.
---
The cheers from the TV filled the room as the football match kicked off. Josh leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen, while Sebastian's mind kept drifting back to the girl—Elena, though he didn't know her name yet.
"Seriously, though," Sebastian said after a moment, eyes fixed on the screen but voice softer, "there was something different about her. Not just the coffee incident. It's like... she didn't belong in that world, you know? The whole place felt too polished for her, but she carried herself with this quiet confidence."
Josh glanced at him, surprised by the seriousness in his tone. "Sounds like you're already making up stories about her."
"Maybe," Sebastian admitted. "I keep wondering what her story is. Why she's here. And what she's fighting for."
Josh nodded, understanding more than Sebastian expected. "You're more than just a CEO, huh? You actually care."
"Yeah, I care. More than I let on." Sebastian paused, then chuckled softly. "We CEOs get painted as these untouchable people, but we're human too. Sometimes I forget that."
Josh threw an arm over the back of the sofa. "Man, you've always been different. You're not just about money and power."
"Thanks, man. I appreciate that." Sebastian smiled genuinely.
Josh looked thoughtful for a second. "You think she noticed who you were? The CEO?"
Sebastian shook his head. "No. Honestly, she seemed more worried about her own problems than me. That's probably why I was so drawn to her. No pretenses."
Josh grinned. "Sounds like you want to know more about her."
Sebastian hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I want to see if she gets the job. If she does, maybe I'll find a way to talk to her again. Not as the CEO, just as me."
Josh laughed. "Look at you getting all romantic. Who is this girl, really?"
Sebastian shrugged. "I don't know yet. But I'm curious."
The two fell into a comfortable silence, watching the match unfold. The glow of the evening settled over the room, wrapping them in a sense of calm.