Queen's Gambit in Office

After finding out that my best friend Kate Cox had a boyfriend, I couldn't hold back any longer.

One drunken night, I angrily opened WhatsApp and randomly added a stranger.

In my haze, I sent a message: "May I see your chest?"

Later in the office, the boss touched his collar and asked me, "Still want to see?"

1.

After exiting the bar, I witnessed my best friend Kate slip into a car, ensconced in the arms of a man. She moved with an exquisite grace, her slender waist and shapely hips a captivating sight.

Even after the car door closed, she rolled down the window and asked with a smile, "Dora, is someone picking you up?"

To that, I said nothing.

Wasn't she cheeky!

As I watched that flamboyant red sports car speed away, in a fit of anger, I hurled my shoulder bag towards the ground. However, just as it was on the verge of striking the dusty pavement, a pang of regret hit me, and I promptly lunged forward to snatch it back.

Why?

It was a brand-new LV bag.

Market price: 20, 000 dollars.

The look from passersby was as if they had seen aliens attacking Earth.

In the end, I chose to declare I was drunk rather than become an alien.

So, I raised my bag and shouted to the sky, "Kate, let's have another drink! You can't refuse to drink with me just because I sent you to the hospital for choking on a rice ball the other day!"

If you flaunt your love life at me, I'll make you embarrassed.

I, Dora Harvey's life principle was that no one could take advantage of me.

Kate, my lifelong friend, had boldly declared just days ago, "Anyone who falls in love is a total loser!"

I was heartbroken. Just days ago, she was fine, and now she had become a fool.

Once I got home, I realized I was truly drunk; otherwise, I wouldn't feel this upset.

I turned on the lights in a daze and collapsed onto the sofa.

Tears cascaded down my comely face as the vision of Kate's captivating figure flitted before my eyes. I couldn't help but extend my hand to grasp it, yet I clutched at nothingness, and my spirits plummeted even further.

I refused to believe it!

Was it really possible that I couldn't find a partner?!

I opened WhatsApp, checked the nearby people, and waited for five minutes.

After seeing a slew of messages like "How much for a night?" "Hello, beauty. I have a big one."

I decisively closed it.

Finally, in a moment of drunken whimsy, I searched my own phone number in the search bar. When I got to the last digit, I paused, then changed "66" to "77."

Why would I do that?

Because I couldn't believe there was anyone who could have a number with such similarity to mine!

What started as a joke unexpectedly brought up a WhatsApp profile picture.

A slender, attractive hand rested on a fluffy white cat's head. The man's hand was exceptionally good-looking, with pale skin and visible blue veins, and a silver watch adorned his wrist.

I was drunk, my head a bit foggy.

Under the influence of alcohol, the photo looked particularly enticing and adorable.

On a whim, I added him to my contacts.

After waiting three minutes, there was no response.

Another three minutes passed, still no response.

My account were open for strangers to view.

Each photo there was carefully selected from hundreds.

What did it mean not to add me?

I was anxious. Was he looking down on me?

The greetings from nearby people just proved that I still had some allure to men.

What did he mean by this?

What did the cat and his hand mean?

Before heading to the shower, I tried adding him again.

with a message, "Are you not up to it?"

2.

If someone asked, what was the worst thing to say to a man in this world?

"Are you not up to it?" would definitely be an option.

I stared at the new contact on my phone, lost in thought.

While hesitating whether to delete it, a message from Kate popped up.

A photo of a man's chest, with a slender, attractive hand resting on it, nails painted a bright red. The stark contrast of red, white, and brown pierced my heart.

Looking at the empty input box, I angrily typed.

"How about showing some photo of chest?"

After a minute, there was no movement, not even a typing indicator.

I fell silent.

I began to wonder if I was being too creepy, if asking to see a man's chest right off the bat was inappropriate.

While pondering, I suddenly remembered something.

I clicked on the man's profile picture.

Sure enough, he was local.

I quietly exited, looked at my own flirtatious photos, and decisively chose to hide them, making them visible for only three days.

Everyone needed their dignity, just like a tree needs its bark.

Looking at the still-unanswered chat box, I sent another message: "I made a mistake. I meant to say, chess. The international chess. Do you believe me?"

After sending four messages in succession, there was finally a stir on the other end. I stared intently as the typing indicator emerged, my heart thumping rapidly.

I thought a message would pop up any second.

But unexpectedly, the typing indicator vanished.

Before the thought of him not being able to take a joke crossed my mind, a voice message came through.

Looking at the red dot.

Was he provoking me?

Did he think I wouldn't dare to listen it?

Did he see me as a coward?

I raised my hand and tapped on the voice message, then- converted it to text.

"What international chess? Is this your queen's gambit?"

Bold, very bold.

I liked it.

Even though the voice-to-text conversion had some errors, I instantly understood his meaning.

Suddenly, I wanted... to hear his voice.

The man's voice was clear and pleasant, with a slight upward inflection, and the last word was pronounced in a way that contrasted sharply with the first.

My face suddenly turned red.

But I couldn't admit defeat, so I turned to open my best friend Kate's WhatsApp.

"If someone insists on showing me his chest, what should I do?"

"Who?" The reply came swiftly.

"Someone I don't know, " I answered.

"Ask if he is just playing around, only showing chest, " she suggested. Then, as if recalling something, she added, "Is it a handsome guy?"

I hadn't replied yet when she continued with certainty, "Dora, you've never had guys approach you because you're so clueless. And now, someone's eager to strip for you?"

I kept silent, not daring to admit that it was me who had impulsively asked for it.

When I returned to the chat, I found several unread messages.

"Why aren't you responding?"

"Don't want to see anymore?"

"Found someone else?"

Then came a photo.

I opened it, and immediately felt a rush of heat to my face, something trickling from my nose. I quickly covered it and zoomed in for a closer look.

So soft, so big...

My gaze drifted downward.

1, 2, 3, 4... 8.

Further down, black fabric pants blocked the view.

Feeling a bit unsatisfied, I sent another message, reasoning that with so many people in this world, the chance of him knowing me was slim.

"Only showing your chest? Are you just playing around with me?"

There was a pause, as if he was hesitating or pondering something, before he sent a voice message.

"Getting a free peek, dear?"

He must be from the north, with a lilting accent that hooked my heart.

Dazed, I checked my balance.

Only one hundred left.

Mocking me, it seemed.

I definitely couldn't send all of my money.

I had just started an internship, and my paycheck wouldn't come for another month. I needed to save at least 80 for daily expense.

"Is 20 enough?"

He didn't reply, but I felt he agreed.

So, I boldly transferred to him.

He didn't accept it. Instead, he called.

Panicking, I tried to hang up, but in my nervousness, I accidentally answered.

Behind the screen, I was bold; I was timid actually. I didn't dare speak.

The man spoke first.

"Quite generous, hum."

I couldn't tell if he was complimenting, mocking, or enticing me to spend more.

As Kate had said, men were adept at sweet-talking.

"That's fine."

"You seem pretty experienced, do you do this often?"

"No, just with you."

"Liar."

"Really."

"What's your name, lady?"

Something felt off when he asked that. Very off.

The way he said "what's your name" sounded familiar, like I'd heard it somewhere before.

The thought startled me, and I almost dropped my phone. Staring at his blank avatar, I fell into deep thought.

"Do you know me?"

He responded quickly, first with a chuckle, then said, "If I knew you, wouldn't I have your WhatsApp?"

A reasonable answer.

Nothing to argue with.

But to be safe, I said, "I'm tired, let's talk tomorrow, " and hung up.

Something still felt strange.

3.

Today marked the first day of my internship. Honestly, I never expected to land a position in such a big company.

Although I graduated from a prestigious university, I only just managed to pass the entrance examination, and my Grade Point Average over the four - year period was abysmal. It was merely sufficient to secure my graduation, without any additional benefits.

Later, I subtly asked HR why they hired me.

His answer was candid.

"Frankly speaking, every company needs a few eye candies."

This was so unexpectedly direct.

What could I say? Blame my good looks, I guess.

As I stepped into the elevator, I noticed that there was already someone inside. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and was wearing a charcoal - gray suit that enhanced his perfect physique. When I looked up, I was struck by how stunning he was!

He was slightly hunched over, engrossed in looking at his phone. His bangs partially veiled his eyes, exuding an air of cool aloofness and nobility.

The elevator wasn't large, and as I stepped in, the space felt cramped, filled with his pleasant scent.

He seemed to be on a call, with the speaker on.

I heard someone on the line ask something in Spanish.

I couldn't understand at all.

What was that?

I was lost, my gaze wandering until it settled on the man's hand holding the phone.

A silver watch.

It looked familiar.

My heart skipped a beat.

No way...

In a daze, I noticed his hand move, bringing the watch into view, the silver metal reflecting light.

"Can you see clearly now?"

I realized I'd been staring for a while. He had hung up at some point.

Was it my imagination, or did his voice sound more familiar when he spoke in English?

"The chest..." I blurted out.

His handsome brows furrowed immediately, as if unsure, he asked again, "What?"

"The international chess... "

I forced myself to finish the sentence despite the embarrassment.

He laughed, his expression relaxing. Just when I thought he might admit it, he responded, "Are you the new intern?"

Before I could answer, he pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to me. "Come to my office at noon."

Office?

Could he be a company executive?

I silently speculated.

Then I recalled my earlier words, feeling utterly mortified. Was I out of my mind? How could I actually ask that?

The elevator dinged.

After he left, I dared to flip the card over.

Jason Harvey.

Oh no...

Why on earth wasn't he using the executive elevator?