Enemies to Lovers

Chapter 1

Finn

Ah, New York. Its busy streets, honking cars, bustling people, and overcrowded buildings… I love all of it.

I can’t help it. All the city’s shitty facets disappear as I walk to my office in high spirits, feeling the good music blast in my ears and trying hard not to skip on my way.

Today is the day I claim my right to promotion. I’ve been a regular employee at Progresso Media Inc. for a long time, and after two long years of waiting patiently, my luck is turning over.

Our company has an upcoming project that I’m dying to lead. If I land this, I’ll be sure to be the next one to rise up the ranks.

I’ve spent so many sleepless nights working on my proposal for the new advertisement campaign, and it has finally come together. I finalized everything last night, and I’m hellbent on presenting it the first chance I get.

“This proposal is gonna blow them away,” I mutter as I stroll closer to the building, possibly with a creepy smile on my face.

Noticing the hotdog stand around the building block, I walk over to get myself something to eat. I’m so excited that I almost skipped breakfast today.

I walk up to the stand, glad there’s no line, and take off my AirPods as I place my order.

“What’ll it be?”

“The one with onion and bacon bits,” I answer as I quickly scan the menu. “And put in some extra cheese and ketchup. Thanks.”

I fall into a relaxed conversation with the stand owner while he prepares my breakfast. I start telling him about my plans after I get promoted, listing off the vacation days I can finally take.

“Uh, not that I’m not enjoying this conversation,” he awkwardly cuts into my blabbering, “but don’t you have work to go to?”

I get confused for a second before checking my watch.

“Oh shit, I’m gonna be late!”

I pick up the hotdog, adjust the proposal plates tucked under my arm, and sprint off toward our office building.

“I’m an idiot. Of all days to lose track of time…”

I still have a lot to prepare for my presentation today. Plus, coming in late doesn’t make a good impression. Sure, I’ve been late before, but this is just terrible timing.

“Damn it. I couldn’t even eat my hotdog.”

I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket as I run. It must be Jeff calling, but I had plates under my arms, briefcase in one hand, and hotdog in the other.

This coworker of mine gonna have to wait until I get to the office. Not long, though. Just one more corner and I’ll be at the entrance.

I look down at my watch to see how much time I have left.

Shit. Not much either.

I turn to the corner and—

“What the hell!” a woman screams as I accidentally bump into her.

I’m stunned for a moment after noticing how gorgeous she is. If I wasn’t running late, I’d hit on her for sure.

I am about to apologize when I feel the sting of hot liquid on my arm. I look down and gasp in shock as I realize my proposal plates are soaking in coffee.

“Oh, you clumsy son of a—”

“My presentation!” I yell, all thoughts of apologizing forgotten as I helplessly stare at the droplets of coffee dripping onto the ground.

“Well-deserved, asshole. Look what you did to my blouse!”

The woman flusters over her clothes as a string of curses leaves her mouth. Her top was covered in ketchup, and I can tell it’s from the hotdog in my hand.

I would’ve apologized for messing up her blouse, but did she say well-deserved? Is she fucking kidding me?

“What the—your coffee fucking ruined my proposal plates! Do you have any idea how important these are?”

Her head snaps to me, eyes burning with anger. “Well maybe if someone hadn’t run into me and dumped ketchup all over my blouse!”

“We were turning to a corner, genius. I couldn’t see you,” I retort, fully recognizing in my mind that it was my fault.

But at the same time, people run into other people all the time. And I literally didn’t see her at all.

“You were running!” she shrieks. “Even if you didn’t see me, we could’ve avoided each other if you weren’t running!”

“It’s your coffee on my plates!”

“And it’s your ketchup on my blouse!” She proceeds to go off on a tirade about how clumsy I am and how I wasn’t careful about bumping into someone in such a crowded area.

She makes a good point, I admit. But who the fuck cares about a stupid blouse when my plates are soaking in hot coffee?

My future is on the line here. I don’t have to take anything from a rude, annoying woman who keeps yelling at me.

I open my mouth to retort, but my phone starts vibrating again. Knowing I’m already late, I decide to answer the call to at least tell Jeff I’m on my way. I dump my ruined hotdog into the nearest garbage can and fish out my phone.

But before I could answer, the call drops. My eyes grow wide in shock as I read the caller’s name.

Shit. It wasn’t Jeff calling. It’s my boss with five missed calls.

“This was supposed to be the best day of my life!” I hear the woman whining non stop.

“You’re in luck ‘cause I have to go to work,” I seethe. Any other day, I wouldn’t have backed down from a verbal exchange of insults and leave her crying.

She rolls her eyes mockingly. “What are you gonna do? Dump more ketchup on me?”

I glower but keep my mouth shut and walk away.

“Yeah, good riddance!” she calls after me. “I hope I never see you again, asshole!”

“Likewise,” I mutter as I enter the building, bolt toward the elevator, all the while cursing my luck.

Might as well say goodbye to my promotion now.