THE SECRET DOOR

Growing up, I never had friends. Maybe I did when my parents were alive but the memory seems all fuzzy now. I don't know how it feels to have a friend—-I don't think I know what friendship itself is. I never really had the chance to think of how to make one.

My life is quite repetitive...always been...like a routine. Work, home, the two things my life revolves around. If I must say myself, my life is hard—-and sad. Sometimes, I wonder how it would have turned out if my parents had survived that day. I wonder if I would have made friends in high school...gone to prom, graduated college, maybe have a boyfriend? I wonder if I would have someone to call a best friend.

My mom used to tell me, 'a best friend is who you lean on when everything gets tough.'

She was my best friend.

'Thank you again, Miles.' I smile, doing the buttons of my blouse.

'Oh, it's fine Caroline. I see you did a lot in here...the boxes were a lot more, flying all around the place the last time I was here.' He scans the place, while I sit behind the desk. It feels weird to have someone in here with me for the first time. In some way, it feels nice as well.

He looks at me, and then tilts his head like he's studying me. 'I called earlier.'

I lift my eyebrow in confusion and then I realize what he meant by his statement. 'I dialed the number to the archive by mistake.' He rephrases, chuckling but all I did in response is nod.

'I figured.' I finally say, licking the bottom of my lips.

It is getting awkward now. This is probably because I suck at making conversations. He walks to the coffee machine, accessing it like it's an alien invention.

A smile creeps its way up my face just when he looks at me and we both start to laugh. 'You are quite heavy, you know that?' I roll my eyes and he starts to chuckle.

He seems warm...unlike Miss Dawnson. The woman never came back, just how mean is that?

I walk to him by the coffee machine and say, 'truly, thank you...Miles. Coffee?' He smiles, nodding slowly.

We both sit for coffee and he asks, 'Caroline, how long have you been working here?'

I settle the coffee mug on the desk, answering him, 'Two months now.'

He seems surprised and when I knit my eyebrows in confusion, he chuckles, 'Trust me, quite a huge numbers of people took this particular job in the past...sometimes, it's hard to keep up.'

Now, that's...interesting. 'Were they fired?' I ask curiously.

He sips his coffee and shrugs, 'they left.'

I nod my head slowly...it's not much of surprise. The job offers a good pay but not exactly the kind of job for a social butterfly...resuming work as early as 7am, not talking to a soul, stare and stare at bookshelves till you leave work by 6pm? The way I see it, not everyone can deal—-no matter how good the pay is.

'I see. I'm curious, what exactly do you do?'

Miles smiles, 'I'm the finance manager of Hills Inc. I've been working here for four years now.'

He probably graduated with high grades from a prestigious university. He seems competent and smart...good looking too actually. I'm sure he makes a lot of money too.

'You get bored down here, don't you? I won't be surprised if you resign anytime from now.' He gets up from the desk, sipping what's left of his coffee before dropping the empty mug on the desk.

I lean back in my chair, 'I don't see the need to quit. Boredom? Fun isn't going to put food on my table.'

He looks at me and I see his eyes twinkle. He remains silent.

'Sometimes, I do wonder what I'm doing here though. There isn't much to do and I don't like to be idle.'

He smiles, and it seems genuine. 'You are different, you know that? And you do sound like someone who loves to work. Do you see that door over there?'

My eyes follow his finger, pointing at the large doors on the other side of the wall. I always wondered what's kept in there.

I nod and he continues, 'There are documents in there...important documents, company secrets that shouldn't fall in the wrong hands. Of course, there are security measures in place to keep the documents safe but the system can get hacked...you never know. Besides, it's important to have someone in here, monitoring who gets in and out of this place.'

When he said the wrong hands...he probably meant the rivals of the company. I get up from my seat, walking away slowly. I pause, just a few steps away from Miles, who is now cleaning the mug at the sink...my eyes remain on the large doors.

'The CEO himself chose the employees for this role. He takes the archive very seriously...he's currently away on a business trip. He should be back next week. He is one serial businessman but I heard he's such a hardcore playboy.'

It seems this job carries a whole lot more than I imagined. I was right about one thing—-I really am a guardian. I turn around and smile at him. He's been helpful a lot. I probably wouldn't know any of this if he didn't stop by. Oh, I might have cracked some bones too or maybe lost a tooth. Now, I also know I have to steer clear of this Mr. Playboy CEO.

'Okay, let me go grab the files now. It's really nice meeting you, Caroline.'

I follow him to the shelf to get the files. I enter his name, all the necessary details in the register book and he put down his signature. Everything in this archive is conducted in the traditional way.

When we stop in front of the elevator, he presses the button and it opens. 'Thanks for today and it's nice to meet you too, Miles.'

He steps into the elevator and smiles, 'I will visit often.'

Just like he promised, Miles visits every chance he gets. The archive becomes fun whenever the elevator makes a ding sound and he appears with his warm smile that reaches his eyes. I must admit we've gotten pretty close and I'm more comfortable talking to him now than I was at first. My favorite part of his visits is usually the snacks from the company's cafeteria...they taste so good. Sometimes, we would sort the old files together and arrange them neatly in the lockers. Sometimes, we arrange the boxes, or we talk about him and sometimes...about me. It feels odd to hear myself talk to someone else about myself—-since I lost my parents. I think this is what it feels like to have a friend.

Since I told him I didn't go to college, he makes me study books on business. At first, I found it super boring. Lately though, I find myself reading the books continuously even when he leaves. Somehow, I wonder if this is what being a college student actually feels like.

'You know, you can still go back to school Carol.' He says, the both of us in front of the elevator. I nudge him in the shoulder and he chuckles.

'I know.' I smile.

He presses the button and the elevator opens.

'Just know that I'll always be here to support you anyhow I can.' He says genuinely, stepping into the elevator with a smile on his face.

'I know, Miles. Thank you.'

It's crazy how we became so close in the span of just three weeks. We know a reasonable amount of information about each other. Also, he's nice to me...too nice.

I walk to the desk to settle in my seat. Grabbing the textbook on financial accounting, I begin to read from where I stopped.

Some minutes later, I heard the ding sound of the elevator and I jump out of the chair, thinking its Miles. I wonder if he's back to get something he forgot. I rush to the elevator with a grin on my face just in time the elevator opens, displaying a really handsome man in deep blue suit and well styled brown hair. My eyes widen a bit upon laying on his piercing gray ones.

Oh, wow. He is so handsome. Who is he?

He steps out from the elevator, standing way taller than I am...just a step away from me. I move back consciously under his gaze that burns for reasons I wish to know. He is so distracting. Why? I have never seen him before in my life. He oozes confidence, authority...Oh, and he smells so good.

Not that I plan to show it...but somehow, he affects me.

'I'm Caroline Ann Wright and I'm in charge of the archive. Please, how may I help you?'