Post-it Note

Elliot

The new plan was simple: charm her colleagues. Susan had built a wall around herself, but if I could win over the people she interacted with daily, it might chip away at her defenses.

By mid-morning, I had made my move. A catered breakfast for the entire floor...a selection of bagels, croissants, fruit platters, and, of course, coffee. I personally delivered the spread to the break room, ensuring my “generosity” was on full display.

“Breakfast is on me,” I announced casually, leaning against the doorframe as the employees gathered around the table.

One of the junior staffers, Claire, beamed at me. “Wow, Mr. Prescott! This is amazing. What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion,” I replied smoothly. “Just thought everyone deserved a little something to start the day right.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Susan walking past, a folder in her hand. She paused for a split second, her gaze flickering toward the break room before continuing down the hall.

I smirked. Got her attention.

Susan

I’d barely made it to the copier when I heard the chatter from the break room. Curious, I wandered over, stopping just outside the door.

“Can you believe it? Mr. Prescott personally organized this,” Claire was saying, holding a croissant like it was a rare treasure.

“Really?” someone else chimed in. “He’s so thoughtful. You don’t see that often in executives.”

I rolled my eyes and walked away. Thoughtful, my foot. This was classic Elliot...a calculated move to win favor.

Still, as I sat at my desk, nibbling on the bagel Claire had excitedly handed me, I couldn’t help but feel a tiny pang of… something.

Annoyance? Amusement?

Whatever it was, I buried it beneath a pile of spreadsheets.

Later That Day – Elliot

By lunch, the floor was buzzing. I strolled through the office, stopping here and there to check in with staff, casually dropping Susan’s name in conversations.

“I hear Susan’s been doing great work on the outreach campaign,” I told Claire, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh, absolutely. She’s brilliant,” Claire said. “I’ve learned so much just from observing her.”

“Good to hear,” I replied, making sure my voice carried just enough for Susan...who was in the hallway talking to a staff...to hear.

I caught the faintest flicker of smile.

Progress.

*

Susan

The man was insufferable.

Not only had he commandeered the break room with his over-the-top breakfast spread, but now he was parading around the office, dropping compliments about me as if he thought I couldn’t hear.

I could hear.

And it was working.

Not that I’d ever admit it to him, but a small part of me felt… seen. Appreciated.

It was infuriating.

“Don’t let him get to you,” I muttered to myself, typing furiously on my laptop.

But when Claire knocked on my door later with a coffee in hand, saying, “Mr. Prescott said you might need this,” I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face.

“Thanks, Claire,” I said, taking the coffee and closing the door behind her.

I stared at the cup for a moment before sighing.

Elliot Prescott was relentless.

And I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep pretending it wasn’t affecting me.

***

Elliot

I was starting to notice a pattern. Susan had perfected the art of pretending I didn’t exist. It was a masterclass, really. No matter what I did, she remained cool, calm, and composed...a fortress I couldn’t breach.

But I wasn’t giving up. If subtle wasn’t working, I’d have to lean into bold.

The idea came to me as I stared at the freshly printed sales reports on my desk. A harmless little prank...something to shake up her composure without crossing the line.

I grabbed a Post-it note, scribbled a message, and stuck it inside her office file before sending it over.

*

Susan

By mid-afternoon, I was deep into reviewing the latest reports. It was business as usual...until I flipped to the last page of one file and found a neon yellow Post-it staring back at me.

“This report looks fantastic, but you missed one thing: smiling today. Let me know if you need a reminder how.”

I froze, rereading the words, and then rereading them again. My lips twitched against my will.

Elliot Prescott, in all his infuriating glory.

For a second, I considered storming into his office, waving the Post-it like a battle flag. But I caught myself. That’s what he wanted...to see me flustered, to get under my skin.

Instead, I calmly peeled off the note, balled it up, and tossed it into the trash.

Except I didn’t throw it away immediately.

I don’t know why, but I smoothed the crumpled paper, tucked it into my desk drawer, and returned to my work.

Later That Day – Elliot

I waited for a reaction. A frown, a glare, an icy email...but nothing.

She didn’t even glance my way as she walked past my office.

“Stone cold,” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.

Still, there was something about the way she brushed her hair behind her ear as she passed that gave me hope.

*

Susan

That Post-it note was a problem.

Not because of what it said, but because it kept popping into my head while I worked.

Smiling? Really? He thought he could just charm his way past everything with a cheesy note and that boyish grin?

I tried to focus, but my traitorous mind kept wandering back to that ridiculous message. Worse, I caught myself smiling, and I hated him for it.

Not because he was wrong, but because he was right.