My heart stops. The face on my screen looks directly at me, eyes narrow and serious. He doesn't look surprised or unhappy, but just as blank as always. I can see the angles of his face clearly, perhaps for the first time.

Do something, my mind shouts. Automatically, I raise my camera again and take a picture of the wall just above his head. And another picture of the art on the wall behind me. If he asks, I'll say I am just taking pictures of the building I work in for my family.

True enough.

He doesn't ask. Something in the universe decides to spare me and his driver walks in at that moment, apologizing as the Man from Upstairs follows him out and to the car, barely giving me a glance as he passes by.

The car drives off and I feel a huge wave of relief wash over me. Whatever he thought I was doing, it didn't matter enough for him to stop what he was already doing. But who knows, maybe I'll find myself served with a lawsuit in the morning.

My heart stops again at the thought.

All night long, toss and turn, thinking of different scenarios that I could find myself in. There is the lawsuit, for one; I could be fired; my name could be blacklisted. Really, for anyone who works at Hiwatari Enterprises, the possibilities of revenge are endless.

The next day is quiet. I keep my head down and on a swivel. Every noise has me jumping at the thought it could be my boss asking to see me in his office.

I leave by eight. Well past my shift, but still earlier than I usually do.

And the next day, I do the same.

And the day after that.

All week, I leave at different times, just to be random enough that I'm sure I won't see The Man from Upstairs.

I am never served with a lawsuit and my boss doesn't seem to notice my behavior change. Perhaps, I dare to believe, I am safe.

Lying in bed at the end of the week, I let myself feel secure for the first time. I bite my lip as I open the file I had hidden away.

He really is very handsome. Like classically good looking. I stared at his face, lit up from the bright lights of the lobby and clear. I can see in detail his shadowed eyes that shown through dark gray hair. Minutes pass as I stare at my phone.

Even though his face held no emotion in this picture, I feel envious of the person who gets to see him behind closed doors, when he can be himself. It isn't just because he is attractive. There is a look in his eyes, a swirl of something. I want to call it passion, but my brain refuses to go there.

I know if I do, I'll never come back. I would always be comparing every man I meet to this one that I don't know.

A message notification pops up on the screen.

Emily sent a picture of her and Michael, on another date with two of their friends.

Still waiting, her message says.

She wants that picture I promised. Even though her tone isn't conveyed through the text, I can hear the smugness rolling from her.

Feeling bold and undaunted, I attach the picture of The Man from Upstairs.

Sorry completely forgot, I add and then press send.

As soon as it says delivered, I realize what I've done and throw my phone away from me. I couldn't have been that dumb, I think. Keeping the picture is one thing, but sharing it is entirely another.

Even if that had been my original intention.

My phone buzzes again. Hands shaking, I pick it back up, both eager and fearful of her reaction.

Oh my god! You're not serious Emily texted back.

What is that supposed to mean?

I know! I reply, waiting on edge for her to get it.

I can see her typing. And Typing. And typing. What can she possibly be saying? My nerves can't take this.

Do you know who that is?

What kind of question is that? Does this mean he's somebody she knows? Should I know who he is? Of course I do

How did you guys meet?

He works in my building. We met in the elevator.

Oh my god!

"What does that mean?" I shout at my phone, shaking it because I can't shake her.

You have to introduce us!

"No," I panic, "no, no, no, no, no. Oh no."

What could I say? Once Emily has set her mind on something, nothing can derail her. If she wants to meet The Man from Upstairs, she'll find a way.

He's very busy of course but I'll see what I can do. it might take a while, em. I throw in a few laughing emojis and hope I bought myself enough time.

Before she can respond, I tell her I have to go, and then I put my phone on the charger. I can't believe I'd just spent the entire week worrying about my livelihood just to throw it away like that.

I spend the rest of the night trying to think of a way to get out of the problem I have created for myself. I guess my life was just too boring before? Now I will live with constant anxiety, afraid of demise at my own hands.

Over breakfast the next morning, I settle on one solution.

I'll have to fake a relationship, and subsequently, a break-up. I can do that. We'd go on a few cute dates, I'll send some pictures that don't have any faces, and then in a few months, he'll "break-up" with me.

Obviously, he has to be the one to end the relationship. Nobody would believe it otherwise. And then, I could milk the sympathy to get out of a few family events.

There may be an upside to this, after all. And better, no one will have to know. Emily might get suspicious but, then again, she's always suspicious.

Happy – or more on the side of content – with my plan, I clean up after breakfast and grab my work bag.

My neighborhood is small and quiet, but the streets of the city are bustling as I walked to my office. I prefer walking in the morning to get in some exercise before sitting in my chair all day. I use the time to listen to the news radio so that I can keep up-to-date with the world.

Hiwatari Enterprises hosted a charity ball last week and it was still the talk of the town. I guess that's where The Man from Upstairs had been heading that night, dressed neatly in a suit.

Their CEO was newly appointed and already making waves in the company, though that had been a long time coming, considering he was the only grandchild of the president in line for the title.

I couldn't imagine the pressure, living your life knowing it was always heading in one direction. He must be in his forties, already nearly half his life gone and all he'd done is live for his company.

I snort. How am I to have any sympathy for him? I too am living my entire life for my company. The only difference is they don't know I'm alive. At least he gets a title and hefty salary for his dedication.

Taking my headphones out of my ears as I walk up the steps to the office building. It's tall and grand, made of stone and glass all the way up. When I first started, I would stand outside of the building and just stare at it in awe. Now, there isn't enough time for that. It never changes anyway.

I put my stuff away and get out my ID card for the scanner. I smile at the guards as I approached, though they never smile back.

"Hilary!"

I turn, startled at my name. It sounded like Emily, but it can't be because she lives two hours outside of town.

Oh, no. My poor heart, it can't take this kind of stress.

There she is with her husband Michael and The Man from Upstairs.

"Just like you to arrive late," she says as I walk up slowly.

I feel like vomiting. What is she doing here? With him?

"But look who we found while we waited for you," Emily continues, motioning to the man.

I dare to look at his reaction. His eyes are narrowed in an intense glare and there's a cruel tilt to his lips. I get the impression he'd finally finished a puzzle he'd been working on for a while. Perhaps, and I'm just guessing, it was the mystery of the weird girl who took his picture and then sent her family after him.

I open my mouth to say something but what can I say?

"Excuse me," the man interrupts, his voice smooth and chilling, "if I may have a moment with Hilary."

He grabs my elbow and turns me away, moving us a short distance until we are out of range for Emily and Michael to hear.

Despite the smaller, although no less important audience, I still have zero words.

"Explain." His voice is now dry and bored but his gaze is all the more potent.

Where to start?

"I need you to break up with me,"

Well, that certainly isn't a good place. At least I told him there is an end in sight.

He doesn't seem amused or excited about this news. "I wasn't aware we are dating."

"Yes, right. There is that." I take a deep breath and try to figure out where the beginning is. Was it the first time I saw him in the elevator or imagined how amazing his life was? Was it when I took the picture? No. I know where this started.

"That's my cousin Emily and she's always one-upped me so I lied to get out of her baby shower by telling her I was already dating someone and our anniversary was on that day and then I took a picture of you – oh, you saw that? I thought so – anyway, I sent it to her to shut her up because she wouldn't stop asking to see a picture of my boyfriend but it turns out she knows who you are so that really backfired. But it's okay because I already figured out that you have to break-up with me. Obviously."

He stands in silence before me as I ramble on. Once I'm done, I feel relieved. It's good to have it all off my chest.

"So, will you?" I ask when his silence lasts too long.

"Will I what?"

"Break-up with me," I clarify, "or will you tell them I'm a liar and a fake?"

His careful inspection makes me want to fidget. He looks as if searching for something. "You know what I've noticed about you?"

"You noticed something about me?" I feel an odd excitement bubbling up. I love feedback.

"You work way too late," he states. "It's obvious you don't have a life."

Well, that wasn't something to be excited about. But how dare he draw that conclusion. I could have a life if I wanted.

I look over at Emily, knowing now that I'd have to tell her the truth. And she'd probably tell the entire family that I was so desperate I made up a boyfriend and used a super famous guy as if nobody would notice. She already had her tilted smirk, like she knows what I am going to say.

"I suppose it can't hurt," he sighs, as though reluctant. "But you can only tell your cousin and no one else. I hear of any rumors and I'll ruin you."

Disbelief courses through my body, zapping my brain. Did he just say -

"Oh, thank you!" I want to hug him, but he doesn't seem like the hugging type. But would it be weird if I don't hug my "boyfriend"? This may be more difficult than I thought. I settle for smiling as wide as I can.

"Don't tell them I just broke up with you, that would be weird. Wait a few days and tell them I was upset you told someone."

"Okay," I agree happily. He mentioned rumors before and now with this comment, I wonder who he is in the company that would garner him this much attention.

He moves to leave and I stop him. Shily, even though he'd just agreed to be my pretend boyfriend for a few days, I ask, "I need one more thing?"

"Really?" His tone conveys unenthused shock.

"What's your name?"

As he understands my question, a charming grin pulls just barely at his lips. Apart from that, though, his face reveals nothing. "You told people I am your boyfriend without knowing who I am?"

Based on Emily's reaction and now his, I get the feeling I am missing something big.

"I'm Kai Hiwatari," he announces proudly. It sounds rehearsed. "CEO of Hiwatari Enterprises."

Immediately, I understand everyone's surprise. I really should have known that.

"Right," I say, as though I'd just forgotten somehow. I know he doesn't believe me at all. "Well, thanks Mr. Hiwatari."

"You should probably call me Kai, even if it is a fake relationship,"

I laugh. "I am trying to keep it professional at the office, sir." The words leave my mouth before I process what they mean. I didn't intend for them to sound so flirtatious. "Hiwatari" barely got out of my mouth the first time and now he wants me to call him by his first name?

"Kai," I say slowly, feeling the weight of it on my tongue. For how short it is, it feels very heavy and strong, with a sharp edge to it.

Kai pauses for a moment, eyeing me up and down before nodding and moving on. He has enough curtesy to nod good-bye to Emily, before walking past the guards without having to provide ID. They smile at him, unsurprisingly, but he doesn't give them a second glance.

I stand in stunned silence, too shocked by the interaction to formulate thoughts.

"If I had known that Kai Hiwatari was the boyfriend you were talking about, I wouldn't have teased you as much," Emily says as she comes up. Michael trails behind her as always, uninterested in his wife's family drama. I'm not even sure if he knows why he's here.

I shrug, trying to play along. "Yeah, well. He likes to keep his personal life on the down-low, you know what I mean,"

"Hilary," Emily laughs mockingly, "no one says down low anymore. You're so funny."

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Your words are very kind and encouraging.

Hilary finally learns the Man from Upstairs's name and for some reason, he agrees to her fairly insane antics. I hope this chapter was enjoyable. Next update will be on Thursday, 11/19. See you then - Konix