Chapter 23: Ellie

Time seemed to slip away as Alex and I delved deeper into the financial strategies for Mayer Financial. The room was filled with the soft hum of focused work and the occasional clink of coffee mugs. Alex had put on a Spotify playlist in the background, a mix of genres that somehow blended seamlessly into our work session. It was during a particularly intense discussion of market projections that a song came on – a bit corny but undeniably catchy.

As I was immersed in our work, the familiar strains of “Africa” by Toto filled the room, and to my surprise, Alex was softly singing along. It’s one of those beloved classics that’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. I paused, looking up from my laptop with a raised eyebrow. “Are you... singing?” I asked, unable to hide the amusement in my voice as the catchy chorus echoed around us.

He stopped a slight flush on his cheeks. "It’s a good song," he defended, a touch of sheepishness in his tone.