Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Mara leaned against the brick wall of the alley, phone pressed to her ear. “Pretend I’m not here,” she whispered, glancing at the office window above.

Inside, her boss, Mr. Linton, was talking at full volume, pacing back and forth. He didn’t even notice the tiny figure crouched below, carefully balancing her coffee and a notebook.

“Just listen,” Mara said to herself, taking a slow breath. She had to remember why she was here. The missing contract, the one that could ruin them all, was somewhere inside that office. She had seen it earlier, just before the meeting started.

A shadow moved across the blinds, and Mara froze. Heart pounding, she pressed herself flatter against the wall. “Okay,” she muttered. “Not here. Not me.”

She peeked up. Mr. Linton had turned, just for a second, and then went back to his speech. That was all she needed. With careful steps, she edged toward the side door she had noticed on the way in.

The handle was warm. Someone had used it recently. That was good. It meant the door wasn’t locked. Mara slipped inside, silent as a cat, every heartbeat echoing in her ears. She ducked behind a row of chairs, eyes scanning the table in the back.

There it was. The contract, folded neatly, almost glowing under the fluorescent light. She grabbed it and tucked it into her bag.

Outside, the city carried on as if nothing had happened. Mara slipped back into the alley, brushing herself off.

“Pretend I’m not here,” she whispered again, smiling. This time, she meant it.