Days went by and the incidence of the mistake was long forgotten or preferably swept under the fast-paced work environment.
"That went better than expected," James commented as they exited the gleaming skyscraper of FenTech Technologies. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the bustling downtown streets, and he loosened his tie slightly, relieved the high-stakes meeting was behind them.
Victoria walked briskly beside him, her Louboutins clicking rhythmically against the pavement. "Better than expected? They signed for twenty percent above our projected figure." A rare smile briefly lit her features. "It went perfectly."
James nodded, tapping notes into his tablet. "I've already sent the contracts to legal. They'll expedite the processing, and we should have final approval by—"
"Let's do something crazy," Victoria interrupted, stopping abruptly.
James nearly collided with her, caught off guard by both her sudden halt and the suggestion. Victoria Sharp didn't do "crazy." She acknowledged successes with curt nods before immediately pivoting to the next challenge.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, certain he'd misheard.
"You heard me." She glanced at her watch. "It's only four. The day's practically over anyway."
James blinked. "You have a five o'clock call with Tokyo, and there's the briefing packet for tomorrow's board meeting..."
"Reschedule Tokyo for tomorrow morning. The board materials can wait." She was already typing rapidly on her phone. "Tell Davidson to drive us to Pinewood."
"The old amusement park?" James's brow furrowed in confusion. "It's been closed for years."
Victoria arched an eyebrow. "Your powers of observation continue to astound me."
"But why would you want to go there?" he pressed, ignoring the jab.
A mischievous smile played at her lips—an expression so foreign on her face that James momentarily stared. "Because it's forbidden. Because no one would expect Victoria Sharp to trespass in an abandoned amusement park." She resumed walking toward the waiting company car. "Because I'm bored, and for once, I want to do something that isn't scheduled in my calendar."
He followed, his mind racing through possible explanations. In three years, Victoria had never suggested anything remotely resembling a spontaneous outing, let alone something illicit. Even her social engagements were strategically planned to maximize networking opportunities. An abandoned amusement park hardly aligned with her meticulously crafted image.
"Victoria," he began as they reached the sleek black sedan, "the property has been derelict for at least five years. It's probably not safe—"
"Oh, for God's sake," she said, sliding into the backseat. "It's not like I'm suggesting we ride the decrepit roller coasters. I want to break the rules for once. Is that really so difficult to comprehend?"
James slipped in beside her, maintaining a professional distance. "I just don't understand why today of all days you'd want to visit an abandoned theme park."
Victoria flashed a rare, genuine smile. "Because we just closed a deal everyone said was impossible, and I'm feeling invincible." She shrugged. "Don't overthink it, James. I rarely indulge impulses, but when I do, I expect my staff to keep up."
James discreetly checked his calendar app—the date held no significance that he could recall. No company anniversary, no milestone marker. It truly seemed to be nothing more than a whim from a woman who never had whims.
"Davidson," Victoria addressed the driver, "take us to Pinewood Amusement Park."
"Ma'am, I believe that's closed," the driver replied, meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror.
"I'm aware. Take us there anyway."
The drive was silent, Victoria looking almost pleased with herself while James fielded urgent emails about their change of plans. In his peripheral vision, he noticed her fingers occasionally drumming against the leather seat—an eager gesture he'd rarely witnessed from his typically controlled boss.
Forty minutes later, they arrived at the rusted entrance gates of what had once been the city's premier entertainment destination. Faded signs promising "Thrills! Magic! Adventure!" hung crookedly above the chained entrance.
"Wait in the car," Victoria instructed Davidson as she stepped out, her designer outfit incongruous against the decaying backdrop.
James followed, eyeing the "NO TRESPASSING" signs with concern. "Victoria, we really shouldn't be here. This is private property, and the structural integrity of these buildings—"
"Then wait in the car," she said dismissively, already walking toward a gap in the fence line.
James sighed, knowing he couldn't let her wander alone through an abandoned property. "At least let me go first," he said, catching up to her.
For once, Victoria didn't argue. She stepped aside, allowing him to navigate the fence opening before following him onto the grounds.
The park was eerily beautiful in its decay. Nature had begun reclaiming the once-manicured pathways, with wildflowers pushing through cracked concrete and vines climbing the silent rides. The afternoon light cast the abandoned structures in gold, lending a strange dignity to their deterioration.
Victoria moved with surprising enthusiasm, her eyes taking in the ruins around them with almost childlike curiosity.
"Have you been here before?" James asked, ducking under a low-hanging branch.
"Never, well not particularly this park," she replied, snapping a photo with her phone. "My parents were too practical for places like this. Middle-class sensibilities—movie theaters were our big splurge."
The casual mention of her family surprised him. Victoria rarely shared personal details.
"Your parents—they're well?" he asked tentatively, realizing how little he knew about her life outside the office despite three years of working closely together.
Victoria gave him a sidelong glance. "Retired in Arizona. Dad plays golf. Mom's in a book club. They call every Sunday at exactly seven PM to ask when I'm bringing home a man." She rolled her eyes. "Perfectly ordinary parents who somehow produced me."
James tried to imagine Victoria having weekly calls with concerned parents. The image seemed at odds with the ruthless businesswoman who made board members tremble.
"They must be proud of what you've accomplished," he ventured.
"They'd be prouder of grandchildren," she replied dryly. "But yes, they display my Forbes cover in their living room, right next to our family portraits."
They rounded a corner, coming upon a faded carousel, its painted horses frozen mid-gallop. Victoria walked past it without a second glance, her attention already drawn to a building with a faded sign reading "Hall of Mirrors."
James followed, noting dark clouds gathering overhead. "It's going to rain soon. We should head back."
"It's just a bit further," she insisted, reaching the entrance to the mirrored attraction. The door hung partially open, creaking softly in the rising wind.
"This really isn't safe," James protested as she disappeared inside. "The structural integrity—"
"Is fine," her voice echoed from within. "Stop being so cautious all the time, James. It's why you're still just an assistant despite your impressive credentials. You never take risks."
The words stung, but he followed her into the darkened building anyway. Inside, tarnished mirrors lined narrow corridors, their reflective surfaces dulled by years of neglect. What little daylight filtered through the dirty windows cast strange, elongated shadows across the floor.
"I used to hate this attraction," Victoria said, her voice bouncing off the walls. "All those distorted reflections... I never knew which version of myself was real."
James caught glimpses of her moving ahead, her figure multiplied and warped by the mirrors. "Victoria, we really should go. The weather's turning, and this place isn't structurally sound."