KAIA
The campaign was released. It created the buzz that we required but it wasn’t enough. We made it work but there was still a lot to do.
Everyone had an opinion for the campaign especially when it came to Mr. Edward and the board members. They wanted everything perfect and clearly we were on the way but the process in itself has to be fast paced so it could be called a masterpiece.
My phone buzzed nonstop. Messages. Calls. Suggestions I didn’t ask for.
Make it clearer.
Make it safer.
Make it easier.
I ignored all of it and walked into the conference room.
He was already there.
Of course.
Laptop open. Coffee untouched. Cold look on the face.
“You’re early,” I said.
“You’re late.”
I dropped my file on the table.
“Try something new.”
“Try being on time.”
I stepped closer.
Not slow.
Not careful.
“Or what?” I asked.
His gaze didn’t move. And for the first time when I stepped in closer all I could focus on was those dreamy eyes and those perfect lips.
“Or you’ll keep fixing things that wouldn’t need fixing.”
That did it.
“Funny,” I said. “Because I don’t remember asking you to fix anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
I let out a breath.
Sharp.
Controlled.
“You always assume you’re right?”
“Only when I am.”
I laughed once.
“God, you’re exhausting.”
“And yet,” he said, stepping closer, “you’re still here.”
That—
was new.
We were standing too close now.
Not enough to step back.
Too much to ignore.
I reached for the file.
He did too.
Our hands stopped.
Not touching.
Almost. That grey three piece suit did not make it easy for me to not notice him. The fragrance he wore captivated me for a moment and I somewhere knew that well maybe he was not so bad.
“Careful,” he said.
“About what?”
“Timing.”
I held his gaze a second longer than I should have.
Then pulled back.
“Try not to overthink everything.”
“Try not to underdeliver.”
My jaw tightened.
Before I could respond—
his phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
Once.
“They want changes,” he said.
Of course they did.
NEIL
The feedback was predictable.
It always was.
Too vague.
Too risky.
Too different.
She didn’t react immediately.
“We’re not changing the core,” she said.
I watched her.
No hesitation.
No doubt. She was more energetic today. Her battle mode was always on but the way that she flips her hair when she is in a playful work mode it was absolutely adorable. I suddenly jerked and realised what I was thinking.
Focus Neil focus.
“Fine,” I said.
She looked at me.
That caught her off guard.
“We adjust around it,” I added.
A pause.
“Don’t ruin it,” she said.
“I won’t.”
Another pause.
That should have been enough.
It wasn’t.
KAIA
We worked.
And this time—
It wasn’t a fight.
It wasn’t smooth either.
It was—
something else.
He didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t take over.
He just—
matched pace.
Which was…
unexpected.
NEIL
By the time we walked into the meeting—
It was done.
Not perfect.
But strong.
They questioned it.
Of course they did.
We didn’t look at each other.
We didn’t need to.
She started.
I followed.
No overlap.
No pause.
Just—
Timing.
KAIA
It held.
Again.
That should have felt good.
It didn’t.
It felt—
dangerous.
NEIL
After the meeting—
silence.
“You adjusted,” I said.
“So did you.”
A pause.
“You didn’t interrupt.”
“You didn’t give me a reason to.”
She almost reacted.
Almost.
“Don’t get used to it,” she said.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Our eyes met.
Too long.
The eye contact said and heard a lot of things. But today was something where we knew that coming till this point wasn’t easy given our tendency to not like each other.
At that moment I just wanted to do something. Her rustic orange skirt and the beige top showed that she could be so versatile yet so vulnerable at the same time. Her eyes were so captivating that I felt I could look at them forever. Well… that wasn’t planned.
“This doesn’t change anything.”
“Of course not.”
It did.
Neither of us said it.
KAIA
I walked away first.
Of course I did.
INTERNAL — NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION
TO: NEIL VOSS
FROM: KAIA LAINE
Re: Campaign Adjustment
Your timing was… better than expected.
Try not to assume that makes you right.
— K.L.
NEIL
TO: KAIA LAINE
FROM: NEIL VOSS
Re: Campaign Adjustment
Your instinct held under pressure.
Try not to rely on it alone.
— N.V.
I closed the document.
Still controlled.
Just—
less indifferent.
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