Nara sat at her desk, the glow of her laptop screen illuminating the organized chaos of notes, diagrams, and sketches that covered her workspace. The Dynamite Group gala was just two weeks away, and every detail had to be flawless.
She reviewed the seating arrangements again, adjusted lighting plans, and double-checked the stage layout. Professionalism came first. That was her mantra, and yet… her mind drifted, unbidden, to the meeting with Keigh.
The way he had watched her as she spoke, quiet and composed. The subtle acknowledgment behind his calm gaze that seemed to say more than words ever could. She shook her head, trying to refocus.
It's just a meeting. He's a client. Nothing more.
Still, every time she thought that, a faint warmth settled behind her chest, like a spark she didn't quite want to extinguish.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Elias Kander, curt and polite:
> Elias: Hope your trip went well. Let me know if you need anything from Kander Group for upcoming projects.
She typed a quick reply, careful to keep it strictly professional:
> Nara: Everything went smoothly, thank you. I'll reach out if anything comes up.
She set the phone aside, forcing herself to focus on the gala logistics. Invitations, catering, lighting, seating, all of it demanded her attention. Every client's expectations rested on her shoulders, and she would not disappoint.
Yet, a small, unspoken part of her couldn't deny the flutter in her chest when she reviewed Keigh's notes again. His meticulous attention to detail, the subtle praise he had offered, the way he trusted her judgment, it was… different. Personal without being inappropriate. Quiet without being distant.
Her heart beat just a little faster at the thought, and she cursed herself silently. Focus, Nara. This is work.
She glanced at her wall calendar, marking off tasks as completed. Amidst the schedules, the planning, and the checklists, there was a rhythm she could rely on, a rhythm she trusted. And yet, something about the coming gala felt… unpredictable.
Maybe it was him. Maybe it was the way the universe kept nudging her, the way paths crossed at the most inconvenient and thrilling times.
She sighed, leaning back in her chair, hands clasped behind her head. She had work to do, deadlines to meet, clients to satisfy. That was certain.
But she couldn't stop the quiet anticipation that hummed beneath it all, the feeling that this gala, this event, might be more than just another professional milestone.
And somehow, she couldn't help wondering what might happen when she and Keigh were in the same room again.