"Rubber shoes—check. Sports attire—check. Smartwatch—check. Tumbler—check," Zoe said to herself, inspecting her reflection in the mirror. "Look at you. Ready for war."
She adjusted her ponytail and smirked.
"Alright, Zoe. Your girlfriend might be watching today," she whispered with a playful grin. "Do your best. Make her proud."
With one last glance in the mirror, she grabbed her tumbler and headed out to meet her team in the lobby, where a quick strategy huddle was already underway. The air buzzed with excitement—half competitive tension, half vacation energy.
-
After finalizing their game plan, the team made their way to the resort's open-air sports stadium. Several other departments were already gathered—colorful banners waving, matching shirts worn with pride, and music playing softly in the background.
As they stepped onto the field, Zoe spotted a familiar face.
"Ms. Tessa," she greeted with a smile, approaching the Marketing Department head.
Tessa turned and smiled warmly. "Well, well, Zoe! Your team looks so ready, we're honestly considering backing out," she joked, fanning herself dramatically.
Zoe chuckled. "Oh please. If anyone should be intimidated, it's us. Marketing's always been fierce. I don't think we stand a chance."
Tessa waved her off with mock offense. "Modest and competitive. A dangerous combo."
Then she leaned in with a wink and lowered her voice. "I just hope Accounting doesn't pull any of their little 'creative interpretations of the rules' again. We all remember last year."
Zoe laughed, shaking her head. "No comment."
But even as she kept up the banter, her eyes subtly scanned the crowd.
She wasn't looking for the Marketing team. Or the Accounting department. Or even the scoreboard.
She was looking for her.
The one person she wanted—needed—to see right now.
Stacy Holloway.
Zoe tried not to look too obvious as her gaze swept over the sidelines, the bleachers, the entrance to the field... but she wasn't there.
Not yet.
She told herself to focus on the games, on her teammates, on the moment.
But her heart? It was already looking for a face in the crowd.
-
The friendly competition between departments was just about to kick off. The General Manager stood at the mic, smiling broadly as he prepared to welcome everyone.
But before he could get through his opening line, the doors at the back of the hall swung open.
The General Manager blinked in surprise. "Is what I'm seeing real? The CEO is attending our company team building?" he said into the mic, half-joking, half-stunned.
Heads turned. The crowd collectively shifted, craning their necks toward the entrance.
There she was—Stacy, the CEO—elegant and poised as always, walking in with another woman by her side. They were deep in conversation, but Stacy smiled faintly when she heard her name mentioned. She didn't break stride. Just kept walking, calm, confident, engaged in whatever she and her companion were discussing.
Zoe turned too. Her heart skipped.
There she is...
But the excitement that bubbled up in her chest was quickly crushed by the unexpected pang of something sharp and heavy. Jealousy. Confusion. Curiosity.
The woman with Stacy was unfamiliar—but striking. She walked like she belonged in the spotlight.
Zoe couldn't look away. She didn't even understand what she was feeling. She tried to play it cool, force a smile, clap with everyone else.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jenny asked, glancing at Zoe with concern.
"Yeah... I'm fine. Maybe just a bit nervous about the games," Zoe said quickly, hoping her voice didn't betray her.
Jenny gave her a quick side-hug. "You'll do great. You always do."
Onstage, the General Manager greeted Stacy with a warm handshake before turning to the crowd again.
"And now that we've been graced by our very own CEO," he said playfully, "she has something she'd like to share before we get started."
Stacy stepped up to the mic. Her voice was smooth and composed.
"Good morning, everyone. It's so nice to see all of you gathered here. Before the fun begins, I have a small announcement to make—since we already have a captive audience." A light laugh passed through the crowd.
She turned slightly, motioning to the woman beside her.
"I'd like you all to meet our New Acting President, Alexandra Brand. Some of you may already know her name. She's the daughter of our President and Co-Founder, Mateo Brand, who has recently taken a medical leave. While he recovers, Alexandra will be stepping in to lead in his place."
The crowd responded with a round of enthusiastic applause.
"She's brilliant, driven, and ready to keep things moving forward," Stacy continued, her gaze lingering on Alexandra with something like pride. "Please give her a warm welcome."
Stacy handed the mic to Alexandra, who accepted it gracefully.
"Thank you, Stacy," Alexandra said, flashing a confident smile. "And good morning, everyone. It's an honor to stand here in front of you all. I know I have some big shoes to fill while my father is away, but I promise to do everything I can to uphold the standards he's set, and maybe even bring in some fresh ideas..."
As Alexandra spoke, her voice poised and assured, Stacy took a small step back.
Her expression softened as her eyes scanned the crowd—quietly, almost casually. But she wasn't looking at the audience as a whole.
She was looking for Zoe.
And when she finally found her, standing just a few rows back with her arms folded a little too tightly, Stacy's eyes lit up. Subtle, but real.
Then—she winked.
Quick. Confident. Like a secret only the two of them shared.
Zoe's breath caught. She froze.
Did that just happen?
Jenny glanced over. "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost."
Zoe snapped out of it. "No, I... I'm good," she said, smiling a little too late. "Just... surprised."
But her heart was racing. Her mind, spinning.
And somewhere inside that whirlwind of emotion, a single thought took hold:
Who exactly is Alexandra to Stacy?
-
The CEO and the Acting President stepped down from the stage to another round of applause. The General Manager clapped his hands enthusiastically.
"Alright! Now that we're all officially introduced and welcomed, let's get this friendly competition started!" he announced, the mic echoing across the open-air venue.
"First up—Human Knot!" he shouted. "Each department, form a circle, lock hands with two people not next to you, and the goal is to untangle yourselves without letting go!"
Groans and laughter rippled through the crowd as everyone started moving toward their teams.
Zoe joined her department, still trying to shake off the flutter in her chest after Stacy's wink. She hadn't made eye contact since. Not that she was trying... but she wasn't not trying either.
Across the field, Stacy and Alexandra stood with the executive team—spectators, not participants. Alexandra leaned in, said something to Stacy that made her laugh softly. Zoe tried not to watch. Failed.
"Alright, Design Team, ready?" the host called.
"Ready!" Zoe and her team shouted back, their hands already awkwardly tangled.
The whistle blew.
"Okay, okay, wait—Zoe, duck under! No, the other way!"
"You're pulling my arm off!"
Laughter and chaos erupted as every team scrambled to untangle their knots. Zoe, for a moment, forgot everything. She was laughing, leaning over, trying to figure out who's hand was whose, when—
"Team Design & Strategy—first to untangle!"
Cheers went up. Zoe high-fived her teammates, grinning wide.
Then came the relay race. After that, a timed team puzzle challenge, where Zoe took the lead in solving a giant floor jigsaw. She barked out instructions, organized the scattered pieces, and kept everyone moving. She was sharp, focused, commanding—and for a moment, she felt like herself again.
But just as the group was getting ready for the water balloon toss, she noticed someone walking toward her.
Alexandra Brand.
She had changed out of her blazer, now wearing a casual company-branded shirt and jeans, like everyone else.
"Hey," she said, smiling politely. "You're Zoe, right?"
Zoe blinked, caught off guard. "Uh—yeah. That's me."
"I've heard a lot about you. Stacy said you're one of the sharpest people on the team." Alexandra tilted her head. "And apparently a beast at Human Knot."
Zoe laughed, unsure how to respond. "Well, I try."
"Mind if I join your team for the next game?" Alexandra asked. "I figured it's time I start getting to know people outside the boardroom."
"Sure," Zoe said automatically, though her brain was still stuck on the part where Stacy had talked about her.
Alexandra moved to stand beside her as the teams were being restructured.
"Stacy's watching you, by the way," Alexandra said casually.
Zoe's head snapped around. "What?"
Alexandra smiled, hands in her pockets. "She's trying to act cool, but she's not very subtle."
Zoe didn't know what to say. Her heart did that annoying little flip again.
"You two... know each other well?" she asked, carefully.
Alexandra raised an eyebrow, then laughed. "Let's just say, I've known Stacy long enough to know when something—or someone—gets her attention."
Zoe looked down at the grass, suddenly finding it very interesting.
"Anyway," Alexandra continued, clapping her hands, "let's win this balloon toss, yeah?"
The whistle blew again.
As they tossed water balloons back and forth, laughing and dodging splashes, Zoe could feel eyes on her again. And when she looked—this time, not by accident—Stacy was watching.
Their eyes met. No wink this time.
Just a long, unreadable gaze.