After a relaxing and laughter-filled weekend, Monday arrived like an unwelcome alarm clock. The office lights buzzed softly, and the familiar hum of keyboards and low conversations slowly replaced the silence of early morning.
Zoe stood by the coffee machine, her expression composed but focused. She took a slow sip from her mug, glanced at her watch, and straightened her blazer. Time to get back to work.
She walked through the hallway, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
"Team, meeting room in ten minutes. Thank you," she said clearly, making eye contact with each of them as she passed.
One by one, her team members began to gather their things and head to the meeting room. The air shifted from weekend mode to work mode in an instant.
The Morning Briefing
Inside the meeting room, Zoe stood at the head of the long wooden table, notes in hand and a digital tablet open in front of her. Her team—Jenny, Noah, Steven and others—sat around the table, ready but still shaking off the last remnants of the weekend.
"Alright," Zoe began, glancing around at her team, "let's talk about the new client—Mr. Harold. We're scheduled to send the first design sample by tomorrow. Are we good on that?"
Jenny, sitting nearest to her, nodded confidently. "We're nearly there. Just putting the final touches on it now. It should be ready by this evening."
"Perfect," Zoe said, making a note. "And Noah—the pitch deck?"
Noah looked up from his laptop, slightly sheepish. "Still working on it. I've got the framework done, just need to polish the visuals and tie everything together."
Zoe raised an eyebrow, but her tone remained calm. "Alright, just make sure to update me the moment it's done. I want to schedule a call with Mr. Harold before end of day tomorrow."
"Got it," Noah replied.
"Okay, anything else from anyone?" Zoe asked, scanning the room. No one spoke.
"Alright then," she said, clapping her hands once. "You're all good to go. Thanks, everyone."
The team stood, murmuring brief goodbyes as they filed out of the room. The meeting was short, efficient—exactly how Zoe liked it.
Zoe remained seated for a moment, organizing her notes and reviewing a few files on her tablet. Just as she began to rise from her seat, her phone started to ring.
She glanced at the screen. It was Stacy.
Zoe's face immediately softened. She answered with a slight smile.
"Hey. Yes?"
"Hi," Stacy replied, her voice warm and familiar. "How are you?"
Zoe leaned against the table and exhaled gently. "I'm doing so much better now that I hear your voice."
"Same here," Stacy said with a laugh. "I wish I was calling just to chat, but... I've got some news."
Zoe immediately picked up on the shift in tone. "What kind of news?"
"I'll be out of the country for a few days. Maybe a week. Business trip," Stacy said.
Zoe straightened, already sensing where this was going. "Where to?"
"Paris."
"Paris?" Zoe repeated, a mix of surprise and disappointment in her voice.
"Yeah... it came up fast. I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll be traveling with a few of the execs—and Alexandra is coming too."
Zoe paused. Stacy could almost hear the thoughts racing through her mind.
"That's really soon," Zoe finally said. "You didn't mention it before."
"I know," Stacy replied gently. "I just got the confirmation this morning. It's one of those last-minute things. Meetings, networking, all that stuff."
Zoe walked toward the window, looking out at the city skyline but not really seeing it.
"I'll miss you," she said quietly.
"I'll miss you too," Stacy replied. Then her tone brightened slightly. "But... I'll wait for you later, after you're done with work. Meet me in the parking lot."
Zoe smiled faintly. "Okay. I'll see you then."
"Alright. Don't work too hard."
"No promises," Zoe replied with a soft laugh.
They stayed on the line for just a few more seconds, neither wanting to hang up first. But finally, Stacy said, "Talk later."
"Talk later," Zoe echoed, ending the call.
Zoe put her phone down and returned to her desk, but her mind wasn't fully on her work anymore. The energy of the morning meeting was already fading, replaced by a quiet weight in her chest.
Paris. A week. She wasn't sure why it felt heavier than it should—but it did.
She shook her head slightly, sat down, and opened her laptop.
Back to work.
--
After finishing her work, Zoe headed down to the parking garage. The fluorescent lights hummed softly as she walked between rows of cars. Near the far end, a familiar vehicle idled quietly, its interior light glowing faintly.
Inside, Stacy sat behind the wheel, waiting.
"Hi, sorry if I made you wait too long. I just finished the report I need to send to the client tomorrow," Zoe said as she slid into Stacy's car and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"It's fine. I'm not exactly patient—but you're an exception," Stacy replied with a soft smile.
"So, where are we headed?" Zoe asked.
"Somewhere special," Stacy said, eyes focused ahead. "Since I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Wow. When did the famous Stacy Holloway start planning surprises?" Zoe teased.
"I don't. But you're the exception to almost everything I don't do," Stacy said with a smirk.
"What did I ever do to you, Ms. Holloway?" Zoe smiled, her tone light.
"You tell me," Stacy laughed.
She started the engine and drove off, the streetlights casting shadows across the windshield.
But neither of them noticed the pair of eyes watching from a distance.
"Yes, sir. They're together now," the man spoke quietly into the phone.
A brief pause.
"Good. Expect the rest of your payment after this call," came the response.
"Thank you, Mr. Holloway," the man replied.
As they believed their relationship remained a secret—especially from Stacy's father—they were unaware of the storm quietly brewing.
-
In his dimly lit study, Richard Holloway sat in silence, slowly swirling a glass of brandy in his hand. With a heavy sigh, he reached for his phone and dialed the number of his long-time business partner—and the man he considered a brother—Mateo Brand.
"That favor you once mentioned... I'm in," Richard said, his eyes fixed on the spread of photos laid out before him—shots of Stacy and Zoe together in various moments: smiling, holding hands, even stealing glances that spoke more than words ever could.
"We need to move quickly."
A pause, then a cold but familiar closing.
"Take care of your health. Bye."
He ended the call and took another slow sip of his brandy, the weight of unspoken intentions hanging thick in the air.