The conference room stayed silent.
Too silent.
Ava looked at David.
David looked at Aaron.
Aaron looked at Ava.
And Atlas?
Atlas was happily sitting between them like he had absolutely no idea that three adults were silently judging each other.
Ava cleared her throat.
"So… operations director."
Aaron nodded.
"Yes."
She nodded too.
"That's… nice."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"Nice?"
"Yes."
"What exactly is nice about it?"
Ava opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
"I don't know."
Aaron stared at her.
Ava stared back.
David sighed.
"Can we please have one professional conversation without whatever this is?"
Ava immediately sat straighter.
"Yes, sir."
David opened the folder again.
"Aaron will be overseeing several operational projects, including the one your department is currently handling."
Ava frowned.
"Which project?"
"The client expansion project."
Her eyes widened.
"The Orion project?"
"Yes."
Ava slowly turned toward Aaron.
"You'll be handling Orion?"
"Among other things."
"Oh."
That wasn't good.
Not good at all.
The Orion project had already been a nightmare.
Three weeks of deadlines.
Two weeks of client complaints.
And one extremely annoying spreadsheet that refused to cooperate no matter how many times Ava threatened to throw her laptop out the window.
David continued.
"Aaron will be reviewing your department's progress this week."
Ava nodded.
"Okay."
"He'll also be reviewing individual reports."
Ava nodded again.
"Okay."
"And attendance records."
Ava's smile disappeared.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She looked at David.
Then at Aaron.
Then back at David.
"Attendance records?"
David smiled.
A very unpleasant smile.
"Yes."
Ava's stomach dropped.
Aaron looked down at the folder.
Then back at her.
"Is there a problem?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Completely."
David leaned back in his chair.
"Because your attendance record seems to suggest otherwise."
Ava forced a smile.
"My attendance record is… misunderstood."
Aaron's eyebrow lifted.
"Misunderstood?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Ava paused.
"My alarm clock hates me."
Silence.
David closed his eyes.
Aaron stared at her.
Even Atlas seemed disappointed.
Ava immediately corrected herself.
"I mean—sometimes."
David rubbed his forehead.
"Miss Alex."
"Yes, sir?"
"Please stop talking."
"Yes, sir."
Aaron looked away.
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
Ava noticed.
Again.
She narrowed her eyes.
"You smiled."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"No."
"You definitely did."
David slammed his pen onto the table.
"Enough."
Ava immediately shut her mouth.
Aaron calmly picked up his folder.
"She's entertaining."
Ava's eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
David looked at Aaron.
"Don't encourage her."
Ava crossed her arms.
"I'm sitting right here."
"I know," David said.
"Then why are you talking about me like I'm not?"
"Because it's easier."
Ava glared at him.
"I don't like either of you."
Aaron looked at her.
"That's unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because you'll be seeing me often."
Ava's mouth fell open.
David stood up.
"Meeting over."
Ava stood too.
She grabbed her notebook and headed toward the door.
Atlas suddenly followed her.
Ava stopped.
Atlas stopped.
She looked at Aaron.
"Your dog is following me."
Aaron looked at Atlas.
"Apparently."
Ava crouched down.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Atlas wagged his tail.
Aaron's expression changed slightly.
"Atlas."
The dog looked at him.
Then looked at Ava.
Then back at Aaron.
And completely ignored him.
Ava covered her mouth to hide her laugh.
"Looks like he chose me."
Aaron stared at his dog.
"Traitor."
Ava laughed.
"You heard him. I'm his favorite now."
Aaron shook his head.
"Don't get too excited."
"Why?"
"He likes everyone."
Ava looked down at Atlas.
"Unlike your personality."
David coughed.
Ava froze.
Aaron stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
It wasn't loud.
Just a quiet chuckle.
But Ava noticed.
She blinked.
He can laugh?
Aaron noticed her staring.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were staring."
"I wasn't."
"You definitely were."
Ava's eyes widened.
"You're stealing my line."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Maybe."
For some reason, Ava suddenly forgot what she was going to say.
She quickly stood up.
"Anyway. I'm leaving."
She walked out of the conference room.
Atlas followed her.
"Ava."
She stopped.
She turned around.
Aaron stood in the doorway.
"Yes?"
"Your notebook."
Ava looked down.
She was still holding it.
"Oh."
Aaron pointed toward the table.
"Your pen."
She looked again.
Her pen was still on the table.
"Oh."
Aaron walked over, picked it up, and handed it to her.
Their fingers briefly touched.
Ava immediately pulled her hand back.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
She turned around quickly.
Too quickly.
And nearly walked straight into the wall.
Aaron stared at her.
Ava caught herself at the last second.
She pretended nothing happened.
"Goodbye."
She walked away.
Aaron watched her disappear down the hallway.
Atlas sat beside him.
Aaron looked down at his dog.
"You like her?"
Atlas wagged his tail.
Aaron sighed.
"Of course you do."
Ava walked back into her department like someone had just survived a war.
Nati immediately looked up.
"Well?"
Ava dropped into her chair.
"I'm doomed."
Nati's eyes widened.
"What happened?"
"There is a new devil."
Nati blinked.
"What?"
"David has competition."
Nati slowly leaned closer.
"Okay… now you've got my attention."
Ava lowered her voice.
"His name is Aaron Adams."
Nati's eyebrows shot up.
"The new operations director?"
"Yes."
"What's he like?"
Ava thought for a moment.
"Annoying."
"That's it?"
"Quiet."
"Okay."
"Serious."
"Uh-huh."
"Arrogant."
"Of course."
"His dog is adorable."
Nati stared at her.
"Girl."
"What?"
"You described the man like a tax audit and immediately complimented the dog."
"Because the dog deserves it."
Nati laughed.
"What does he look like?"
Ava hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"I don't know."
Nati stared at her.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Ava."
"What?"
"You looked at him."
"Obviously."
"So?"
"So what?"
"Was he handsome?"
Ava rolled her eyes.
"That's irrelevant."
Nati's smile widened.
"Ohhh."
"No."
"I didn't say anything."
"Your face did."
Nati leaned closer.
"You think he's handsome."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You absolutely do."
Ava grabbed her coffee.
"I have work."
Nati grinned.
"Sure."
Ava opened her laptop.
For the next five minutes, she tried to concentrate.
Five minutes.
Exactly.
Then an email notification appeared.
From: Aaron Adams
Ava stared at the screen.
Her stomach sank.
She opened it.
Subject: Orion Project — Review
Miss Alex,
I would like the updated Orion report on my desk by 4:00 PM.
Please ensure that all figures are accurate.
— Aaron Adams
Ava blinked.
"Four?"
Nati looked over.
"What?"
"He wants the report by four."
"So?"
Ava looked at the clock.
3:07 PM.
She slowly turned toward Nati.
"I haven't even started."
Nati stared at her.
Then at the clock.
Then back at Ava.
"Well…"
Ava narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"At least you're finally going to be on time for something."
Ava grabbed a pen.
"I hate you."
Nati smiled.
"I know."
Ava started typing furiously.
But somewhere down the hallway, Aaron Adams stood outside the glass conference room, looking through the office floor.
His eyes stopped on Ava.
She was typing like her life depended on it.
Atlas stood beside him.
Aaron glanced down at the dog.
"Don't."
Atlas wagged his tail.
Aaron looked back at Ava.
For the first time that day, his expression softened.
Just slightly.
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