The Reset.
1015 Words
“Yes, we have. You are Oscar of Skyline.” Adeline said. She moved from the railing she rested on to stand upright. Shaking her head lightly to clear the fog.
“You are into real estate? Have we had any firsthand meetings before?” Oscar asked, now handing the filled glass to Vanessa.
“Yes-I mean, no, not directly.” Adeline quavered.
Adeline could not believe she was in close proximity with the almighty Oscar Fernandez.
In Marbleton and beyond, Oscar Fernandez built his reputation without noise—reviving neglected districts, securing overlooked properties, and exiting deals at the right moment. He was not called ‘The Quiet Closer’ for nothing.
“Skyline and UrbanNest Pro had a project together, my boss and I were frontliners for our company on the project with your company.” Adeline said.
“Okay.” Vanessa intercepted. She placed her hands behind Adeline’s back drawing her closer to her.
“This is Adeline, my best friend.” She gestured to Oscar.” Adeline, Oscar." Vanessa added.
“I will just leave you two to it” Adeline said, excusing herself with a grin. She shot Vanessa a knowing wink before retreating into the bar, rubbing her fingers together in a blatant money gesture as she pointed at Oscar.
“Is she always like this?” Oscar asked. He now stared at Vanessa as she sipped her drink.
Vanessa was red, she tucked her hair to the back of her ear.
“Adeline is just a handful.” She smiled.
“I should take my leave now, Oscar,” Vanessa said, already stepping back.
Oscar’s brows drew together. “Why now? The night has just begun.”
Vanessa’s gaze flicked past him, towards the bar. Her fingers tightened briefly around the tail of her glass before forcing a smile.
“Adeline needs me.”
Deja vu prickled at Vanessa as she slipped into the bar’s glow.
A karaoke bar. College. Her birthday. Henry, laughing too loud, singing off-key just for her. The night she and Henry had met.
Funny how a night that once felt like a beginning now lived only as a memory.
…
The door clicked shut behind Vanessa. “Have you sent the files to Viram Industries?” She dropped her bag aside. “Get Josh on the line.”
“Already done,” Agatha said. “They have selected the demo for the billboard.”
Vanessa was back—finally. After a leave that had stretched longer than anyone dared question. Rouge Media had made an exception for Vanessa. She was a key player in the company that they understood and were lenient with her long leave from work.
Vanessa slid into her chair, keyboards typing. The screen came alive—campaign timelines, ad placements, revenue projections.
“Patch Josh through,” Vanessa said.
Agatha’s keyboard clicked. “He is on.”
Josh’s usual smooth, feminine tilt voice filled the room."Glad to have you back Ms. Vanessa.”
“Glad to be back as well, Josh. Send me the Viram billboard metrics,” Vanessa replied “I want foot-traffic conversion broken down by hour. If the demo spikes at dusk, we renegotiate placement.”
“On it.” Josh replied.
Josh is Vanessa’s team member and project manager.
Vanessa scanned the data Agatha pulled up, making quick annotations. “Shift the digital spend to Midtown after six. Pull back on Rose Lane—too much noise, not enough return.”
Agatha nodded, already executing. She turned to leave.
“One more thing, Ms. Vanessa,” Agatha turned back, holding on to the knob of the door. She hesitated, then smiled “For what it’s worth, the office missed you. It’s good to have you back… properly back.”
Vanessa smiled, pressing her lips into a thin line, nodding slightly in recognition.
…
A knock broke Vanessa’s rhythm.
Adeline leaned in, sunglasses perched on her head, grin unapologetic. “Alright, boss lady. You have terrorized enough people for one morning.”
Vanessa leaned back, exhaling for the first time. “Lunch?”
“Obviously,” Adeline said. “Before you start rewriting Marbleton.”
At the parking lot—clean close to sterility, with a wide central lane marked by crisp white arrows directing traffic forward. The smooth gray concrete floors reflected the glow of evenly spaced LED strip lights running the length of the ceiling, giving the parking lot a cool, almost clinical brightness.
Adeline chirped, and the black Aston Martin DB11 Volante answered with a soft click as it unlocked. She slid in and in one smooth motion the soft whir of the roof retracting above her followed suit.
“A new whip?” Vanessa asked, tilting her head, her lips parting slightly—only to let out a chuckle. She shook her head as she slid into the car.
“You need to live a little, Nessie.” Adeline teased, shooting her a wink before exaggerating a playful pout. The engine purred to life and the car rolled out of the parking lot in a smooth sweep.
Vanessa was never drawn to flashy cars. It wasn’t that she didn’t spend—she just preferred her money visible in ways that lasted. Structured designer bags. Statement jewelry. Skin, cared for like an asset. Cars, to her, were ‘negative carries’—machines that demanded constant upkeep and bled value the moment they left the showroom.
Adeline was the opposite.
She drove with one hand on the wheel, bangles clinking softly at her wrist, music playing softly. She braked sharply at the red light on Bigard Road,
“There is a new spot at Bigard Road, Saffron Verandah.” Her gaze now fixed on Vanessa. ”I was there last week with a client. Incredible food. You would love it.” Adeline said with a faint smile on her face
“Indian?” Vanessa asked. Her gaze fixed on her phone, thumb scrolling.
“Yeah.” Adeline glanced sideways, now grinning “Your favorite.” She added.
The light turned green Adeline accelerated without hesitation.
- Writer
