Episode 10: Under Pressure
1439 Words
Liz’s POV
I stood at the head of the conference table, scanning the faces of my team as they nodded and scribbled notes. The Partner’s Gala campaign had been officially approved, and we were ready to execute it. I should’ve felt excited, but the weight of expectation pressed harder than usual.
“The new campaign is set,” I said, clicking through the final slides. “Now it’s up to us to make it happen.”
My voice sounded steady, but inside, a quiet storm brewed. This campaign wasn’t just about doing a good job—it was about proving myself.
As the meeting wrapped up, Helen, my mentor and Marketing Director, caught my eye and gestured for me to follow her to my office.
“You’ve been doing exceptional work, Liz,” Helen began once we were alone. “I’m putting your name forward for the Deputy Director position.”
My heart raced at her words.
“If this campaign goes well,” she continued, “I’ll recommend you without hesitation. This is your opportunity to show everyone what I already see in you.”
I nodded, a mix of excitement and pressure building inside me. The stakes were high, but I had been working for this moment for years. I couldn’t let anything derail it.
Liz’s POV
The first sign of trouble came late in the morning—an email from one of our key partners. They were pulling out of the gala, no clear reason given.
Before I could process it, another call came in. Another back-out. Panic bubbled just beneath the surface, but I kept my voice calm. “Can you tell me what happened?”
The response was vague, full of corporate speak that said nothing.
Emails kept piling up—suppliers pulling contracts, key partners withdrawing. What’s going on? This wasn’t just bad luck. It felt deliberate.
I paced my office, trying to think of ways to fix it, but everything was slipping through my fingers. I wanted to ask Alex for help. He’d know what to do. But I couldn’t—this was my responsibility. Running to him would make me look weak. I had to handle this on my own.
Alex’s POV
When Thomas came into my office, I could see the tension in his face.
“We’ve got a problem with the Partner’s Gala,” he said, closing the door behind him. “Several partners are pulling out, and some suppliers are canceling.”
I frowned, already sensing something deeper. “Why?”
“No one’s giving specifics, but it’s all happening at once. Too much of a coincidence.”
My instincts flared. Vanessa. Ever since she resurfaced, she’d been trying to interfere in my life. Sabotaging Liz’s campaign would be exactly her style.
“I’ll handle it,” I told him, my mind racing. “Investigate discreetly, but don’t involve Liz. I want her to solve this on her own, without knowing I’m behind it.”
Thomas gave me a hesitant look. “Are you sure?”
“I trust her. But keep me updated.”
As Thomas left, I couldn’t help but feel a knot of frustration. Liz needed to fight this battle herself, but I wasn’t about to let Vanessa win. Not this time.
Liz’s POV
By late afternoon, everything was unraveling. Another partner pulled out. More suppliers canceled. My inbox was flooded with messages I couldn’t seem to stop.
I sat at my desk, staring at my phone, trying to come up with a solution. But nothing worked. Every call, every email—it all led to dead ends.
I felt the weight of the promotion hanging over me. If this campaign failed, so would my chances of becoming Deputy Director. The pressure was suffocating, but I couldn’t let myself break. Not now.
Alex’s POV
I knew Liz was struggling, even if she hadn’t reached out. I could feel it. She wasn’t one to ask for help when she felt overwhelmed.
I sent her a text: “Come to my penthouse for dinner. You need a break.”
After a moment, she replied: “Okay.”
Liz’s POV
When I arrived at Alex’s penthouse, the smell of something cooking hit me immediately. I walked in, surprised to see him at the stove, moving with ease as he prepared dinner.
“You’re cooking?” I asked, setting my bag down.
He gave me a small smile. “Thought you could use a break from the chaos.”
I sank into one of the kitchen chairs, letting the warmth of the scene settle over me. For the first time all day, I felt some of the tension ease. Alex, calm and composed, cooking dinner—it felt different, more intimate than I expected.
“You’re good at this,” I said, trying to keep things light.
“There’s more to me than business meetings,” he said with a playful glint in his eye.
Alex’s POV
Over dinner, I could see the strain still weighing on her. Liz had always been strong, but today had clearly taken its toll.
“I know about the partners pulling out,” I said finally. “And the suppliers.”
Her eyes shot to mine, surprise mixed with frustration. “How do you know?”
“Thomas told me,” I admitted, leaning back. “I think Vanessa is behind this.”
Her expression tightened. Vanessa. She knew the name, but not the whole story.
Alex’s POV
“I was sixteen when Eric’s family took me in,” I began. “I didn’t have much—just a rough start in life. Eric’s parents gave me a chance, and Vanessa was always around. She was his younger sister.”
Liz stayed silent, her eyes on mine.
“We got closer in college, started dating. But after graduation, things changed. I wasn’t in a position to give her the life she wanted. She came from money, and when she realized I couldn’t provide that, she left.”
The words hung between us, the past coloring the present. “Now she’s back, and she’s trying to ruin everything—including us.”
Liz’s POV
Hearing Alex’s story, the pieces clicked together. Vanessa wasn’t just an ex—she was a threat, trying to destroy everything Alex and I had built. But I wasn’t going to let her win.
“We’ll deal with it together,” I said firmly, meeting his eyes.
Alex reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. I knew then we weren’t just facing a business challenge—we were a team.
Liz and Alex
After dinner, the atmosphere shifted. The tension of the day faded into something softer, something warmer. Alex led me to the couch, and without saying a word, he pulled me closer, his hand resting lightly on my back.
I leaned into him, the softness of the moment taking over as his lips found mine. It started slow, tentative, but soon it deepened. His hands moved to my waist, pulling me against him, and I felt the weight of the day melt away with each touch.
There was something different about this. It wasn’t just about passion—it was about connection. About letting go of the fear and the pressure, and just being here, together.
Alex’s hands slid along my back, his touch steady and sure, and I found myself melting into him. I let my fingers trace his jaw, feeling the rough stubble beneath my fingertips as his kiss became more insistent, more demanding.
When we finally pulled away, breathless, we didn’t speak. We didn’t need to.
Liz’s POV
Later, as we lay on the couch, my head resting on Alex’s chest, I felt the quiet settle around us. His arm was draped around me, holding me close, and for the first time in days, I felt safe.
I whispered into the stillness, “Can I have just Alex tonight? Not Xander Donovan, the CEO?”
He chuckled softly, his fingers brushing through my hair. “Right now, I’m just Alex. All yours.”
I smiled, letting my body sink deeper into his. “I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, my voice quiet. “The campaign is falling apart, and I’m scared I’m going to lose everything I’ve worked for.”
“You won’t,” Alex said, his voice steady. “And you don’t have to do this alone. We’ll figure it out. Together.”
For the first time all day, I believed him. We were partners now—in work, in life. And whatever came next, we’d face it side by side.
- Writer
