Episode 6:The Pitch
1168 Words
The boardroom buzzed with a low hum of anticipation. Executives lined one side of the table, sleek tablets and espresso cups in front of them. The CEO sat at the head, calm but watchful, like a judge at a high-stakes trial. The presentation timer ticked down on the digital screen. 02:00… 01:59… 01:58…
Ava adjusted her blazer, smoothing the fabric with practiced ease. On the surface, she looked calm. In control. But inside? A tightly coiled spring.
Drew stood beside her, effortlessly composed in a navy suit, tapping his index finger lightly against the side of his leg. She noticed the twitch. He was nervous too, he just wore it better.
She leaned in, voice low. “Don’t improvise.”
His smirk was instant. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Liar.”
00:05… 00:04…
The lights dimmed slightly as the presentation loaded. Ava stepped forward first.
“Thank you all for joining us,” she began. Her voice was steady, clear. “We’re excited to introduce Core Flow, a rebrand designed to transform perception, align values, and propel growth for the next decade.”
Slide by slide, she and Drew played to their strengths. Ava handled the structure, the numbers, the market insights—precise and confident. Drew took the lead on storytelling and creative—fluid, charismatic, just enough edge to keep the room hooked.
They volleyed effortlessly, a rhythm they hadn’t rehearsed but somehow owned.
When Ava broke down their multi-phase strategy,target personas, UX redesign, and global rollouts—Drew backed her up with a demo mockup and real-time projections from the analytics team. Ava caught the flicker of surprise in the CFO’s eyes.
They were killing it.
And they knew it.
But the moment that turned the room came unexpectedly. Drew paused mid-sentence, glancing toward Ava with a tilt of his head.
“Ava, you explained this better than I ever could in our strategy sessions. Want to take this one?”
Ava blinked, slightly caught off guard. Not because she wasn’t ready, but because it wasn’t a power move. It was… respect.
She stepped forward, cleared her throat, and launched into the brand value proposition, voice strong, unwavering.
As she spoke, she didn’t miss the way the CEO nodded. Or the way the marketing VP scribbled something with urgency. When she finished, the room was silent for a beat too long—until someone let out a soft “Damn.”
Drew smiled.
The final slide faded to black. Ava took a breath. “We’re confident this approach will not only reposition the brand, but drive measurable impact across markets.”
Drew added, “And we’re ready to lead that charge. Together.”
The lights brightened. The silence broke with murmurs, exchanged looks, quiet nods. The CEO stood slowly, scanning the room.
“Well,” she said finally. “That’s one hell of a pitch.”
Ava didn’t exhale until they stepped into the hallway, the door swinging shut behind them.
Then, she laughed. A sharp, breathless sound she hadn’t expected.
“We actually pulled that off.”
Drew ran a hand through his hair. “We didn’t just pull it off. We crushed it.”
He turned to face her, that familiar grin softening just slightly. “Admit it. We make a good team.”
She rolled her eyes, but didn’t deny it.
“You’re still insufferable.”
“And you’re still pretending not to like me.”
Their eyes met, closer now, no more boardroom between them. No more pretense.
Just heat. Rising. Unspoken.
Before either of them could say another word, the CEO’s assistant appeared down the hall. “They’re ready for you. Final deliberation.”
Ava straightened. Drew nodded once.
Whatever was happening between them,it would have to wait.
But the war? It was about to crown a victor.
The deliberation only took twenty minutes.
Ava paced the hallway outside the boardroom, arms crossed tightly, heels echoing off the tile in sharp, deliberate strides. Drew leaned against the wall nearby, uncharacteristically silent, thumbs tucked in his pockets.
She didn’t ask what he was thinking.
She already knew.
This campaign wasn’t just work. It was leverage. A ticket to the next rung. Recognition she’d bled for. For him, it might be ego, but for her, it was survival.
The door creaked open.
The CEO stepped out first, her expression unreadable. The rest of the execs followed in a staggered exit, murmuring softly.
Then her eyes landed on them.
“Inside. Both of you.”
Ava’s stomach twisted. Drew fell into step beside her, and for the first time, neither had a smirk, a jab, or a shield.
The boardroom was empty now, chairs pushed back from the table. The CEO gestured for them to sit, side by side, like competitors on a game show finale.
“I’ll make this quick,” she said, closing a folder with a quiet snap. “Your pitch was exceptional. Cohesive, sharp, ambitious.”
Ava held her breath.
Drew said nothing.
“There was one clear winner,” the CEO continued.
Silence.
“Ava.”
Her heart slammed once, hard.
She didn’t speak. Not yet. Not until she was sure.
“You’re being promoted to Senior Campaign Director. Effective immediately.”
Ava’s pulse thundered in her ears.
She turned slightly toward Drew, but his expression was unreadable, jaw tight, eyes steady. No bitterness. Just… something unreadable in his gaze.
“Drew,” the CEO added, “your work was also impressive. You’re staying on this project, and we’ll talk about expanded leadership roles next quarter. But for now, Ava will take point.”
He gave a single nod. “Understood.”
The CEO rose. “Congratulations. Both of you. And try not to kill each other in the next phase.”
Then she was gone.
The door closed.
Silence stretched between them, thick and electric.
Ava finally turned to him. “I didn’t expect—”
“You earned it,” Drew said, standing. “I’d be a jackass if I pretended otherwise.”
She blinked. “So that’s it? No smug comment? No tantrum?”
He shrugged. “You won. Fair and square. Besides…” He glanced at her, that spark of mischief flickering back to life. “I’m still on the project. I get to watch you boss me around now.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
He stepped closer, just enough to feel the heat ripple between them again. “Maybe I just enjoy watching you win.”
That caught her off guard.
For a second, she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.
Then she looked away, gathering the last shred of professionalism she had left. “Get your notes. We’ve got a campaign to launch.”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
As she walked out of the boardroom,her boardroom now, Ava allowed herself the smallest of smiles.
She’d won.
But something told her this wasn’t the end of the game.
It was just the beginning.
- Writer
