Chapter 3: collaboration
343 Words
The next morning, Zara arrived early to set up the seminar room. She liked having things under control the slides arranged, the seating perfect, the notes ready.
“Morning, Dr. Adeniyi,” Liam’s voice came from the doorway. She looked up to see him carrying a stack of papers and his usual confident smile.
“Good morning,” she replied, keeping her tone professional, though her heart betrayed her with a small flutter.
“Need a hand?” he asked, stepping closer.
She hesitated, then nodded. “Sure. That would help.”
Together, they arranged chairs and connected the projector. Small gestures the brush of his hand as they adjusted a table, his casual laughter at her fussing over details made Zara painfully aware of his presence. She tried to focus, tried to remind herself that he was still “just a colleague.”
“Zara, can I ask you something?” Liam said, pausing as he reviewed his notes.
“Yes?”
“How do you always manage to stay so… composed? Even in meetings that could drive anyone crazy?” His gaze met hers, teasing but genuine.
She smiled faintly. “Years of practice. And perhaps a bit of stubbornness.”
“Ah, stubbornness. That explains a lot,” he said, his grin widening.
Their eyes lingered on each other for a beat too long before the sound of students arriving forced them back into the professional zone.
As the seminar began, Zara noticed Liam engaging with students effortlessly, confident yet approachable. She admired him, irritated by how much she admired him, and couldn’t help but steal glances whenever he wasn’t looking.
By the end of the seminar, Liam whispered as they packed up. “We make a good team, you know.”
Zara felt a flush rise to her cheeks. “Yes… we do.”
As he walked away, she realized that the day had changed something. What started as simple professional collaboration was slowly turning into something far more complicated and far more dangerous for her carefully controlled heart.
- Writer
