7
1083 Words
Monday mornings had always been Aurora’s favorite.
While most people dreaded the beginning of a new workweek, she welcomed it with a smile. There was something comforting about returning to the familiar rhythm of her life. The scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the office, the sound of keyboards clicking in every direction, and the sight of blueprints scattered across desks made her feel at home.
Balancing a cup of coffee in one hand and a folder in the other, Aurora stepped through the revolving doors of Hartwell Architectural Studio.
“Morning, everyone.”
Several heads turned.
“Morning, Aurora!”
“You look unusually cheerful today,” one of her colleagues teased.
Aurora laughed as she placed her bag on her desk.
“Do I?”
“You do.”
“I think it’s because someone finally took a break from living in the office,” another coworker joked.
“I don’t live here,” Aurora protested.
Her coworkers exchanged amused glances.
“You practically do.”
“You’ve spent more nights with these blueprints than with actual human beings.”
Aurora shook her head, trying not to laugh.
“I had deadlines.”
“You always have deadlines.”
“And somehow you still manage to survive.”
“I call it talent.”
Her friend and fellow architect, Mia, rolled her chair closer.
“So…”
Aurora immediately narrowed her eyes.
“So?”
“How was your birthday?”
Aurora smiled.
“It was nice.”
“Just nice?”
“It was really nice.”
Mia rested her chin on her hand.
“I need details.”
“There aren’t many.”
“You expect me to believe that Lucas Hale took you out for your birthday and nothing interesting happened?”
Aurora blinked.
“We went to a charity gala.”
Maya’s eyes widened.
“A gala?”
Aurora nodded.
“He somehow convinced me to go.”
“And?”
“It was beautiful.”
“And?”
“I ate far too many desserts.”
“And?”
Aurora sighed dramatically.
“I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to tell you.”
Maya folded her arms.
“You’re avoiding the interesting part.”
“There isn’t one.”
“Oh, come on.”
Aurora hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I may have… had a little too much to drink.”
Maya’s mouth fell open.
“You?”
“It wasn’t planned.”
“The woman who lectures everyone about moderation got drunk?”
Aurora buried her face in her hands.
“Please don’t remind me.”
Mia laughed so hard she nearly fell off her chair.
“I wish I’d seen it.”
“You would’ve laughed at me.”
“I still am.”
Aurora pointed a finger at her.
“I thought we were friends.”
“We are.”
“Then act like it.”
“I am.”
“You’re terrible.”
The two women laughed together before the office intercom crackled to life.
“Attention, everyone.”
The cheerful conversations around the office immediately died down.
“Our weekly meeting will begin in five minutes. Please gather in the conference room.”
Employees began standing from their desks.
Aurora picked up her notebook and followed the others down the hallway.
The conference room quickly filled with architects, designers and project managers.
A low buzz of conversation lingered until the studio director, Mr. Harrison, entered carrying a thick black folder.
He placed it on the table before looking around the room.
“I have some exciting news.”
Everyone straightened in their seats.
“As of this morning…”
He paused just long enough to build anticipation.
“…Hartwell Architectural Studio has officially secured the contract for the Vaughn Group’s newest luxury development project.”
For a second…
The room was completely silent.
Then the excitement erupted.
“You’re kidding!”
“Seriously?”
“We beat Sterling Designs?”
“I thought Vaughn Group never worked with firms our size.”
Aurora looked around, surprised by everyone’s reaction.
Maya leaned closer and whispered, “This is huge.”
Aurora lowered her voice.
“Who’s Vaughn Group?”
Maya stared at her in disbelief.
“You’ve never heard of Vaughn Group?”
Aurora shook her head.
“I’ve been busy.”
“You really do live under a rock.”
Before Aurora could reply, Mr. Harrison raised a hand for silence.
“I know everyone is excited, but listen carefully.”
The room quieted again.
“This project is unlike anything we’ve handled before.”
He opened the folder, revealing several architectural renderings.
“Vaughn Group plans to build a world-class luxury resort and residential complex overlooking the coastline. They want something modern, timeless and unlike anything currently on the market.”
A slideshow appeared on the screen behind him.
Every image looked more impressive than the last.
Aurora couldn’t help leaning forward.
It was exactly the kind of project she had always dreamed of designing.
Mr. Harrison continued.
“The budget is enormous.”
A few people exchanged impressed glances.
“But so are the expectations.”
He looked around the room.
“The CEO is personally overseeing every stage of this project.”
Someone at the back groaned.
“Oh no…”
Another employee sighed.
“Why couldn’t it just be the board?”
Aurora frowned.
“Is the CEO that bad?”
Maya leaned toward her again.
“Bad?”
She lowered her voice.
“Cassian Vaughn is famous for rejecting proposals without a second thought.”
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
“Really?”
“They say if he doesn’t like something, the meeting is over before anyone gets the chance to explain.”
Another coworker joined in.
“My cousin presented to Vaughn Group two years ago.”
“What happened?” someone asked.
“He spent three months preparing.”
“And?”
“Cassian looked through the presentation for less than ten minutes before saying, ‘Start over.’”
Several people winced.
Aurora couldn’t help smiling.
“He sounds… difficult.”
“Difficult is putting it nicely,” Maya muttered.
Mr. Harrison cleared his throat again.
“Which is why we cannot afford mistakes.”
He closed the folder.
“This project will define our firm’s reputation.”
Aurora looked back at the presentation, completely unaware that the name Cassian Vaughn already belonged to a face she couldn’t forget.
- Writer
