8
988 Words
The atmosphere inside Hartwell Architectural Studio was unlike anything Aurora had ever experienced.
Everyone was busy.
Designers rushed between departments carrying blueprints.
Architects adjusted tiny details they had already revised countless times.
Even the usually cheerful conversations had disappeared, replaced by nervous whispers.
Aurora placed the finishing touches on her presentation before taking a deep breath.
“You’ve checked that drawing six times already.”
She looked up.
Maya stood beside her with folded arms.
“I know.”
“So stop looking at it.”
“What if I missed something?”
“You didn’t.”
“What if”.
Maya gently closed the folder in front of her.
“No more “what ifs.”
Aurora laughed softly.
“I hate that you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
Mr. Harrison stepped into the room.
“The cars are waiting.”
Every conversation immediately stopped.
One by one, the project team gathered their presentations before heading downstairs.
——*——
Thirty minutes later…
Aurora stared through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Vaughn Group Headquarters.
The building itself was breathtaking.
Glass.
Steel.
Clean architectural lines.
Minimalistic.
Elegant.
Everything about it reflected power.
“This place is incredible,” she whispered.
“It should be,” Maya replied.
“They built it.”
An assistant escorted the team toward the executive conference room.
Each step seemed to increase everyone’s anxiety.
The assistant stopped outside a pair of enormous wooden doors.
“They’ll see you now.”
Mr. Harrison adjusted his tie before walking inside.
The rest of the team followed.
Aurora entered last.
Several executives were already seated around the long conference table.
At the head of the table…
A familiar figure sat calmly reviewing a file.
Dark hair.
Sharp features.
An expensive black suit.
Aurora stopped walking.
“…You.”
As though sensing her gaze, the man slowly lifted his eyes.
Emerald-green eyes met silver-grey ones.
Recognition flickered between them for only an instant.
Then…
His expression remained completely unreadable.
Aurora’s eyebrows knitted together.
It’s him.
The rude man from the gala.
Cassian Vaughn.
Mr. Harrison smiled politely.
“Good morning, Mr. Vaughn.”
Cassian closed the file in front of him.
“Let’s begin.”
No greeting.
No unnecessary conversation.
Straight to business.
The presentations started one after another.
Each architect explained their concepts confidently.
Cassian listened without interrupting.
Occasionally, he asked a brief question.
Nothing more.
Finally…
Aurora stood.
She connected her laptop before displaying the three-dimensional model she had spent days refining.
“This concept combines modern coastal architecture with sustainable design principles…”
She spoke confidently.
Every decision had a purpose.
Every structure had meaning.
The room remained silent until she finished.
Mr. Harrison smiled hopefully.
Aurora looked toward Cassian.
He studied the screen without saying a word.
Several long seconds passed.
Finally…
He closed the file in front of him.
“No.”
The single word echoed across the room.
Aurora blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
“The design doesn’t meet Vaughn Group’s standards.”
The room became painfully quiet.
Mr. Harrison cleared his throat.
“Would you mind explaining what specifically—”
Cassian stood and walked toward the digital display.
He pointed at the main entrance.
“The guest arrival experience is ordinary.”
His finger moved toward another section.
“The public spaces lack identity.”
Another section.
“The layout is efficient.”
A brief pause.
“But efficiency isn’t memorable.”
Aurora listened carefully.
None of his criticisms were personal.
They were architectural.
He turned to face the team.
“If guests can find something similar elsewhere…”
His gaze swept across the room.
“…why would they come here?”
No one answered.
Cassian looked back at Aurora’s presentation.
“This concept has potential.”
Aurora frowned slightly.
“But?”
“You’ll redesign it.”
She blinked.
Mr. Harrison looked surprised.
“The others are rejected as well?”
Cassian nodded once.
“Every proposal presented today requires significant revision.”
A quiet wave of disappointment spread through the room.
Aurora folded her arms.
“I’d like to ask a question.”
Several heads turned toward her.
Cassian looked at her.
“Go ahead.”
“If you already knew exactly what you wanted…”
She held his gaze.
“…why invite architects to present ideas?”
The room fell silent.
Mr. Harrison’s heart nearly stopped.
Maya closed her eyes.
Aurora… please don’t argue with him.
Cassian regarded her for a moment.
Then he answered calmly.
“Because I’m looking for someone who can create something better than what I imagine.”
Aurora didn’t expect that answer.
“If you can do that…”
He picked up her blueprint and placed it back on the table.
“…you’ll keep the project.”
“And if I can’t?”
“We’ll find another firm.”
His voice carried no arrogance.
Only certainty.
He looked toward Mr. Harrison.
“You have two weeks.”
Without another word, Cassian buttoned his suit jacket and walked toward the door.
He didn’t look back.
The executives immediately followed behind him.
Within moments…
The conference room was silent.
Aurora stared at the closed door.
Then looked down at her blueprint.
She had never had her work rejected before.
She wasn’t embarrassed.
She was irritated.
“…Impossible.”
Maya walked beside her.
“You actually challenged Cassian Vaughn.”
Aurora picked up her drawings.
“I know.”
“And?”
She let out a slow breath.
“…I still think he’s impossible.”
Outside the conference room…
Cassian stepped into the private elevator.
His assistant glanced toward him.
“Should I notify the legal department about selecting another firm?”
Cassian looked ahead.
“Not yet.”
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Neither men noticed that, for the first time in years…
Cassian had asked one architect to redesign a project instead of dismissing the firm altogether.
- Writer
