Chapter five
1270 Words
I felt it the moment the elevator doors opened, the office floor was unusually quiet, not peaceful quiet, that kind of quiet that meant something was brewing and Conversations were hushed. A few heads turned when I stepped out, then quickly turned away again like I had walked into something I wasn’t supposed to see.
I frowned slightly.
“Morning,” I muttered to no one in particular as I made my way to my desk, before I could even sit properly, my phone rang. Internal line.
My stomach tightened.
“Imara. My office. Now.”
Of course.
I grabbed my files and walked down the corridor, heels clicking louder than usual, each step felt heavier. I knocked once and stepped in.
My boss didn’t look up immediately. He let the silence stretch small, calculated punishment.
“You’re late.”
It wasn’t shouted, and that made it worse.
“Seven minutes,” I replied carefully. “There was traffic on…”
“Seven minutes is still late.”
I swallowed. “It won’t happen again.”
He studied me then, eyes sharp. “You look… distracted.”
My heart jumped. Did I look that obvious?
“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Ready for the day.”
“Good,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “Because you won’t have much time to settle in.”
I blinked. “Sir?”
“The team from a major music label is here. They want a campaign concept for an upcoming project. Our lead creative called in sick.” His gaze locked on mine. “You’re stepping in.”
The air left my lungs.
“Today?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“They’re already in the boardroom.”
My fingers tightened around my files.
“I I wasn’t briefed.”
“You have raw pieces. I’ve seen your drafts. You’ll make it work.”
That wasn’t encouragement. That was pressure dressed as belief.
“And Imara,” he added, voice lowering, “do not embarrass this company.”
Something inside me straightened.
“I won’t.”
He nodded toward the door. “They’re waiting.”
****
The walk to the boardroom felt longer than usual.
I adjusted my dress subtly, inhaled once, twice, trying to slow my pulse. This was work. This was the version of me I had built from scratch. The woman who stayed up rewriting lines until dawn. The woman who fought for her seat at every table.
I pushed the door open, laughter floated in the air.
Three men. One woman. Looking polished and distinct.
And then…
Him….Donald!!!
He was seated at the far end of the table, posture relaxed, suit crisp, fingers loosely interlocked like he had all the time in the world.
My breath stalled, He looked up.
Recognition flickered across his face, not surprise exactly. Not shock, Just awareness that was very much controlled and professional.
“Miss Stones,” my boss said smoothly. “This is the team from Aurelius Music Group.”
Donald’s eyes never left mine.
“This is Imara,” my boss continued. “She’ll be leading the concept presentation.”
Donald tilted his head slightly.
“Pleasure,” he said calmly. Nothing out of the ordinary, just that.
Pleasure! My throat felt dry.
“Likewise,” I replied, praying my voice didn’t betray me.
No one in that room knew that twelve hours ago he had leaned into my car and kissed me right on the lip! like he had discovered something precious.
Now he looked at me like a stranger.
Good, I told myself. Better this way.
I moved toward the screen, plugged in my drive, and forced my hands not to tremble.
“This project,” I began, clicking to the first slide, “isn’t just about promoting an album. It’s about building anticipation around identity.Around rebirth.”
My voice wavered slightly on the last word.
Focus, I said to myself, soft enough for only my thoughts.
I continued.
The first few minutes were mechanical. I was speaking, but I wasn’t fully inside my body. I could feel his presence like heat against my skin.
Was he watching me?
Was he judging?
Was he pretending none of last night existed?
My thoughts started spiraling.
I clicked to the next slide too quickly.
The room blurred for a second.
“Excuse me,” I said suddenly, forcing a small smile. “Just one moment.”
I stepped out before anyone could question it. The hallway felt cooler.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Kathrine.
She picked up on the second ring.
“Why are you calling me during work hours?” she teased lightly.
“He’s here,” I whispered.
“Who?”
“Donald.”
The silence that followed was thickening….
“At your office?” she finally asked.
“Yes. In the boardroom. For a presentation. I’m literally about to collapse.”
She exhaled slowly. “Okay. Listen to me.”
“I can’t think straight, Kathrine. He’s acting like he doesn’t know me.”
“Good.”
“What?”
“That means he respects the setting. Imara, this is not about last night. This is about your career.”
My chest rose and fell rapidly.
“You earned that room,” she continued firmly. “Not because of him. Not because of a kiss. Because you’re good.”
I closed my eyes.
“You are not the girl blushing in a car right now. You are the woman who worked for this. Go in there and show them.”
My breathing steadied slightly.
“What if I mess up?”
“Then you mess up and learn. But you will not shrink.”
Silence stretched between us.
“You’ve got this,” she added softly.
I swallowed hard.
“Okay.”
“Call me after.”
I hung up and stared at my reflection in the glass panel beside me.
“You’ve got this, I’ve got this, I can do this, I have to do this”, I said to myself… “I’m capable”
I slipped my phone back into my bag and walked back in.
Donald glanced up briefly as I resumed my place.
This time, I didn’t look away.
“As I was saying,” I continued smoothly, clicking to the next slide, “the audience doesn’t want another generic rollout. They want a story. They want tension. They want to feel like they’re discovering something dangerous and beautiful at the same time.”
Now I was in it.
My words flowed. My hands moved naturally. I forgot to be nervous.
I spoke about visual storytelling, layered campaigns, strategic silence before release. I saw interest spark across the table.
One of the executives leaned forward.
“That’s… bold,” she said.
“It needs to be,” I replied calmly. “The industry is saturated. Subtle won’t cut through.”
I felt it then, that shift.
Confidence returning like something reclaimed.
When I finished, the room was quiet, Not awkward, Elevating ..
Donald’s fingers tapped lightly against the table before he spoke.
“I like the direction,” he said evenly. “It feels intentional. Strategic.”
My heart thudded once.
“But,” he added, eyes holding mine, “I’d like to discuss it further.”
“Further?”
The word settled between us…And something else.
My boss nodded quickly. “Of course. We can arrange a follow-up session.”
Donald didn’t look away.
“Preferably today,” he said.
And just like that, the line between my worlds didn’t just thin, It disappeared.
- Writer
