EPISODE 2
1397 Words
Adrian stepped into the quiet of his private office at Eden Global, the cityscape glittering outside the glass walls. The board meeting had ended, and the name on everyone’s lips was the same: Noah Reid.
He opened the folder from the meeting and scanned the proposal with his usual calm precision. His expression revealed nothing. Internally, however, a faint tension lingered — seeing Noah’s name so clearly on paper stirred something he had carefully kept locked away for years. Not dislike — Adrian was, in fact, Noah Reid’s biggest fan. Posters, magazine covers, even photographs from fan events filled the walls of his apartment. He had followed every role, every interview, every performance — all in secret.
But here in the office, there was no room for that. This was business. And more importantly, he had to remain composed in front of the man he might one day meet.
> I can’t let anything slip. It’s just a professional matter… that’s all, Adrian reminded himself.
He picked up the phone and dialed Noah’s manager, speaking with calm, careful precision.
> “Hello,” the manager answered.
“Hello, this is Adrian Lee, Director of Design at Eden Global,” he began. “I wanted to reach out regarding the possibility of Noah Reid representing our upcoming campaign. If he’s interested, we would be happy to send over the proposal for his review. Alternatively, if convenient, he or someone from his team could come by, and we could finalize the agreement here.”
He paused politely, letting the manager process the request.
> “Please let me know what works best. We’ll be glad to accommodate his schedule.”
There was a short pause on the line. The manager replied,
> “Understood, Director Lee. I’ll speak to him and get back to you.”
Adrian nodded, even though the manager couldn’t see him.
> “Thank you. I appreciate your time.”
He hung up and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. Professional. Polite. Composed.
Yet in the quiet of the office, a single thought flickered in his mind — a thought he would never voice aloud:
> Soon, I’ll see him… but only in business. Only in business.
And somewhere out there, Noah Reid was about to make a choice that would set their fates on a collision course.
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Noah Reid sat in his sleek apartment, the offer from Eden Global lying unopened on the coffee table. His manager had just explained the details over the phone, outlining schedules, compensation, and expectations.
He shook his head.
> “Tell them… no. I’m not taking endorsements right now.”
His manager Julia hesitated.
> “Are you sure? It’s a huge opportunity — a major campaign, full creative control from their end…”
> “I said no.” Noah’s tone was calm, final. He didn’t need to elaborate. Fame had already taken everything he wanted — he didn’t need another corporate contract, no matter how big.
He hung up, leaning back in his chair, scrolling idly through his phone. Then, curiosity nudged at the edge of his mind. Eden Global wasn’t a small company. Who exactly were the people behind it?
Later that evening, he opened the company’s website, scanning the executive profiles and design team. And then it caught his eye.
Adrian Lee — Director of Design
The name sparked something faintly familiar, like a distant note of music he couldn’t immediately place. Noah paused, rereading the profile.
Where have I heard that name…?
His mind raced back to a few weeks ago — a fleeting moment in a mall washroom the call
> “Adrian Lee, will you stop bugging me? Okay, I gotta go. Love you, take care. Bye.”
The memory sharpened, crystal clear. A small, calculating smile tugged at Noah’s lips.
> Interesting… very interesting.
He picked up his phone and dialed his manager, this time with a tone entirely different from before: polite, assured, but deliberate.
> “Hello Julia. I… will take the offer,” he said slowly. “Please send over the contract. I’ll review it and we’ll proceed as discussed.”
The manager’s voice was surprised, almost incredulous.
> “You’ve changed your mind?”
> “Yes,” Noah replied, smiling to himself. “I’ll be overseeing everything on my end. Please let me know the next steps.”
As he hung up, Noah leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and intent.
Unknown to anyone — not his manager, not the company — this was no ordinary acceptance it has its own agenda
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The Signing and the Condition
The sun streamed through the tall glass windows of Eden Global, illuminating the sleek boardroom where the CEO, Richard Han, and a few board members were already seated. A sense of importance and precision hung in the air, every chair perfectly aligned, every table polished.
Adrian Lee stood near the side, hands clasped behind his back, scanning the documents one last time. His heart was steady, his expression calm — professional, as always. The thought of meeting Noah Reid sent a faint flicker of unease through him, but he pushed it down. Just business. Nothing more.
Moments later, the door opened, and Noah Reid entered, flanked by his manager. Cameras weren’t present — this was private, controlled. Yet the air seemed to shift the moment he stepped in. Everyone’s attention subtly followed him as he walked toward the boardroom.
Richard Han rose, smiling warmly.
> “Noah, welcome. We’re thrilled to have you here.”
> “Thank you, Mr. Han. I appreciate the opportunity,” Noah replied, his charm effortless but precise.
The manager introduced him to the other board members, exchanging pleasantries and brief handshakes. Noah’s confidence filled the room, yet his eyes flicked around subtly, taking note of every detail.
After everyone had settled and the formal greetings concluded, Adrian watched quietly from his corner, hands clasped, expression neutral. Keep it together, he reminded himself. Professional. Nothing more.
Contracts were reviewed, schedules discussed, and conditions outlined. Everything appeared straightforward. Yet when Noah finally set down his pen, he looked around the room, a faint, deliberate smile playing at his lips.
> “Before I officially accept this offer,” Noah said, voice calm but carrying weight, “there’s one condition.”
The room went still. The board members exchanged curious glances. Richard raised an eyebrow. Adrian’s pulse subtly quickened, though his face remained composed.
> “And what might that be?” Richard asked.
Noah’s gaze swept across the room, finally resting on Adrian.
> “I want Director Adrian Lee to be the one in charge of my work here — personally overseeing everything — until the contract expires.”
Adrian froze mid-step, the air seeming to thicken around him. His mind raced.
> No. This… this can’t happen.
He hurriedly tried to interject, his voice polite but firm:
> “Mr. Reid, I assure you, you will be in excellent hands. I’ve already arranged for someone to supervise your work while I focus on other projects. There’s no need for me to—”
Noah interrupted calmly, yet with an edge of insistence:
> “I’ve seen your work, Director Lee. I know how efficient and precise you are. That’s exactly why I want you. You’re the only one I trust to handle this properly.”
Adrian opened his mouth to object further, but the CEO interjected, his tone measured but decisive:
> “Condition accepted. If that’s the agreement, we will honor it.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. Internally, he was fuming. He had wanted no part of working so closely with Noah Reid — not yet, not ever. And yet, outwardly, he forced a calm nod, letting his mask slip seamlessly into place.
> “Of course,” he said, tone neutral. Fine. I’ll play along.
Noah’s smile widened slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if he had anticipated this reaction. He leaned back slightly, confident and composed, while Adrian’s eyes narrowed fractionally — already calculating how he would manage the situation without letting his admiration, or anything else, slip.
The deal was done. The contract was signed. But beneath the calm surface, something unspoken simmered between the two men — a tension neither fully understood, yet both were about to explore.
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- Writer
