Breaking Through Her Wall

CHAPTER NINE

Watchful eyes

Just after Berly and Ryan returned to the office. Yvette is in the design room organizing a pitch board, half bored - until she sees something through the glass partition.

She didn't mean to spy. She just had a great timing.

She watched Berly and Ryan, side by side, walking into the office like a quiet storm.

No hands touching, no flirtatious laughter. Just... ease.

Too much ease.

Berly laughed at something Ryan said, head tilted slightly back. Ryan for once, wasn't performing. No smirk, no flashy smile - just that focused, relaxed look he only had when he was with clients...or now, apparently, her.

Yvette narrowed her eyes and muttered

“No one's that charming by accident.” She watched as Ryan gently tapped Berly's arm lightly before veering off towards his desk. Berly kept walking, still smiling faintly. She had that glow- the kind people didn't even realize they wore.

Calm. Confident. Comfortable

It made Yvette's stomach twist.

A month ago, she had expected Berly to cry in the bathroom at least once a week. To stumble through Liam's schedules, flinch under pressure, maybe miss a meeting and get chewed off by the team. The usual.

Instead she was thriving. Even Liam hadn't raised his voice once.

“ She's not even trying and yet she's winning.” She said under her breath.

She walked to the copy room under the pretense of needing paper, but really just to think. Her mind was already working ahead, connecting dots that might not even exist-but they feel real.

Maybe Ryan's helping her look good.

Maybe she's trying to get close to Liam through him.

Maybe she's not as sweet as she pretends.

She leans against the cabinet, biting her thumb.

“ She's getting too comfortable. That's the danger zone.”

A quiet beep from her phone distracted her - a group chat ping. She glanced at it, barely reading. Her eyes flickered up again towards Berly's desk.

The wheels were already turning.

If Berly wanted to play a polite game, Yvette could play it too- just sharper. More precise. More experienced.

She smiled to herself

“ Let's see how long that glow lasts.”