When Naya stepped out of the meeting room, her heels clicked softly against the polished floor, but her mind was still buzzing from the strange turn of events. Running into Adrian Hale again and not just anywhere, but here at Evercrest felt surreal. She tucked the thought into the back of her mind, straightened her shoulders, and made her way back to her desk.
She had barely switched on her monitor when her phone lit up with an internal call from Florence's office.
"Naya, could you come in for a moment?"
Her boss's voice was smooth, but there was an undercurrent of urgency.
Naya grabbed her notepad and pen and headed down the hallway. Florence's office, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and meticulously arranged plants, always felt like a place where you had to hold your breath.
Florence gestured for her to sit. "About the Merigold project," she began, leaning forward slightly, "this isn't just another campaign. This is an opportunity to position Evercrest on a national scale. I need you to give it everything you've got. Every detail, every deadline perfection. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," Naya replied, her tone steady even though her stomach tightened.
Before Florence could continue, her desk phone rang. She picked it up, listened for a moment, and then nodded. "Send her in."
The door opened, and a woman stepped in with the kind of presence that made the room shift slightly. She was tall at least five foot nine without heels, with smooth, chestnut-brown hair that fell neatly over one shoulder. Her eyes were a deep, clear hazel that seemed to weigh and measure everything in sight. She was slender but carried herself with an elegance that was deliberate, practiced.
Florence smiled. "Naya, this is Celeste Winters. She's just transferred from our City Y branch." She motioned toward the chairs, and Celeste took the one opposite Naya with graceful ease.
"I asked the higher-ups to send her here so you'll both handle the Merigold project together," Florence went on. "Celeste arrived yesterday but was busy settling in, so she couldn't join this morning's meeting."
Naya gave a polite smile. "Welcome."
"Thank you," Celeste replied, her voice calm and measured. She didn't return the smile, but her gaze lingered on Naya a fraction longer than necessary not unfriendly, but not exactly warm either.
Florence wrapped up quickly, dismissing them both with a reminder to "start coordinating immediately."
In the hallway, they walked in silence until they reached the break room. Naya went in to grab a cup of coffee, and Celeste followed.
"I heard you met Mr. Hale already," Celeste said, breaking the quiet. Her tone was light, but her eyes searched Naya's face.
"Yes," Naya replied carefully. "It was… brief."
Celeste arched one perfectly shaped brow. "Brief, but enough to get on his radar. That's not easy."
Naya didn't take the bait. She poured her coffee, gave a polite nod, and left.
Back at her desk, she noticed her phone screen lighting up with missed call notifications, eight of them, all from Liam. Her heart gave a small lurch. She quickly tapped to call him back.
He picked up almost immediately. "Why weren't you answering your phone?" His voice was sharp, accusing.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I was in a meeting. I couldn't step out."
He grunted. "I need some money to make a loan payment. It's due today."
There was no warmth in his voice, no small talk. Just the demand.
"How much?" she asked quietly.
He told her the amount, and she transferred it without hesitation. When the confirmation pinged, she heard him exhale. "Got it. I'll talk to you later."
The line went dead before she could say anything else.
She set her phone down, the weight in her chest pressing harder. Then she straightened in her chair, opened her project folder, and forced her attention back to work. There was no space for distractions. Not now.