Vivienne arrived earlier than usual that morning.
The lobby was quiet, washed in pale blue light from the glass walls, her heels echoing softly across the polished floor. She pressed the elevator button and waited, arms folded loosely, her thoughts already drifting toward meetings, projections, damage control.
Ding.
The doors slid open.
She stepped inside and reached for the close button.
The doors were almost shut when a hand slipped between them.
They slid back open.
Jordan stood there.
For a brief, suspended second, neither of them moved.
Then he stepped into the elevator.
"Good morning, ma'am."
Vivienne turned her head slowly.
The bar.
The low lights.
The violence.
The way he had moved.
It all flashed through her mind in the space of a heartbeat.
"Good morning, Jordan," she replied evenly.
The doors closed.
The elevator rose.
Silence pressed in, thick and deliberate.
Neither of them spoke again.
She exited on her floor and walked briskly toward her office, posture straight, pace measured.
Footsteps followed behind her.
Not hurried.
Not slow.
Steady.
She stopped abruptly and turned.
"Are you stalking me?"
Jordan halted a step behind her, unbothered.
"No. I wanted to ask for permission."
She studied him for a moment.
"About what?"
She entered her office and sat down behind her desk, crossing her legs with effortless composure.
Jordan remained standing.
"The project thing you told us about."
"And what about it?"
He lifted his eyes.
Green met blue.
Unblinking.
Why is he staring at me like that? she thought.
"I was hoping you'd make it a group project instead."
"Why should I?"
"It wouldn't look nice if one person is handpicked out of us."
"Worried you might not get chosen?"
"No, I'm not."
"Then what?"
"Two or three interns at the New York tech summit," he said calmly.
"That's a better image. Isn't it?"
She leaned back slightly, studying him.
"And why should I listen to you?"
"You have no reason to," he replied.
"I'm just an intern, right?"
Her eyes narrowed.
A flicker of suspicion crossed her face.
"I actually thought about it too," she admitted.
"The project might be too strenuous for one person."
She paused.
"So I'll make it a group project."
"Oh?"
"A group of two."
"What?"
"I want competition," she said.
"That's why it was personal in the first place."
He nodded once.
"Fair enough. A group of two. We're just five."
"Three on two," she said lightly.
"Or four on one."
She glanced at him and suppressed a smile.
"You'll present your ideas next week."
"Oh," he said softly.
"Thank you for your time, ma'am."
"You're welcome. And ask Sarah to come to my office."
"Alright, ma'am."
He left.
Vivienne leaned back in her chair.
A faint, sheepish smile curved her lips.
He's quite confident, she thought.
And he just tested my boundaries.
"So how did it go, man?" Johnson asked.
"Well…"
"Well??" Nadia pressed.
"What?" Adrian added.
"She accepted."
"Oh really?" Zoey said.
"Yeah."
"No shit."
"There's gonna be a group of two."
"What???"
"That's not mathematically possible," Zoey said.
"Mathematically?" Nadia echoed.
Sarah stepped into the room.
"Hello everyone. There's been a change of plans."
The interns straightened.
"The presentation is now a group project. A small group."
"That's obvious. We're just five," Adrian muttered.
"It's a group of two."
"That's not equal."
"One group will have one more person."
"And that means?" Nadia asked.
"It's three on two. The grouping is done."
"What?"
"Check your email. You present next week."
She left.
Phones buzzed.
Zoey checked hers.
"Oh…"
Adrian sighed.
Sarah glanced at her own notification and smiled shyly at Jordan.
Jordan checked his phone.
Group One
Johnson Reed
Adrian Donovan
Zoey James
Group Two
Jordan Blackwood
Nadia Fernandéz
"Ohhhh, three on two?" Johnson said.
"No shit," Adrian muttered.
"Sorry, guys," Zoey said weakly.
Nadia rolled her eyes.
"Still fair," Jordan said.
"Just one person short."
Nadia stepped closer to him.
"Looks like I'm stuck with you, Jordan."
"Looks like it."
"Don't forget tomorrow's hangout," Adrian said.
"No negative energy."
"Oh… nearly forgot," Jordan replied.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
"Time and address in the group chat," Johnson added.
"It's gonna be really good," Adrian said.
"Something to look forward to," Zoey smiled.
In her private office, Vivienne watched the interns through her screen.
"A party…?"
She paused.
"Wait… he's attending too."
Her brows drew together slightly.
It's not my business, she told herself.
So why am I bothered?
Unease settled quietly in her chest.
A knock sounded at her door.
"Come in."
The door opened and a woman stepped inside, tall and radiant, her energy filling the room instantly.
"Melissa???"
"Viviiiiiiiiii!"
Vivienne stood up just in time before Melissa wrapped her arms around her.
"Here we go again," Vivienne laughed softly.
"You didn't even tell me you were back in New York."
"Oh come on," Melissa grinned.
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
She pulled back, holding Vivienne at arm's length, inspecting her.
"But the good thing is," Melissa added brightly,
"I'm back for good."
Vivienne raised a brow.
"Hmmm. Interesting."
"Aww, you missed me," Melissa teased.
"Look at you. Still buried in work."
Vivienne sighed lightly.
"Same Melissa. I've always known."
"You're still the life of the party, you know," Melissa said, shaking her head.
"You need to blow off some steam."
She leaned closer.
"How about we go out tomorrow? It's the weekend. You need it."
Vivienne hesitated for half a second.
"…Okay."
Melissa clapped her hands together.
"Yes! I'll text you."
She turned toward the door, then paused.
"But damn… there's a lot to talk about."
Vivienne smiled faintly.
"Oh, definitely."
The door closed behind her.
And once again—
Jordan Blackwood slipped back into Vivienne Cross's thoughts.