Recap: I got a big project!

Before I could slip out of the meeting room unnoticed, Naveen approached me. He had a calm, confident air about him that only made me more nervous.

"So," he said, pulling out his phone and typing something in,
"I'll send you the details of the original presentation, and we can start reworking it. Meet me in the conference room in an hour?"

"Sure, I'll be there."

As Naveen walked away, I took a deep breath of relief. I hurried back to my desk and texted Dina about the situation.

This was my chance to prove myself—I wouldn't give Ryan a chance to ridicule me.

_____

"The project is for a major client who's interested in launching a new digital marketing campaign. It's supposed to be a big pitch showcasing the brand's unique selling points-creativity, engagement, and data-driven results."

I nodded, trying to absorb everything as fast as I could. The Nexus Media House had built its reputation by offering innovative media solutions that were both effective and impactful. It wasn't just about selling ads; it was about creating an experience that resonated with the audience.

"The current presentation,"
Naveen continued, "is too scattered. It doesn't capture the essence of our brand, and it's failing to make a strong emotional connection. Ryan's right about that much."

"So, we need to make it more cohesive? Focus on telling a story?"

"Exactly." He pulled up the slides on the screen, flipping through them. "We need to weave a narrative that not only highlights our strategies but also the journey behind them-how each campaign is crafted with precision, how it reflects our commitment to innovation, and how it can become part of the client's own brand story."

I leaned in closer, scanning the slides. They were packed with information, but they lacked heart. Facts and figures were important, but this presentation needed more than that. It needed a soul.

"Maybe we can start with a personal story?" I suggested, hesitating a little as I voiced my idea.
"Something that connects the client to our agency's values right from the beginning."

Naveen looked at me thoughtfully, then nodded.
"That could work. We could use a case study of one of our past campaigns-a brand that successfully transformed their image through our media strategies."

"Yes, and we could follow that up with a behind-the-scenes look at how the campaigns are developed,"
I added, carried away in the moment. "We could showcase the team, the creative process, the analytics... make it feel personal and tangible."

Naveen smiled, a genuine one this time.

"I like the idea. Let's build on that.

I nodded with a huge grin plastered on my face.

Shit! He agreed.. he agreed with my idea!

As we worked on the presentation, the office gradually became quieter, with only the sound of our fingers tapping on keyboards and the occasional rustle of paper breaking the silence. My focus was on the screen, but every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of Naveen out of the corner of my eye and sighed out loud.

If only... the stupid cupids were real!

We spent the next few hours reworking the entire presentation. Naveen was patient, guiding me through the process without ever making me feel like I was out of my depth.

But soon, my mind hit a reboot; staring at the screen had left me drained.
Why was this so hard?

I bit into the tip of the pencil and frowned, tilting my head to the side, trying to see something different. But everything started to look dull and lifeless.

"Here,"
Naveen said, startling me with his sudden closeness.
He leaned over my shoulder, pointing at something on the screen. His arm brushed against mine, sending a jolt through me. His warm breath against my ear sent my heart racing, and my cheeks flushed with warmth.
"I think this part needs a bit more emphasis."

I nodded, trying to concentrate on his suggestion, but my heart hammering in my chest was distracting me.

The scent of his cologne-something fresh and slightly spicy-filled the space between us, making it hard to focus on anything else.

"Uh, yeah, that makes sense,"
I cleared my throat, trying to compose myself.

When he finally stepped back, I exhaled a breath I hadn't realised I was holding.

I glanced at his way, but he instantly caught me staring, and I felt like a puppy caught in a moment of infatuation.

"What?" he asked, his brow furrowed with curiosity.

"Nothing," I shrugged, attempting to sound casual, though the flutter in my stomach was anything but...nothing.

He walked away while my thoughts scattered like the papers on our desks.

Ah! My heart...

As the night wore on, the office emptied out until it was just the two of us left. The clock ticked closer to midnight, and I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the fatigue that clung to me like a heavy blanket.

Miraculously, Naveen walked in with two cups of coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and before he could even reach my desk, I reached out in desperation, snatching one of the mugs from his hand as if my life depended on it.

He chuckled softly, but the coffee stole the charm, for now.

"I've ordered us some sandwiches," he said, taking a slow sip of coffee and leaning casually over the desk, as if this were just another ordinary day at the office.
"We could afford a little snack time," he added, a hint of mischief in his smile.

Stop! Stop! Stop! He's just being nice. He's nice to everyone!

I'm not his type-his type is someone with blue eyes, tall and slender like Serena. At least, that's what she said.

I wonder, if I had blue eyes, would he glance at me, the way I peek at him?

I sighed, taking a sip when my eyes caught him slipping out of his blazer, revealing the crisp, white shirt underneath. Then he took off his glasses, setting them aside.

Why does he have to do this?

It's like he's deliberately making it harder to focus.

But..- No-don't be ridiculous.
He's just comfortable, not trying to stun you into silence.

"What?" His voice, smooth and laced with amusement, jolted me back to reality.

I snapped my mouth shut, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks as I shook my head in a feeble attempt to play it cool.

He chuckled softly, in a low and intoxicating way.
"You drooled. I can't believe you were that hungry."

Shit! Did I actually drool over him?
No way!

"Uh-" I stammered, trying to think of something, anything, that would make this situation less embarrassing. Instead, I managed a sheepish smile.

My heart was pounding so hard I was certain he could hear it, and my mind raced to find a way out of this awkwardness. His daunting presence was overwhelming, and as much as I tried to convince myself that it was just the pressure of work getting to me, I knew deep down that it was more than that.

Trouble-deep, deep trouble.

"You know, there's no need to be embarrassed. We all have our moments." He started in his warm, soothing voice, trying to put me at ease. But his unwavering gaze made it impossible to relax.

"Yeah, I guess hunger does that to people," I mumbled, letting out a nervous laugh, trying to mirror his easy going demeanour, but failing miserably.

"Hunger, huh?" He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Or maybe it was something else entirely."

"I-uh-I think I'll just focus on these reports,"
I blurted out, grabbing a random stack of papers.

He chuckled again, and this time I dared to glance up. He had a soft smile that made a crease on the side of his eyes.

Ah! What a beautiful day to have eyes...

"Alright, alright," he said, leaning forward slightly. "But just so you know, you're not the only one who's noticed a thing or two."

Before I could dwell on it, the door opened, and the delivery person called Naveen, prompting him to walk off outside.

The interruption gave me a moment to catch my breath, but it only made things worse as more thoughts popped into my mind.

What did he mean by that? Was he just teasing, playing it off like it's nothing?

I can't let myself fall into the trap of overthinking.

But then again...

I might just lose myself in the storm of my own delusions if it means I get to imagine the warmth of holding his hand, the intensity of locking eyes-

If it means I get to know what it truly feels like to fall in love.

_____

After eating in awkward silence, we immediately got back to work, discussing the last slide. I reached for my cup of coffee at the same time as Naveen reached for his. Our hands bumped, and my cup wobbled dangerously before tipping over, sending coffee spilling across the desk.

"Oh shit!" I gasped, scrambling to save the papers from getting soaked.

Naveen grabbed some napkins, frantically trying to mop up the mess. My heart sank as I stood there, frozen. This was it-my big screw-up.

"This is why they don't let interns handle important presentations!" I groaned aloud in frustration. I could already see my internship slipping through my fingers.
"I am surely getting fired."

To my surprise, Naveen just scoffed. "Calm down. It's just coffee. Grab me some tissues and sit back."

I nodded at him and rushed to the office kitchen, grabbed a handful of tissues, and hurried back. I passed him a few and took some to wipe the remaining spill, but before I could start, Naveen gently pulled me back. "Let me handle this. You just print this paper again."

He took over, effortlessly wiping away the coffee stains and tossing the soaked papers into the trash.

How many times will he make me fall for him?

It was like every little thing he did, every small gesture, only drew me closer. The way his smile made everything seem a little less dire, the way he handled everything calmly. With every minute that passed, my feelings grew even more.

I was falling for him-all over again

*****

Mission Love Status:

Need more lives to survive the smile..

Rebooting the system!