Morning at Orion Creative Studio.
The office looked like controlled chaos.
Designers arguing about fonts.
Someone yelling about a campaign deadline.
Coffee machines working overtime.
Aria stood by the desk, a notebook in hand. She looked down at its open pages.
New job.
New office.
New life.
And she was already overwhelmed.
Intern:
Aria:
Intern:
Aria laughed.
Aria:
Suddenly the entire floor went quiet.
Not normal quiet.
Respect quiet.
Someone whispered.
Designer:
Aria looked up and saw him.
Kael Voss walked across the floor.
Tall.
Sharp jaw.
Black shirt rolled to the elbows.
Calm.
Controlled.
And completely uninterested in everything around him.
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Aria blinked.
Aria (whispering):
Intern:
Aria:
Intern:
That was reassuring.
Kael stopped near a designer’s desk.
Designer:
Kael glanced at it for two seconds.
Kael:
Designer:
Kael:
Ouch.
He walked away.
Aria raised an eyebrow.
Aria:
Intern:
Aria:
Intern:
Across the room Kael suddenly stopped.
He turned.
And looked directly at Aria.
She froze.
Had she said something out loud?
Their eyes locked.
For just a moment.
Something curious flickered in his expression.
Not interest.
More like recognition of someone new in the room.
Then he walked away.
Aria exhaled.
Aria:
Hold off. He always says no to the opening pitch.
Aria:
Yet everything shifted unexpectedly.
While everyone else looked afraid of him…
Aria looked curious.
________________________________________
Later – Creative Meeting
Aria sat at the edge of the long table.
Her first brainstorming meeting.
Kael stood near the screen.
Kael:
Designer:
Kael:
Copywriter:
Kael:
Aria muttered quietly.
Aria:
The room went silent.
She didn’t realize she said it out loud.
Kael slowly turned toward her.
Kael:
Oh.
Great.
First day and already in danger.
Aria swallowed.
Aria:
Kael watched her.
Aria:
The room stayed quiet.
Aria continued.
Aria:
Kael studied her carefully.
Longer than necessary.
Kael:
Aria:
Kael:
Aria nodded.
Kael turned back to the screen.
Kael spoke up. The room had been quiet too long. A real thought finally arrived, he said. This one actually made sense.
Half the room looked offended.
Aria blinked.
Intern whispered.
Intern:
Then again, Kael made a move nobody saw coming.
His eyes found her once more.
Hold still. For only that moment.
Now here it comes - something never seen before
A hint of warmth touched his face.
________________________________________
End Scene
When the last person stepped out of the meeting room,
Kael spoke without looking at her.
Kael:
She stopped.
Aria:
Kael:
Pause.
Kael:
She smiled slightly.
Aria:
His eyes moved toward her.
Aria finds simple fights a bit dull. She’d rather face something tougher now and then.
Just then -Kael almost smiled.
Almost.
Curiosity begins.
Still, nothing pulls them together just now.
