The next few days at the office were a blur of meetings, revisions, and frantic emails. Kasie and Jake spent almost all available time in close confinement, alternating preparation of their presentation and plan, and on each and every problem the client had voiced. The closer they got to the final pitch, the more Kasie began to realize how much they had come to rely on each other.
It was a sensation she hadn't anticipated to experience—not with Jake, not with anyone else. However, on a work basis, it was impossible to deny that he had become invaluable to the team.
The day before the major presentation, tension in the office hung in the air, thick as fog. Everyone had been running on little sleep and even less patience, but they were close—so close—to pulling it all together.
Kasie sat at her desk, reviewing the final version of the presentation, when she felt the familiar weight of someone's presence beside her. Without looking up, she knew it was Jake.
"We ready?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
Kasie took one last look at the screen and mentally went over all of the details one more time. "I think we are, she said, tapping a finger on her chin. "At least, we should be. Everything looks good on paper."
Jake fell over to inspect her screen, his face creased as he looked at the slides. "We've got this. You've done the hard part, Kasie. We're just putting the finishing touches on it."
She didn't answer right away. The truth was, she was nervous. She was always nervous before a big pitch—anyone who said otherwise was lying. But with Jake beside her, she felt strangely grounded, like she wasn't facing this alone.
"I'll do my part, Kasie said finally, giving him a small but determined smile. "And you'll bring the charm. Deal?"
Jake smiled, and the usual twinkle of his mischief could be seen in his eyes. "You bet I will. However, I have learnt a thing or two from you, too. Let's make sure we knock their socks off."
Kasie giggled lightly, and the feeling of being choked subsided briefly. "I think we can manage that."
They spent the next couple of hours doing a dry run of their delivery. Jake had suggested that they practice in front of the team one more time, and despite her reluctance to show any sign of vulnerability, Kasie had agreed. While practicing their mock presentation, she was taken aback by the ease with which Jake integrated his knowledge, delivering it as seamlessly as any seasoned presenter.
It wasn't just his charm that made him effective—it was his way of making everything seem so effortless. The more Kasie watched him, the more she realized that he wasn't just winging it. There was a depth to the way he worked, a subtle brilliance that she hadn't fully appreciated before.
When the final subject left the room, Jake clapped his hands together, and a smile broke across his face. "Well, that was fun. If they don't like us after that, I'll eat my shoes.
Kasie rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress the small laugh that escaped her. "You're impossible."
Jake winked, a familiar twinkle in his eyes. "You love it."
Kasie remained silent and picked up her belongings and walked towards the door. She also couldn't help but ask whether, in some way she couldn't fathom, he was actually, maybe, right. There was something about working with him—working around him—that was.unique.
But that was the problem. She couldn't put her finger on it. Was it just work or was there something there that was more than she wanted to own up to?
The sense of electricity was in the air the following morning when the conference room was full. The group had been practicing like mad to reach this point, and watching Kasie at the front of the room, all set to start the pitch, she knew instinctively things weren't quite the same. Not just for the project, but for her work with Jake.
They were ready, and she knew it.
She took a step forward to the projector, her hands unrattling even though her stomach churned with butterflies. Jake stood beside her, his confident presence a steadying force. He made contact with her for a fleeting moment, his smile both friendly and knowing. Kasie took a breath and launched into the presentation, diving straight into the data and the strategy they'd painstakingly crafted.
As the pitch continued, Kasie felt herself falling into the rhythm of their work. Speaking clearly, she described all of the details in which they had previously worked in collaboration. And then it was Jake's turn. He stepped forward, taking the presentation to a level Kasie hadn't expected—he sold the story behind the numbers, drawing the client into their vision with ease and charisma.
He wasn't just presenting. He was captivating.
Kasie stood quietly by his side, watching as Jake effortlessly commanded the room. For the first time, she realized just how much he had grown on her—not just as a colleague, but as a person. By how effortless he made everything, by how he made hers harder, and by how he kept both of them grounded when the pressure was immense—it was all more than just distraction. He was... essential.
Collapse of the pitch, however, brought an end of the weight on Kasie's shoulders. It had gone well. They had delivered something powerful. However, there was a strange, lingering unease in her chest as if she was standing on the precipice of a big event.
After the presentation, the room was abuzz with praise. The client had been impressed, and it seemed that the tide had turned in their favor. A feeling of relief rushed through Kasie, but when she looked up, Jake was already engaged in answering questions and waving to the team. He was in his element, completely at ease.
She watched him for a moment, caught between admiration and something else that she couldn't quite name.
Good work, " she said, coming up to him, her voice softer than usual.
Jake turned, his smile wide as always. "Couldn't have done it without you, Kasie. We made a great team."
There it was again—that unsettling feeling. She knew she couldn't continue pretending that their partnership was just business as usual. The way she was starting to look at him—it was something more than just professional respect.
And even while those ideas swirled in her head Kasie could not bring herself to say it. Not yet. She was not yet able to accept what was actually happening between the two of them.
"Yeah," she said, her voice steady. "Great team."
But deep down, she knew things were changing. Perhaps, just perhaps, she came to enjoy the concept of them not only as coworkers, but as something more.