It had been weeks since Kasie and Jake first arrived in Denmark, and despite the tension between them, the shared tasks of work, meetings, and even travel had gradually shifted something inside Kasie. She hated to admit it, but she was beginning to notice things about Jake—things she hadn't noticed before, and perhaps things she didn't want to notice.
For one, he had a way of getting things done without making it look like he was even trying. He was the kind of person who made everything seem effortless, and yet, when Kasie looked closely, she saw the subtle details he paid attention to—the way he remembered everyone's name, the way he balanced work and fun, and the way he made sure no one was left out of the conversation. There was no doubt as to why people seemed to be drawn to him.
She, on the other hand, was always more focused, more serious. She prided herself on getting things done efficiently, not wasting time, and not being distracted by unnecessary things. So, when she was forced to work alongside Jake, it felt like walking a fine line between wanting to make sure everything was perfect and being frustrated by his carefree attitude.
But there was something else. Something that she couldn't quite put her finger on. He had this ability to [make her] want to be a better person, not just at work, but in life. It may have been his personality, or his capacity to relate well with others. Whatever it was, it made Kasie feel uneasy, unsure of how to interpret it.
The morning of their client meeting was no exception. As Kasie straightened her blazer and checked her notes, she glanced over at Jake, who was casually adjusting his tie and fiddling with his phone, looking like he didn't have a care in the world.
"You seem awfully relaxed," she commented, trying to hide the hint of irritation in her voice.
Jake looked up at her with a grin. "Relaxing is my specialty."
Kasie rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
That's just what you enjoy about me," he said, teasing, his smirk beaming.
She did not know what to reply to that, therefore she simply nodded and got back to the job.
Following the meeting which proved even more successful than they anticipated, given their varied approaches, Kasie went to her office in need of a break. The past couple of weeks had been gruelling with hours of work (tracked trips and client calls) and Kasie felt her enthusiasm starting to drop. She needed to recharge.
But as she sat at her desk, her mind kept drifting back to Jake. To the way he always seemed so calm, so effortless, and yet so confident. She couldn't help but wonder—how did he do it? How did he maintain that air of ease when everything around him seemed so chaotic?
Getting up from her desk she felt the need for a change of scene and headed for the office cafe for a coffee.
It was a quiet moment when she saw Jake, sitting alone at their usual table. She hesitated for a second before walking over, not wanting to admit that she actually looked forward to these small breaks with him. He had a way of making her laugh, even when she didn't want to. And despite their differences, there was a part of her that was starting to understand him—maybe even starting to like him.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked, trying to sound casual, as though this was just another work-related conversation.
"Of course not," Jake replied with his usual grin. "It's a free country."
Kasie settled down, and the cosy calm between them filled the air. For a few moments, they didn't say anything. Where the peace of the cafe was therapeutic, Kasie came down to earth for the first time in days.
"You know," she began, glancing at Jake, "I've been thinking about something."
"Uh-oh," Jake said with a dramatic look of concern. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Kasie rolled her eyes but a slight smile crept around her lips. "I'm serious," she said, ignoring his teasing. "You're always so... calm. You make everything look easy. How do you do it?"
Jake leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "I guess it's just perspective. You don't have to let everything get to you. Work is work—it'll always be there. But if you worry about it, then the fun is out of it all.
Fading, Kasie frowned and her fingers went over the edge of her cup of coffee. "But don't you think that makes you... careless? Like, you're not taking things seriously enough?"
Jake laughed softly. "Careless? No. I just think there's more to life than work. I get it, you take pride in being efficient, but efficiency isn't everything, Kasie. It's about balance. You've got to give yourself room to breathe."
Quietly Kasie took a breath, allowing his words to settle into the atmosphere. She hadn't realized it before, but there was truth to what he said. She was always so hardwired about doing it the right way, totally enamored with perfection, that she had lost track of how to just. have fun. To take things a little less seriously.
"You're a lot smarter than I give you credit for," she said, meeting his eyes.
Jake's expression softened, a little surprised by her admission. "Thanks. But honestly, you've got your own strengths. You're driven. You push yourself. It's admirable."
Kasie paused, considering his words. They were quite different but also very similar in some areas. She couldn't deny that there was something magnetic about him—the way he made everything seem effortless, the way he wasn't afraid to take risks, the way he made her feel like maybe, just maybe, it was okay to slow down sometimes.
"Maybe you're right," she said quietly, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Maybe I do need to take things less seriously. Maybe... it's okay to just... be. For once."
Jake made an expression with a smile and looked at her shining with witty light in his eyes. "Now, that's the Kasie I know."
She shook her head with a smile. "Don't get used to it."
But deep down, she knew she was already changing. Slowly, but surely, Jake managed to make her see a world differently. But at last, for a long time, she was no longer entirely convinced that was the wrong decision.
Sitting there, comfortable silence again falling between them, Kasie found herself realizing that maybe Jake wasn't such a pain in the rear as she'd once imagined. Maybe he was exactly what she needed. And perhaps, perhaps, finally she was opening up to him.