The Game Begins_
Mia's phone buzzed on her desk, pulling her out of her design workflow. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Alexander's name. She hadn't expected to hear from him so soon.
"Ms. Adams," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I trust you're making progress on the rebranding project?"
Mia's fingers tightened around her pen. She had been working tirelessly to perfect her designs, pouring all her energy into creating something that would blow Alexander away. "I am, Mr. Knight. I'll have some mockups ready for you by the end of the week."
"Excellent," he said. "I'll expect to see them on my desk by Friday morning. And, Ms. Adams?"
"Yes?"
"Don't think for a moment that you can hide behind your designs. I want to see you, in person, on Friday. We'll discuss the project's progress, and... other things."
Mia's pulse quickened. What did he mean by "other things"? She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. She couldn't let Alexander's enigmatic words throw her off her game.
"I'll be there, Mr. Knight," she said, her voice steady.
"Good," he said. "I'm looking forward to it."
The line went dead, and Mia let out a slow breath. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap, that Alexander Knight was playing a game she didn't fully understand. But she was determined to play along, to prove to him that she was more than just a talented designer. She was a force to be reckoned with.
Over the next few days, Mia worked tirelessly to perfect her designs. She barely slept or ate, pouring all her energy into creating something that would blow Alexander away. And when Friday morning rolled around, she was ready.
She stood outside Alexander's office, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress and pushing open the door.
Alexander looked up from his desk, his eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.
"Ms. Adams," he said finally, his voice low and smooth. "You look... impressive."
Mia's cheeks flushed, but she refused to back down. "Thank you, Mr. Knight," she said, her voice steady. "I've brought the mockups you requested."
Alexander nodded, gesturing for her to approach. Mia walked over to his desk, laying out her designs with a confident flourish.
For the next hour, they pored over the designs, discussing every detail, every font, every color choice. Mia was impressed by Alexander's insight, his keen eye for design. But she refused to let her guard down, to let him see how much she admired him.
As the meeting drew to a close, Alexander leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're talented, Ms. Adams," he said. "I'll give you that. But I still think you're holding back."
Mia's heart skipped a beat. What did he mean? What did he want from her?
"I'm giving you my best work, Mr. Knight," she said, her voice steady.
Alexander smiled, a small, enigmatic smile. "I'm not talking about your designs, Ms. Adams. I'm talking about you. Yourself."
Mia's cheeks flushed, but she refused to back down. "I'm not sure what you're insinuating, Mr. Knight," she said, her voice cool.
Alexander leaned forward, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm not insinuating anything, Ms. Adams. I'm stating a fact. You're a talented designer, but you're also... guarded. And I want to know why."
Mia's heart was racing now, her mind reeling with possibilities. What did Alexander want from her? And why was he pushing her so hard?
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Mr. Knight," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Oh, I think you do, Ms. Adams. And I think you'll find that I'm not a patient man. I always get what I want, one way or another."
Mia's heart sank, her mind racing with the implications. What had she gotten herself into? And how was she going to get out of it?