The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden hues over the company picnic as Jason Sr.'s voice boomed across the field. Bianca, standing in the middle of the bustling crowd, turned to Robert, who was lingering beside her.
"Is he serious? I dominate at tug-of-war!" she said, folding her arms with a playful grin.
Robert raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "I'm sure that's not all you dominate."
Bianca's grin faded, and she narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Robert could answer, Jason Sr.'s voice cut through the chatter again. "It's Complex A versus Complex B! If you're not an employee, pick a side!"
Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd as people hurried to split into two teams. Bianca found herself awkwardly stranded in the middle.
Imelda sauntered up to her, looking impeccable as always. She carried herself like royalty, even on a dusty field. "Are you sitting this one out, Bianca?" Imelda asked, her tone casual yet dripping with disapproval. "This game is so filthy and juvenile. I always sunbathe through it."
Before Bianca could reply, Jason's voice rang out. "Bianca! You have to be on our team!"
"Yeah!" Mason chimed in, his eyes wide with excitement. "Together we'll be unstoppable!"
Bianca glanced at the boys' hopeful faces and then at Ken, who stood just behind them, his arms crossed and a teasing smile on his face.
"We could use the extra hands," Ken said, the grin never leaving his face.
Before she could respond, Robert interjected with a frown. "If Bianca doesn't want to play, she doesn't have to."
Bianca raised an eyebrow at him, then turned back to the boys. "I can't resist a good competition. I'm in!"
"Yeah! Suck it, Uncle Robert!" Mason shouted, grinning mischievously.
"Mason," Ken said in a warning tone.
Mason quickly corrected himself, his grin faltering. "I mean…you're going down?"
Robert chuckled, shaking his head. "We'll see, kiddo. At least we don't have any distractions on our team." His gaze shifted pointedly to Bianca.
Bianca's smile tightened. "Bring it on."
Bianca joined Ken, Jason, Mason, and the rest of their team on one side of the field. The air buzzed with anticipation as the teams huddled up, strategizing.
"First thing's first—we need a team name!" Jason announced, bouncing on his heels.
"What about Team Thunderpull?" Bianca suggested with a grin.
"Yeah! Go Team Thunderpull!" Jason cheered, punching the air.
Ken chuckled. "Alright, Team Thunderpull, let's focus. The other team isn't going to make this easy."
Jason Sr.'s voice rang out again. "Enough conferring! It's time to play!"
Both teams lined up on opposite sides of the field, gripping the thick rope that stretched taut between them. The middle of the rope was marked with a bright red ribbon, and each team had a line to pull it across to claim victory.
"On our mark, both teams will start pulling," Lilian explained, stepping forward to officiate. "Whichever team pulls the center of the rope over their line wins! Everyone ready?"
Bianca took her position near the back of her team's line, her hands curling around the rough rope. Ken stood directly behind her, his voice low and steady. "Boys up front. Bianca, you can stay here with me."
As Bianca adjusted her grip, she couldn't ignore Ken's close presence behind her. His calm confidence was steadying, even as the nerves bubbled in her chest. She glanced across the field, locking eyes with Robert, who was glaring at her with a challenging intensity.
She rolled her eyes and looked away, determined not to let him rattle her.
"Everybody ready?" Jason Sr. called out, a gleeful grin spreading across his face.
"On your mark…" Lilian added, her own smile widening.
"Get set…"
"Pull!" Jason Sr. shouted.
The field erupted into chaos as both teams surged backward, muscles straining as they fought for control of the rope. Bianca leaned back, her heels digging into the ground. The burn of the rope against her palms only fueled her determination.
"You'll have to do better than that!" she called out, glaring at Robert, who was anchoring his team on the opposite side.
Jason and Mason were up front, their faces red with effort.
"Pull, Mason! Puuuuuull!" Jason yelled, his voice tight.
"I am pulling!" Mason shot back, his small hands clinging to the rope with all his might.
"Then pull harder!" Jason huffed.
Ken's voice cut through the noise. "That's it, Team Thunderpull! Keep going—we've got them on the ropes!"
Bianca gritted her teeth, shifting her weight as the other team started to gain ground. She glanced down and spotted a large mud patch directly in her path. Her stomach tightened as she realized she was just a few steps away from sliding right into it.
"Hold your ground!" Robert barked to his team, his voice sharp and commanding.
Bianca adjusted her footing just in time, scooting to the side as the rope shifted again. Her heart pounded as her team regained ground.
"Almost…there!" she panted, her fingers tightening around the rope.
Robert's composure began to slip. "We can't let them win!" he growled. His gaze flicked to Bianca. "Though I guess Bianca does have some experience playing dirty."
Bianca ignored the jab, pouring every ounce of her energy into pulling. Her muscles burned, and her breath came in short bursts, but she refused to give up.
With a final, powerful tug, Team Thunderpull yanked the rope across their line. The red ribbon fluttered in triumph.
"Team Thunderpull wins!" Jason Sr. announced, his voice brimming with pride.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Bianca staggered backward from the momentum, right into Ken's arms.
Ken's grip steadied her as she found herself pressed against him. For a moment, the rest of the world melted away.
"…Hi," she breathed, her heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the game.
"Hi," Ken replied, his grin softening into something more intimate.
Bianca's gaze flickered to his lips, and her thoughts spiraled in directions she wasn't sure she should entertain. Ken seemed to notice, his own expression shifting as he licked his lips almost reflexively.
"Ken…" she began, her voice barely a whisper.
"Bianca, I—"
Before either could say more, the boys tackled Ken in a victorious bear hug, snapping them out of the moment.
"We did it!" Jason cheered.
"Yeah! Team Thunderpull for the win!" Mason added, his grin stretching ear to ear.
Ken laughed, ruffling their hair. "You boys were incredible out there."
"We couldn't have done it without you!" Mason said, looking up at Bianca.
Bianca smiled, reaching down to ruffle his hair. "Right back at you, kiddo."
Her smile faltered when she noticed Robert standing nearby, his expression dark and unreadable.
"Congratulations," Robert said, his tone clipped. "Though I suppose some people can't help playing to their strengths."
Bianca opened her mouth to respond, but Lilian stepped in, her voice light but firm. "Nobody likes a sore loser, Robert. Be a good example for your nephews."
---
Later, as the picnic wound down, Bianca found herself alone at the food station. She was waiting for her order when she felt someone step up behind her.
"You're a hard woman to catch alone," a familiar voice said.
Bianca turned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I didn't know you'd been trying, Robert."
His face was unusually serious as he leaned closer. "What's going on between you and Ken? For real."
Bianca straightened, her voice calm but firm. "If you must know, yes, I'm attracted to him. But that doesn't mean I can't keep things professional."
Robert sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Bianca, I get it. Ken's a good guy. The best guy. But he has obligations—to his family, his company, and…" He trailed off, his gaze steady. "…to Imelda. You need to back off before this goes too far."
Bianca stared at him, her heart sinking. She wanted to argue, but his words struck a nerve. Before she could respond, the vendor called her number, giving her an excuse to leave the conversation.
"I've got to go," she said, her voice quieter now.
"Just think about what I said, okay?" Robert called after her.
Bianca simply nods her head. As she walked away, her mind churned with doubts she wasn't ready to face.
---
The next morning, Bianca was still wrestling with the conversation when a sharp knock at her bedroom door startled her. She glanced in the mirror, adjusting her loose pajama top and messy bun before opening it.
"Imelda?" Bianca gasped, her stomach dropping.
Imelda stood in the doorway, her usual polished demeanor giving way to something darker—her lips set in a thin line, her eyes filled with disdain.
"I heard about what happened at the picnic. We need to talk," Imelda said, her voice cold and cutting.