The Catalyst Marketing office had just begun to settle into its usual rhythm when Claire Turner barged through the door, as if she were stepping onto a red carpet. Her dramatic entrance immediately cut through the mundane clatter of keyboards and the hum of coffee machines, forcing everyone to look up. Priya, who had been deep into an email chain with a difficult client, blinked twice at the sight of Claire. She wasn't just any ordinary guest—she was a force of nature. With her bright red blazer and carefully curated wild curls, Claire looked like she'd stepped out of a high-end fashion magazine. She flashed a smile at everyone in the room, sending a wave of playful energy through the office.
Liam, who had been aimlessly scrolling through his phone, turned and whispered to Priya, "Is that Ryan's sister?"
Priya glanced up, intrigued. "I think it is… but she's like a more chaotic version of him, right?"
Liam chuckled. "Yeah, he's serious and calculated, and she's like the hurricane that takes all his plans down with it."
The rest of the office seemed to collectively exhale as Claire's presence took over. With an air of confident authority, she placed two glossy portfolios down on the reception desk and called out in her usual, bold tone, "Hello, Catalyst!"
Ryan, emerging from his office at the back, winced as the sound of her voice filled the room. "Claire, please, we talked about this—no more surprise visits."
Claire grinned mischievously. "Oh, relax, big brother. I'm here to talk business." She made a dramatic show of crossing the office and brushing past him, tossing her hair with a flourish.
"I'm not sure 'business' and 'you' even go together in the same sentence," Ryan said dryly, folding his arms and eyeing her with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Claire raised an eyebrow at him. "That's because you haven't seen the big picture yet. But I'm about to change that."
Maya, who had been watching this exchange quietly, shifted in her seat as she caught Claire's gaze. Claire's eyes lingered on her for just a second longer than necessary, giving Maya the unmistakable feeling that she had been sized up. "Maya! Just the person I wanted to see. You'll love this."
Maya gave a polite smile nod.
"Good," Claire said, nodding approvingly. "I like people who actually get things done around here. Ryan can get bogged down in the details. But you—" she paused, her eyes twinkling. "I'm guessing you know how to see the big picture."
Maya couldn't help but feel a little flustered, especially with Claire's attention so firmly on her. Ryan, noticing the exchange, quickly interjected. "We've all got our strengths, Claire."
Claire winked at him. "I'm sure you do, Ryan. I'll just take over the rest."
Ryan rolled his eyes but didn't argue. "What do you want, Claire?"
Claire said, turning to him with a winning smile, "I want Catalyst to partner with me. You handle the marketing; I'll handle the creative genius. It's a win-win."
The room fell silent for a moment. Then Priya leaned toward Maya and whispered, "Does she think we're Vogue?"
Maya stifled a laugh and glanced at Ryan, whose expression suggested he was deeply regretting every decision that had led to this moment.
"I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice dripping with skepticism. "You want my team to drop everything and work on your pet project?"
"Not drop everything," Claire said with a wave of her hand. "Just... prioritize it."
Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Claire—"
Claire put her hands on her hips. "I'm launching Vivienne Verde, a luxury eco-friendly lifestyle brand. I need Catalyst to handle the marketing. You guys are the best in the business, and frankly, I can't think of anyone else to do it."
The room fell into silence for a moment, the weight of Claire's words hanging in the air. Priya exchanged a quick glance with Liam. "Wait, hold up. A luxury eco-friendly brand?" she asked, sounding both intrigued and cautious.
"Yes!" Claire exclaimed, her hands gesturing excitedly. "It's not just a brand; it's a movement. I'm making eco-luxury the next big thing. I want to take Vivienne Verde global. And who better to help me than you guys?"
Ryan sighed and walked over to his desk, clearly conflicted. "We've got enough on our plate already, Claire. Are you sure you want us to drop everything for your pet project?"
"Oh, it's not a pet project," Claire retorted. "It's a revolution. But hey, if you don't want to be part of it, that's fine. I'll just go somewhere else."
Ryan shot her a skeptical look. "You think it's that simple?"
"Of course! You owe me," Claire replied with a grin, one that suggested she was used to getting what she wanted.
Ryan opened his mouth to argue but was cut off by Claire's sudden, theatrical gesture. "But enough about me. Let's talk about the campaign! We'll need a whole team of creatives to make this work."
As the team started brainstorming ideas in their conference room, Claire's wild energy filled every corner. "What if we made the campaign... French?" she suddenly asked, waving her hand as if it were the simplest idea in the world. "French is chic, right? We'll create a whole French vibe—classy, sexy, and effortlessly stylish. Think Parisian rooftops, romantic dinners, designer clothes... and then—bam!—suddenly, luxury meets sustainability."
Priya raised an eyebrow. "French? Like, the whole aesthetic?"
"Exactly!" Claire said, grinning. "Why not? We'll throw in some vintage French films, a few chic models, and call it a day. It'll be fabulous."
Ryan, who had been lurking by the door, groaned. "Please don't tell me you're serious. French is not the answer for everything."
Liam, ever the optimist, chuckled. "I don't know... croissants, berets, and Paris? It's got potential."
Claire beamed. "Exactly. See, Liam gets it."
But Ryan wasn't convinced. "You can't just throw a French filter on an eco-brand and call it genius, Claire."
"Oh, I can," she shot back with a wink, "and I will."
Claire's antics were starting to get under Ryan's skin, but it didn't take long before she introduced her next wild idea. A few days later, Claire walked in with a tall, impeccably dressed Frenchman in tow. He had tousled dark hair, a deep voice, and an effortless, almost intimidating charisma.
"Everyone, meet Jacques," Claire announced, her voice full of pride. "He's our French consultant. He'll be helping us with the French aesthetic. Jacques, meet the Catalyst team."
Jacques flashed a dazzling smile as he shook hands with everyone in the room. His accent was thick and smooth, and Maya couldn't help but notice how his eyes lingered on her a little longer than necessary.
"Enchanté," Jacques said, his voice dripping with charm. "It is a pleasure to be here."
Priya leaned over to Liam, a playful grin forming on her face. "Are we supposed to be taking notes or just trying not to melt in front of him?"
Liam winked. "Both, probably."
Claire, clearly thrilled with herself, took a moment to enjoy the chaos she had unleashed. "We're going to need Jacques to help bring the 'French' to life. But don't worry, you'll still get your hands dirty. It'll be a team effort."
As Jacques began discussing potential photoshoots in Paris and elaborate branding strategies, Ryan's sarcasm was in full swing "Because nothing screams eco-friendly like flying a consultant halfway across the world," he said dryly, crossing his arms.
Claire placed a hand on her chest, feigning mock hurt. "Ryan, darling," she teased, "your lack of vision astounds me."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Oh, I have vision. But apparently not when it comes to spending unnecessary money."
Maya couldn't help but smile at the banter. Claire's antics seemed to push Ryan's buttons in a way no one else could.
Meanwhile, Priya and Liam were having their own little moment in the back of the room. Priya, who had been obsessively doodling something on a piece of scrap paper, suddenly burst out, "What if we made the eco-friendly aspect the focal point of the French campaign? Like, a beautiful, lush Parisian garden with an extravagant eco-friendly dinner party in the middle?"
Liam raised an eyebrow. "A dinner party? Is this a fashion brand or an invitation to a French romance novel?"
Priya shot him a look. "You're the one who likes croissants. I'm just running with the theme."
The banter between the two was a welcome distraction, and as the group continued to brainstorm, Claire's playfulness remained a constant thread throughout the meeting. But the most unexpected moment came when Jacques turned his attention back to Maya. "You have a certain... how do I say it... style," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Perhaps you should be the face of Vivienne Verde?"
Maya blinked, a little taken aback. "Me? I'm just here for the marketing strategy."
Claire caught her eye and winked. "Oh, don't be shy, Maya. Jacques isn't wrong. You'd look amazing in the campaign. It'll be a new career move."
Ryan, who had been silently observing, couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Don't let Claire talk you into that, Maya. She'd have you posing with a croissant in no time."
Maya chuckled, but part of her wondered if Claire was onto something. The teasing felt lighthearted, but there was something oddly genuine about the idea.
As the days passed and the campaign continued to take shape, Claire's antics became even more outrageous. She sent out press releases before they were finalized, started posting sneak peeks of the brand on Instagram with no consultation, and even organized a "pop-up" event in Paris—all on her own.
One afternoon, Ryan stormed into the office, his face flushed with frustration. "Claire," he said, his voice tight, "you just launched the brand without any approval from the team. What the hell?"
Claire, sitting in her chair with a cappuccino in hand, didn't even look up. "Oh, calm down, Ryan. It's just a soft launch. Builds anticipation."
Ryan stood frozen for a moment, trying to process the chaos. "You can't just do whatever you want. We're supposed to be a team."
Claire glanced at him, her expression softening just a little. "I know. But sometimes, you have to take risks. Trust me."
Despite his irritation, Ryan's expression softened as he looked at her. "Just... don't go too far ahead of us."
Claire grinned mischievously. "Can't help it. The world waits for no one."
Later that day, Maya found herself alone in the conference room, sketching ideas for the campaign when Ryan popped in, his sleeves rolled up, tie loosened. "Burning the midnight oil?" he asked casually, leaning against the doorframe.
"Just trying to nail down a few concepts," Maya replied, not looking up from her sketches.
Ryan stepped closer, glancing at her work. "Claire would love these. She'll probably take all the credit."
Maya laughed. "As long as the campaign works, I don't mind."
Ryan hesitated for a moment before responding. "You should mind. You've worked hard on this."
Maya looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. For a brief moment, it felt like the walls between them had shifted, but before she could process it, Ryan cleared his throat and added, "Don't stay too late. We need you sharp tomorrow."
As he left, Maya found herself thinking about that fleeting moment. There was more to Ryan than she had ever realized—something human, something not so detached.