Chapter 7 : Two Steps Forward

**Isa

Taking on the Luca Project was exciting. Being entrusted to lead my team and oversee an important client such as Gabriella gave me a real sense of purpose. If I kept making moves forward, I could forget about Thomas and losing my company.

But it wouldn't be enough just to do well; I had to be better.

Callan Arison was expecting me to fail. So obviously, I couldn't.

I heard the rustle of footsteps and suit pants pass by my door and instinctively looked up from my bright computer screen.

I watched as Callan and his assistant passed by. That was, until Callan glanced over at me.

My chest pounded suddenly, and I ducked behind my computer. Just as quickly as I ducked away, I realized there was no reason for me to hide. I straightened back up in my seat just to feel my stomach sink with disappointment when he immediately turned his head away.

I glared towards the sound of his disappearing footsteps and rolled my eyes at myself. Here I was being ridiculous again.

He obviously didn't care to acknowledge our one night of making out and groping each other so why should I?

Resituating my hands back on my keyboard, I made a vow to myself: if Callan Arison was going to pretend that night didn't happen, then so was I.

After all, I couldn't afford to keep getting distracted like this at work. Thinking back to that night, which was weeks ago at this point, was futile. I needed to put all of my attention into my job.

THAT was why I was here.

On top of that, I prided myself on being a professional. Even Thomas and I had rules about being too close or too affectionate at our place of work, especially in front of our subordinates.

I shook my head and forced my eyes back on my computer screen. Today was about spreadsheets and sales and organizing for my first in-person meeting with my newly-acquired client.

***

The team entered the meeting room and already my stomach was in knots.

Most people might assume that knots in your stomach mean that you're nervous, and I supposed that was partially true, but mostly I was excited to get started.

Callan sat at the head of the table, but it was easiest just to pretend that he wasn't there, or that Jeffery was the esteemed CEO there to oversee the first meeting with Gabriella Luca.

We went around introducing everyone. Since the team was made up of people from multiple departments, this was my first time meeting most of them. I only knew Jonas and Callan—well, I only knew Jonas.

Fortunately, the meeting went off without a hitch, and it seemed I lucked out with getting the Luca account. Gabriella was a sweetheart who was really passionate about her designs.

Unfortunately, I was mightily distracted most of the meeting because someone kept staring at me the whole time.

Being under the watchful gaze of the CEO was one thing, but when that CEO had once slipped his tongue between your teeth and massaged your bare breast with his hand, prolonged eye contact was bound to dredge up some discomfort.

Especially when you were reminiscing about the heat of that night while leading an important meeting in front of ten other people.

I was glad that he was the first to leave the room. When he did, I swore the temperature dropped ten degrees.

"Ms. Loveless?"

I swiveled around at my name.

A wise, youthful-looking dark-skinned girl was standing in front of me. I had heard everyone's names at the beginning of the meeting and seen them in emails and on paperwork, but I couldn't recall who this was.

"I'm Myalin Hallbrook," she said, sticking out her slender hand for me to shake.

I smiled. "Yes, the Chief Financial Officer, of course," I said.

Her eyes were bright and dark with a golden ring around her pupil. "It's so nice to finally meet you," she said.

Suddenly, another person appeared behind her. It was a tall man, probably in his late twenties like me. He was quite handsome and thin with naturally-styled blond hair. He smiled, his green eyes crinkling a bit in the corners.

"Oh, and this is David Gilmartin. He just got back from Shanghai earlier today. He's been there acquiring new talent for a couple of positions we have open in our international legal team," Myalin said.

I welcomed him and shook his firm hand, the warmth I'd felt earlier trying to resurface.

Swallowing it down and mentally slapping myself in the forehead, the three of us chatted for a short while before eventually returning back to work.

As I was exiting the room, I slammed into a gray suit. A strong hand connected to a different suit sprung out to catch me and my file of papers.

"Are you okay?" David asked, straightening me. The worry in his eyes was genuine.

A flutter of butterflies danced in my belly. It was like a scene in a movie. Then I glanced at the person I'd hit.

If this was a movie it was a horror movie.

The gray-suited brick I'd slammed into was none other than Mr. Callan Arison. He stared down at me coolly, his face hard as stone.

My stomach sank again.

"Mr. Arison," David said with a polite nod.

I was suddenly aware of his hand still grasping my elbow.

"We shouldn't have met like this again," Callan said, ignoring David and looking straight down at me.

I mindlessly shrugged out of David's grasp and clung the files to my chest. I gulped. Again?

Did that mean…?

"S-sorry," I stammered. I could feel heat rising up in my face, but I couldn't free myself from his sharp eyes.

"Ms. Loveless," Callan said. "Can I have a moment with David? I haven't seen him in a while."

"Yes, we're always running into each other moments after I've gotten off a double-digit hour plane ride," David responded.

Oh, so he wasn't talking to me after all.

I righted myself, shifting my shoulders in my loose-fitting blazer that felt so snug all of a sudden. I cleared my throat. "Of course, by all means," I replied, gesturing between the two of them and walking off.

***

I sat between Myalin and David at the little table in the middle of the bar and grill. This was my first time being invited out after hours by my colleagues. Usually, I was the one doing the inviting.

"What are you drinking, Isa?" Myalin asked. "I'm buying your first round."

"Oh, you don't have to—" I began.

"I'll get the second one," David butted in, resting his elbows on the table. "C'mon, Team Leader, we're celebrating a stressful, but successful, week! Let us treat you."

I let a smile creep across my face. For some reason, over the last few days, David's voice had been exercising my facial muscles. Something about him made me feel relaxed and cheery.

"Fine, fine," I said. "But I only drink the expensive stuff."

Myalin laughed. "Oh, yeah? Like what?"

I glanced down at the drink menu but she slapped her hand over it and squinted her eyes playfully at me.

"You know," I mused, feeling light, "just whatever. Like… chard…"

"How old are you again?" David asked. "Have you ever actually ordered a drink before? Should we get you the child's menu?"

The other members of our team chuckled. The table was a hub of camaraderie, something I didn't quite get a taste of at my last job.

Jonas sat across from me with a smirk, eyeballing me. He had been doing that a lot lately. I wasn't sure what kind of smirk it was, though I guessed by the gears in his eyes that he was planning something, scheming.

"I'll get your third round if you agree to play a game with us," Jonas chirped.

"Truth or Dare is for high schoolers," one of the men teased.

Jonas laughed. "It's not Truth or Dare. It's really not a game. It's more of a… bet."

"What are we betting on?" Myalin asked.

I felt David's hand slide casually on the back of my chair, causing me to straighten up and only half hear Jonas say something about office romances.

I took a sip of my water in an attempt to make myself less… thirsty… and shifted forward in my seat. I leaned forward on my elbows, far enough to keep David out of my peripheral vision.

"You know, statistically speaking, there's probably at least one couple from our office here right now," Jonas said.

"Ooh, who do you think it is?" Myalin asked, nudging me with her shoulder.

I cleared my throat. "I couldn't say, since I'm too new. I don't really know anyone well enough."

"Well, that's okay," Jonas said. "You can take a wild guess. Or you can give us your bet in a couple of weeks. Usually, there's a new office romance—secret or otherwise—by Christmas, no, by Thanksgiving."

"Here's to cuffing season," one of the girls on our team said sarcastically before taking a swig of her drink.

I forced a laugh and leaned back, momentarily forgetting about David's arm until I felt his sleeve brush against the back of my neck.

I flinched, not because of the shiver it sent down my spine, but because of who I saw walking into the bar.

"Well, well, well, look who showed up for drinks for once," David said.