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Chapter 42: Taking a breath
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2026-05-01 14:00:27“Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, concerned tone. He searched her face for any sign of distress, his grip on her hand tightening protectively. “Did you change your mind about tonight?” The afternoon sun caught the messy strand of his black hair as he leaned closer, his icy blue eyes scanning her expression intently. The professional façade he wore so easily had completely disappeared, replaced by the raw vulnerability of a man who had just been given hope only to ha
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Knox was practically vibrating in his chair. “And ah’ll start pullin’ thegither some reference images fer the ‘stormy’ aesthetic. We need mood boards fer the dark lightin’ an aw. It is a whole new chapter.” He glanced at Harper with a grin. “Ye’re stayin’ on the project, right? Ah dinnae want anybody else layin’ their hands on these notes.” Marius looked up from his paper, catching her eye. “She is staying right where she is, Knox. She is too valuable to lose now.” She smiled lightly. “I am not going anywhere,” she said proudly. “Though we should discuss the type of models to use. Knox, you said you wanted curvy, natural beauty models…” Knox’s eyes lit up again, his enthusiasm seemingly bottomless. “Aye! Exactly! Ah want skin that looks real, no plastic. Ah want bodies that tell a story, no just mannequins on a runway. The curves, the texture—it needs
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Harper came into Marius’s office with with three printed and bound documents in her hands. She smiled lightly when she saw Knox. “Morning,” she said in a friendly tone of voice. “Excited for the meeting?” Knox looked up at her, his face brightening instantly. “Harper! The wummin o’ the hour,” he declared, reaching out to take one of the documents with an appreciative flourish. “Ye’re a lifesaver, truly. I dinnae ken how anyone gets by without someone like you keepin’ the wheels turnin’.” He flipped through the first few pages, his eyes darting across the visuals with intense focus. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Ye’ve got impeccable timin’.” Marius leaned back watching the interaction with a small, amused smile. He appreciated how she managed to handle Knox’s high energy without being overwhelmed by it. “She is more that helpful, Knox,” Marius added, gesturing towar
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Harper placed the takeaway coffee cup on Marius desk and said professionally, “I can’t say I know everyone’s names, but I understand my role. I already prepared the proposed budget for Knox’s campaign. Andrew from accounting would like to discuss something and asked for an appointment today.” He leaned back, impressed despite himself. He had not expected much more than a few introductions and some trouble finding the printer, let alone a prepared budget. “You have been busy then,” he said, his yellow green eyes scanning the folder she had placed on his desk. “I like that. Efficiency is exactly what this department needs right now.” He pulled the budget toward him, flipping through the pages with practiced ease. “As for Andrew from accounting– he is always looking for something to discuss. Tell him I can do three o’clock. I want to get through Knox’s briefing first.”Marius looked up from the p
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Marius took the takeaway latte from Tera, the warmth seeping into his palm. “Not much,” he admitted, pulling out his chair and sinking into it. Tera’s gaze lingered on his for a second too long before she straightened up. “This campaign,” Tera started. “Is it going to be a long one?” he took a slow sip of the latte, the caffeine hitting his system with a sharp jolt. He set the cup down on his desk and leaned back, tapping his pen against his chin. “Knox is driving it,” he said, referring to the Scottish designer. “He has got big ideas for this campaign, so it might stretch out longer than we originally planner. He wants to push the boundaries with the visuals.” Tera nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. “Knox. Right. I have heard he can be… demanding.”“You have no idea,” Marius muttered, a faint weary smile tugging at his lips. “But he knows what he wants, and that make
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Oliver reaches the elevator first, pressing the button with a sharp click of his finger. The doors slide open, revealing the polished interior. He steps inside and turns to face Harper, his expression once again a mask of professional calm. But as the elevator begins its ascent, his icy blue eyes catching hers in the mirror, and for a split second, that knowing look is returned. “Let’s see how long that lasts,” he says quietly, the words barely audible over the hum of the elevator. The doors open on the executive floor and he steps out. “I am heading to advertisement,” she said casually. “Have a nice day.” She smiled lightly and pressed the button in the elevator. He watches the elevator doors close on her face, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than a casual glance would require. Then he turns and heads toward his office, his mind already shifting, compartmentalizing the warmth of the morning into a neat drawer to be opened later.
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“You do not normally drive,” Harper comments. “What did you give your driver the day off?” Oliver keeps his icy blue eyes on the road, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel. He does not offer an explanation immediately, his jaw set in that way that suggests he has already decided. “He is off today,” he says simple, his tone matter of fact. “I needed to be in the right headspace for this meeting. Driving myself helps me focus.” He manoeuvres the car through a tight turn, his movements precise and controlled. The silence between them stretches for a moment before he adds, almost as an afterthought. “Besides, I wanted more time with you this morning.” The professional mask slips just enough for that hint of possessiveness to show through, before he quickly corrects his posture and settles back into his quiet, composed self. Her hand rests on his thigh. “It is a nice change of pace,” she said with a bright
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