Claire was inside her Superior's office, handing over the presentation materials. The new project was coming in handy, having everyone on their toes. Everyone except her-the rookie. As far as her job was concerned, nothing good had hit a threshold of joy because none of the tasks given to her screamed an interior designer she aspired to be.

At some point, Claire wanted to snap at Nathan Panther, the head of designing department, but she chose to be patient and maybe he'd soon ask her to join the brainstorming meetings held every morning, through which each member of the two teams would give out suggestions and receive assigned tasks that would decide the theme of the ongoing project.

And maybe, with all luck in the world, today was the day Claire's suffering would end. She badly wanted to believe after completing her research task. Nathan had promised her, after all.

"This is a good material, Levy," Nathan said with a small smile after going through all the trendy designs she'd incorporated into the PowerPoint presentation. He was tall and slim, with fluffy raven hair and gentle dusky eyes. "But I have some bad news for you." His smile faded along his words.

Claire frowned. "What news? Don't tell me I'm sitting this one out because you promised me, Nathan!"

He said he'd let her take part in this project. What a fool she was to believe him!

"That's exactly it," he replied. "Team B is taking this project, so you won't need to join anymore. Sorry, Levy."

"No, you can't be serious." Claire snorted. "I worked my ass off with any weird stuff you and the others kept throwing at me-some you don't even use. Like the fact that Lydia had me pip point the difference between French and English decors only to find the papers crumped on the dustbin an hour after I handed them to her." She was frustrated. "All I want is to finally get out of this boring office and do something out there! Why are you doing this to me? Is it because I'm inexperienced? For God's sake, how will I earn enough experience if I keep being treated like a freshman intern?"

Nathan was sitting at the edge of his office table, listening to her outburst with a look of stupor. "Relax, Claire," he said gently. "I didn't mean to-"

"Yeah, right." Claire nearly rolled her eyes. "You know what? Fine! I'll sit and keep making coffee for you, okay?"

"Can you please let me finish?" Nathan chuckled.

"By all means." Agitated, Claire freed a long breath and folded her arms across her chest.

"Well," Nathan continued, "the only reason why you can't take part in that one is that you've been assigned to a much bigger project."

"W-what?" Slowly, Claire's arms fell off her chest. "I mean...what project?"

"I'm getting there." Nathan stood up from his wheeled office chair and strutted around the table toward Claire. It was a basic guy office, nothing fancy. "It's a very important project from a very important client. Normally I only assign our best designers but I've been told to include you." He casually sat at the edge of his desk, facing eyes fixed on Claire rather intrigued.

Claire's eyebrows drew together, bemused. "Okay, Nathan, now you're leaving me behind." She took a seat and gazed up at him. "What's this new project and who's the client?" she urged.

"The remodelling project of Maryrose street," Nathan answered.

Maryrose street? The name did ring the bell.

"Wait. Is it from the SK group?" Claire asked briskly, recalling Ryan's speech at the gala and the announcement about his next grand housing project.

"Exactly. But how do you know that? I just found out this morning myself," Nathan inquired curiously.

Boy, you don't want to know. Claire thought.

"I... I kinda heard that from my brother who's an architect. Well, it's not important, Nathan," she replied vaguely. "Just tell me more about the project, and who included me." She sat straight, colored intrigued.

"I'm not exactly sure, but it was a direct order from above," he answered simply, still curious. "But maybe you can tell me, Levy."

"Tell you what?" Claire recoiled.

"Who has your back?" Nathan asked teasingly.

He was very friendly to everyone, otherwise, Claire would've felt more cornered and uncomfortable than she was right now.

"You're talking nonsense." She rose to her feet, unable to tell him anything. Ryan Stevens? She questioned herself inwardly, and it was conclusive as to no one else came to mind. "So, who do I ask about the details? You won't be my teammate, right? Aren't you overseeing things with team B?"

"No, no, no, you're stuck with me, I'm afraid. But just so you know, you'll only be an observer, Claire," Nathan said.

"I knew it was too good to be true," Claire murmured under her breath.

"Baby steps." Nathan laughed softly. "As you already know, SK Group is the major shareholder of Starlight. Team A has been working exclusively on the designs for a couple of weeks now-"

"Wait, what? Starlight is partly owned by SK?" Claire was shocked.

"Oh, that wasn't necessary for you to know." Nathan stood upright. "Just get ready, tomorrow you and I will go to SK to do the pitch," Nathan stated.

"Me?" Claire's eyes widened.

"Yes. Nine o'clock sharp," Nathan said.

What kind of game was Ryan playing now? Claire wondered. And he's technically her boss now? Huh, what a joke! She laughed to herself as she exited Nathan's office.

___

The next day Claire woke up quite early and started rummaging through her closet in search of a perfect outfit for the day. She was always careful about what to wear, but for some reason, she wanted to look her best this morning.

She went on with a white, button-up chiffon blouse and a black, thigh-length umbrella skirt. Professional and elegant. An hour passed and she was ready. Hurriedly, she snatched a handbag and some documents she'd been working on last night.

Outside she found Jorge climbing into his car and he kindly offered to give her a ride. She obliged without fretting; by now she and Jorge were warming up to one another, so it wasn't as hard as before to tolerate each other for a short while.

"Why don't you take one of the cars? You always ride a cab," Jorge asked as they left the house.

"I don't know. Maybe I love the fact that I get time to relax while someone else drives?" Claire smiled at him. "And I think my license has expired," she muttered truthfully.

"Expired? That's... Interesting." Jeorg grinned. "Well, I think having a car is a necessity now that you're working."

They slipped into a car and their ride commenced. Between speaking about work and a little bit of a favor Claire had to ask on behalf of Gena, the two found themselves in a conversion somehow until they reached Starlight.

"Thanks, Jorge," Claire whispered.

"Don't mention. Have a nice day," he returned with a small smile.

Once in the office, Claire headed immediately to see Nathan for their upcoming appointment at SK headquarters. The whole thing kept driving her nuts, but she knew she had to be brave and do her job.

Ryan or not, her professional life was all that mattered right now.

"Oh, you look great, Levy." Nathan flushed upon seeing her approaching his office.

"Thanks, Nathan. I hope there's no last-minute change," Claire teased but meant it.

He chuckled. "Not at all, ma'am, relax. We're leaving soon, and just a reminder, you're only going to observe." He was packing some files into the wooden, wall-installed cabinet.

"I know, Nathan, you don't have to rub it to my face." Claire rolled her eyes.

By ten in the morning, the two were already at SK headquarters, a long silver-grey skyscraper engraved with the bold SK sign. They approached the reception desk to confirm their appointment, which was only several minutes due.

"We're from Starlight," said Nathan to a pretty receptionist lady.

Claire wandered her eyes around, admiring the huge and fancy lobby accented with a few plants and shiny decors along with a seating lounge. A few people with employee badges kept walking in a hurry, filling the space with the continuous click of high heels and loafers, and other shoes.

The receptionist made a call and after a while, she flashed them a smile while saying, "24th floor, there's a hall on the left and you'll find a conference room."

"Thanks," Nathan returned with his best smile.

Inside the elevator is where Claire's heart began pounding heavily against her chest. Was she nervous? Maybe a little. She had no idea how this morning was going to end, in case Ryan was really behind her involvement in this grand project.

She braced the straps of her red handbag as though her life depended on it while checking her black platforms that started to sting her feet-quite unusual. Perhaps from the anxiety... or not? She found herself blowing out some air.

"You okay, Levy?" Nathan asked, a little concerned.

"Yeah, I'm good," Claire lied.

Finally, the elevator doors split open and revealed a very quiet floor with a neat hallway. They took a left side and immediately reached the large conference room that seemed unoccupied at the moment.

And that's when Doris appeared, and Claire couldn't contain the shock. What the actual fuck! Was she working for Ryan as well? A million questions surged into Claire's brain and the more seconds flew by, the more she hated this ugly impromptu.

"Sorry, did you wait long?" Doris asked while putting her things on a large table that contained bottles of drinking water on each seat.

"Not at all," Nathan replied, and Doris walked over towards him.

"I'm Doris Marcos. Director of Public Relations." She shook Nathan's hand.

"Nathan Panther," he replied, "the head of designing department. Unfortunately, our chief designer had a family emergency so she can't join us."

Claire was relieved by this. She hated Lydia Gomez and she had valid reasons.

That woman had been making her work life miserable.

"As long as it doesn't ruin the pitch," Doris replied and then turned towards Claire. "I didn't know you work at Starlight. What a coincidence, huh?" she said, and there was a little bit of sarcasm hanging in her final remark.

Claire couldn't care less; she was only surprised. So Ryan worked with his girlfriend in the same office? It was a lot to take it in but she chose to stay poised.

"I know, right?" She forged a smile as her eyes met Doris'.

Recalling that she had slept with her boyfriend made her heart stung with discomfort. Fucking awkward! She hated it.

"There is our refreshment counter over there in case you need it ?" Doris offered, pointing at the coffee and tea dispenser, beside which lay a variety of pastries and bites. "Our meeting will begging at" - she cast a glance at her silver watch-"ten. Feel free to get your gear ready."

"Thanks." Nathan smiled gently.

Ryan, Harry, and the other three men entered the room a few minutes later, all dressed up in pristine formal suits. Harry smiled subtly at Claire, surprised. As for Ryan, he was indifferent. He took a seat across from her, his eyes gleaming with an indescribable gleam.

Her heart skipped several beats and so many emotions burst through her.

The pitch presentation started upon Ryan's go-ahead. He didn't bother with introductions. Nathan began explaining the slides on the projector, during which Ryan's eyes were equally divided between Claire and the screen.

Could time go any slower? Claire despised his guts.

When Nathan was done with the presentation, everyone was nodding in agreement while exchanging words-everyone but Ryan Stevens whose eyes were now on the projector, wearing an unimpressed look. He seemed to be thinking, and Claire wanted so badly to know what was on his mind at this particular moment.

And that's when he said, "I don't like it," with a crispy, frank voice.

"Excuse me?" Nathan prompted.

All eyes in the room turned toward Ryan, baffled.

"I thought it was great," said Doris, looking at Ryan with a bemused smile. "I like the designs. They are cheeky and trendy," she added.

"And mundane. Not what I envisioned," Ryan said while tapping his long firm fingers on the marble surface of the table.

"What?" Doris shrieked back.

Why wasn't she surprised? Claire shifted her eyes toward the last slide on the projector and saying that she wasn't truly impressed was an understatement. Yes, the designs were cheeky, as Doris said, but it's as though they were taken straight from some pages on Pinterest.

Okay, maybe was being judgy, hence she chose to be an observer and listener.

"That's not exactly what I would define as fancy in my opinion and I'm putting a huge budget to be distinct from the rest," Ryan said as he sat straight, seeming decided.

Swallowing hard, Nathan looked a bit taken aback, and Claire felt the need to intervene even though she barely understood this client's design objectives. And that was the most important aspect to her-making sure her vision matched Ryan's as the person in need.

"What is it that you don't like, Mr. Stevens?" she asked, and immediately the attention was hers hugely. "You wanted something luxurious and that's exactly what was prepared."

"Is it?" Ryan tagged, serious in manners, but Claire wasn't going to let him intimidate her even though it wasn't easy not to fray under his scrutiny.

"Maybe not. We all have different perceptions after all." She stood up, suddenly confident, and took small steps around the table without breaking an eye from his strong gaze.

"So tell us, Mr. Stevens... What is it that you have envisioned for the interiors of your grand condominiums?" She faced him, eager to understand him despite the unquenched third for a challenge that seared through her.

Ryan smirked, amusement evident on his relaxed face. This was fun.

"What does "fancy" mean to you, Ms. Levy? Or better yet, what do you term luxurious in your eyes?" he asked her with a lopsided smile, rearing himself against the backrest of his chair.

There was a stiff tension in the room, and only God knew that it was beyond the design and work matters as far as Mr. Stevens and Ms. Levy were concerned.

"To me, it means... taste, uniqueness, and timeliness," Claire answered confidently, making Ryan lift an amused eyebrow in a rather impressed manner. "It has to be something I can easily consider paying a fortune for, not because I can, but rather because it completes me, and also compliments my taste, making me feel distinguished," she added, unsure whether she was doing the right thing speaking her mind or nor.

Damn you, Ryan Stevens!

"Well said, Ms. Levy." Ryan smiled sinisterly, and then pulled himself forward to catch a closer look at her. "Now tell me, as a designer yourself, and not as an employee of Starlight, are you okay with the designs you've just pitched to us? Can you actually advise me to go on with it?"

Jerk! Claire cursed inwardly.

She knew almost perfectly where Ryan's concerns lay. She had the same thoughts as him, from the beginning of the presentation to the end. Simply and clearly, she didn't like the designs.

However, she couldn't stop feeling like he was challenging her on purpose.

With a sigh and a little bit of thinking, Claire stared at the projector and the contents displayed, and then at Nathan who, with a gentle nod, beckoned her to say whatever she had in her mind.

__________

A/N: Do you think Ryan was responsible for Claire's participation in the project? How would you feel if someone pulls such a string on you at your work place?

Feel free to voice your opinion, and thank you for reading this crazy story.