By the middle of the week,i could feel Casa Thorn breathing around me. Not like literally but the office had a pulse. People moved with purpose.
Conversations stopped when i walked by then quietly started again. Every look felt heavier,like someone was watching not because they were curious but like they were counting or thinking.
I told myself it was nothing. But i couldn't shake the feeling that everything had changed.
I buried myself in work,campaign drafts,media plans,brand meetings.
I got in early,stayed late
And just enough times in meetings. Let my work talk. But no matter how much i focused I couldn't ignore Alex in the back of my head. Not all the time,not obvious,just little sparks that made me alert careful aware.
The moment I really noticed it was in a meeting. The senior creative director Mr Caldwell leaned forward tapping his pen on the table. He looked calm but his eyes were sharp and it made my stomach flip.
"I'm not sure this fits the brand tone" he said flipping through my slides.
"It feels… softer than usual,Casa Thorn doesn't just invite it demands attention. Why this way?"
My fingers moved nervously on the table. Everyone was looking at me,waiting, some curious some were unsure.
My mouth opened and closed like a fish, brain racing.
Then Alex's voice cut in calm sure. "It does"
I froze. The room went really quiet like you could feel it pressing on your chest. "She explained why" he said. That was it. No praise, no nod, just enough to settle it.
I took a deep breath and spoke. "I wanted the campaign to feel aspirational but also inviting. Its about making people want it without making them feel small. Casa Thorn inspires confidence but we want them to see themselves in the story. Elegance shouldn't feel far away, it should feel possible but still special"
Caldwell stared at me then back at the slides. "Huh. You really thought about this. Different but… i get it. Could work if done right."
Relief flickered but i still felt tense. It wasn't just a talk it was a test. And i had passed a little.
Later Monica leaned over by the coffee machine. "Did you do something to get him on your side already?" she said teasing.
"I… just did my job" i said small.
Her grin didn't fade. "Well maybe thats enough" she whispered patting my shoulder before walking off.
Mid afternoon,Marcus came to my desk. "You'll be at the brand review next week" he said casual.
"Next week? Already?" i said.
He shrugged "Alex requested it"
I swallowed. "Should i prep anything special?"
"Just be sharp,professional" he said and walked off leaving me thinking Professional,focused,observed.
I stayed late finishing notes arranging files. Office quiet almost empty. Lights dimmed, computers hum soft. Only a few cleaners moving slow.
I paused by the glass walls of the executive offices. Through the polished panels I saw him. Alex,jacket off,sleeves rolled working at his desk.
Our eyes met for a fraction of a second. No smile,no hello,just aware. Like he saw me and i saw him. My pulse jumped,stomach tight.
I looked away first. My heart didn't.
Elevator ride down felt slow unreal. My reflection staring back calm composed controlled. Inside i wasn't.
I hadn't done anything wrong. Not crossed any line. I just… got noticed. And that was enough to feel exposed. Seen. Measured.
At home I lay awake. Not scared not really. Just aware.
He didn't have to say anything. He didn't have to move or smile. Every glance, every nod, every quiet look said one thing: Alex notices,he measures,he chooses.
And deep down I knew i had been chosen. Even if i wasn't ready to say what that meant.