The following weeks after Thanksgiving had been a whirlwind for Nina, and not in the good way. Between the mounting pressure at work and the constant tension with Lukas and Macey, she was barely keeping her head above water. Despite all that, there were bright spots—like Mrs. Greene's encouraging words about her future at Starlight Magazine—but even that came with its own challenges.
It was a cold December afternoon when Nina found herself sitting across from Stella in a quiet café, both of them wrapped in layers against the chilly autumn breeze. They had met for coffee after work, a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos. The café was cozy, warm, with fogged-up windows and soft jazz playing in the background.
Stella took a sip of her chai latte, then leaned back in her chair with a sigh. "I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want, you know? Like, from life."
Nina looked up, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "Really? What brought that on?"
Stella shrugged, twirling the spoon in her cup. "I don't know. Maybe watching you work so hard and seeing how much you're growing at the magazine. It's making me realize I've been kind of... coasting."
"You? Coasting?" Nina laughed softly. "You're like the most driven person I know."
Stella smiled but shook her head. "I mean, I'm good at what I do, but I don't know if I'm passionate about it. Not like you are with writing. I guess... I'm just wondering if I'm in the right place."
Nina nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. "I get that. I've been feeling a lot of pressure at work too. I'm starting to wonder if I'm ready for all these expectations Mrs. Greene has for me."
Stella raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? You're basically her star player. If anyone's ready, it's you."
"Yeah, but the higher I climb, the harder it is to balance everything else," Nina admitted, her voice dropping. "Especially with Lukas and Macey back together."
Stella winced, understanding exactly what Nina meant. "That's tough. I don't know how you manage seeing them all the time."
Nina gave a small shrug, attempting nonchalance, though it didn't quite work. "It's been... complicated."
Stella reached out and squeezed her hand. "You're stronger than you think. But hey, enough about them. Let's talk about something less depressing."
Nina smiled, grateful for Stella's friendship and how she always knew how to lighten the mood.
____________________________
Today, Nina was meeting Mrs. Greene for a lunch meeting to discuss the future of the magazine. She made her way into the cozy bistro, greeted by the comforting scent of freshly baked bread and coffee. Mrs. Greene was already seated, flipping through the latest issue with a satisfied smile.
"Nina, darling," Mrs. Greene greeted warmly as she motioned for her to sit. "You've been doing phenomenal work lately. I have to say, I haven't been this excited about the direction of the magazine in years."
Nina smiled, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "Thank you, Mrs. Greene. I've been trying my best to push some new ideas forward."
Mrs. Greene leaned forward slightly, her expression thoughtful. "I've been thinking about the future, and I see you as a big part of it, Nina. You have leadership qualities that this place needs. I want you to start thinking about the role you'll play here long-term."
Nina's breath caught in her throat. Mrs. Greene had hinted at this before, but now it felt real. "I... I don't know what to say," Nina stammered.
"Don't say anything yet. Just think about it," Mrs. Greene smiled warmly. "But I see you taking on more of a managerial role here. You have the vision, and the team could really benefit from your leadership."
YOU ARE READING
Late to Love
Roman d'amourLukas and Nina have been friends since school, always sharing a close bond that carried them through the years. Now in their late twenties, they both work at a magazine publishing company. Lukas as an editor and Nina as a creative director. Over t...
