Meant to Collide

11. Unbroken Will and Veiled Intentions

The sun rose brightly, casting a cheerful warmth over the morning as Ryan and Ava huddled together, laughing uncontrollably at a video of Sophie drunkenly fumbling her way through the night. Their laughter echoed through the room, but their amusement quickly turned to surprise as Sophie, eyes blazing with fury, stormed in from behind them, yanking the phone out of Ryan's hands. In one swift move, she deleted the video, glaring at them.

Ryan, still grinning mischievously, teased, "I bet we could capture an even better one the next time you're drunk!" Ava joined in, their laughter filling the air again, while Sophie scowled at them both, shaking her head in disbelief.

At the same time, in stark contrast to the light-hearted scene, Jules sat silently at her desk, her vibrant outfit—a pink overcoat, a checked shirt in blue and pink, and white pants—seeming to declare a confidence that her demeanor didn't reflect. Sophie approached her with a quick update, "I've sent the documents to the boss. You'll have to present them later."

Ava chimed in, "Unity Soft is in your hands, Jules! Good luck!" Her cheerfulness was contagious, but Ryan, ever the realist, cautioned, "That's if she gets the boss's approval. Nothing's guaranteed."

Just then, Ava's desk phone rang. She picked it up, her face falling as she listened. She turned to Jules and said, "The boss just called... he wants to know if you're presenting now or never."

The room buzzed with hurried encouragement as everyone rallied around Jules, wishing her luck. Time seemed to slow as the ticking of Sky's office clock reverberated in her mind. Inside the cabin, Sky reviewed Jules' ideas with a blank expression, his piercing gaze locked on the screen. Jules, feeling the weight of his silence, sat across from him, trying to gauge his thoughts.

After a long pause, Sky sighed, "Hmm... it's not good. Do it again."

Jules, feeling deflated but resolute, left the cabin, mumbling a quiet, "Understood." When she returned with revisions, Sky barely looked up before saying, "Is this all you've got? It doesn't wow me. Do it again." His dismissive wave sent her back to her desk, determination mixed with frustration bubbling within her.

The hours dragged on, afternoon sun casting long shadows as Sky paced around Jules' desk during her third attempt. Folding his arms, he mused, "It's good... but I need more. I want to be wowed." His sharp tone made Jules hesitate. Sensing her struggle, he turned on his smart TV, scrolling to Unity Soft's page.

Jules, weary but persistent, asked, "Could you be more specific about what you like? What type of content do you prefer? It's hard to read your feedback. Or... is this because of last night?" she ventured cautiously.

Sky's eyes flicked to her, confusion in his gaze. "What about last night?" Jules swallowed hard, regretting her words. Sky leaned back, his expression growing stern. "Why do kids these days lack patience? Are you so easily discouraged by rejection?"

Jules shook her head, fighting to keep her composure. "I'm not discouraged—"

Sky cut her off, "Nothing worth having comes easy. If you want to be better than everyone else, you need to work harder." His words were a sharp reminder of the uphill battle she faced.

Jules, smiling through her frustration, replied, "I've worked hard to get this far."

"Then work harder," Sky shot back, waving her off once more. As she walked away, Sky stared out the window, his mind drifting to a promise he made long ago. He could almost hear his grandmother's voice in his head, challenging him, "Let's see if you can keep your word." Sky muttered to himself, "I'll make sure this company is safe."

Back at her desk, Jules rejoined her colleagues, their eyes filled with concern as they pretended to work. Ava, from her desk across from Jules, sent a signal asking if all was well. Jules shook her head, and Ava, never one to mince words, commented, "It's like you're being sent to death row and resurrected over and over."

Ryan, always with a joke at the ready, slinked over, holding a piece of paper. "How about you give him this? It'll get you approval at lightning speed."

Jules looked at the paper, curiosity piqued. "What is it?" she asked.

Ryan smirked. "A resignation letter." His laugh echoed, but the others quickly shushed him. Despite her exhaustion, Jules chuckled.

But there was no quitting. Not for Jules. "No, I'm absolutely not giving up," she declared, steeling herself. "I'll try even harder."

As the day wore on and the office emptied, Jules was left alone, the soft glow of her desk lamp illuminating her workspace. Sipping her coffee, she worked tirelessly, determined to find that elusive wow factor Sky demanded. Finally, she packed up her things, pink laptop bag slung over her shoulder, and headed for the door.

Just as she was about to leave, she noticed a light still on in Sky's office. "He's still here?" she muttered to herself. Curious, she approached the door and peered inside, only to see Sky clutching his head, collapsing onto the floor, half-conscious.

Panicked, Jules rushed in, helping him to the sofa. "Sky! Sky, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. He waved weakly towards his black bag, indicating his phone. Jules grabbed it, quickly dialing his last contact—Mia.

Meanwhile, across town, Mia sat in a fairly lit cabin, engaged in conversation with a mysterious man, elegant yet undeniably enigmatic. "So," the man drawled, "besides launching a new social media platform, does Unity Soft have anything else up its sleeve?"

Mia smiled coyly. "I've been thinking about branching into event planning. It's been on the table for ages." Charles, the man sitting opposite her, raised an eyebrow. "I thought your partner had no interest in that? Has he changed his mind, or is this a one-sided decision?"

Before Mia could respond, her phone buzzed on the table. Charles gave a sly smile. "Go on, pick it up. It seems urgent."

Mia glanced at the screen, seeing Sky's name. Something was wrong. With a quiet nod, she excused herself, stepping into the cool night, dread curling through her thoughts as she answered the call.