From Frost to Flame

Chapter 20: A Welcome Break

The alarm buzzed early, pulling Pete from his sleep. He groggily turned it off and sat up, stretching his arms above his head. The morning light filtered through his curtains, casting a soft glow over his room. With a sigh, Pete swung his legs off the bed and stood up, still half-dazed.

First, he made his way to the bathroom, the cold tiles a shock to his bare feet. The mirror reflected a slightly disheveled version of himself. With a quick, resigned smile, Pete turned on the shower. The hot water quickly enveloped him, steam rising around him as he closed his eyes for a moment of calm. He shampooed and scrubbed, allowing the warm water to wake him up completely. When he stepped out, he towel-dried his hair and threw on a simple outfit: a fitted shirt and dark trousers, ready to tackle another day.

After a quick breakfast of toast and coffee, Pete grabbed his bag, made sure to pack his documents, and headed out the door. Porsche had messaged him earlier, letting him know he'd be caught up with work and wouldn't be able to pick him up today. So, Pete left a bit earlier than usual to catch a bus.

The bus ride felt long, but at least it gave Pete time to prepare himself for the day. By 9:45 AM, he stepped off the bus and walked into the building, feeling the familiar buzz of the office around him.

He made his way up to the design department and greeted everyone along the way. The usual introductions, handshakes, and smiles filled the air. He settled in at his desk, trying to shake off the little bit of nervousness that always seemed to linger in the mornings.

Just then, Lena entered the room, her presence commanding attention. She was dressed as usual—sharp, professional, and focused. She walked up to Pete and Sky, her tone serious yet warm.

"Alright, Pete, Sky," Lena began, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Today, I'm assigning both of you to an important new project. We're working on designing a new resort, and it's going to require a lot of creativity and effort from everyone involved."

Pete and Sky nodded, paying attention to every word Lena said.

As you'll be working closely together, you'll assist with the initial design concepts, planning layouts, and bringing ideas to the table. You'll be collaborating with the rest of the team as we go through the brainstorming stages."

Lena glanced over at the senior designers, who were already moving forward with their tasks. "Matt, Sarah, and Jake will guide you through the process and help you as you begin work. You'll need to be proactive and communicate with them frequently."

Pete and Sky exchanged looks, understanding the responsibility now resting on their shoulders.

After Lena's instructions, they settled into their work, listening to the seniors and starting to sketch out their ideas for the resort. It wasn't long before the new project started taking shape, and Pete found himself feeling more confident as he dived into the design work. Sky seemed to be on the same page, bouncing ideas off each other and collaborating easily.

Pete and Sky dove headfirst into their new project. The resort design was ambitious, and Pete quickly realized how much responsibility had been placed on their shoulders.

They started by brainstorming ideas with the senior designers. Pete was impressed by how quickly the team got to work, their creative juices flowing freely as they tossed around ideas for the new resort. Matt was especially vocal, suggesting bold concepts for the resort's exterior, while Sarah focused on functionality and user experience, offering feedback that Pete immediately found valuable. Jake, the quiet one, occasionally chimed in with subtle yet genius suggestions, keeping things balanced.

Despite the complexity of the project, Pete felt energized. This was the kind of work he'd been hoping to do—designing something that would eventually become a reality, something that would leave an impression.