Painted

Chapter 16

A/N: Happy new year everyone! 🎊🥳🥂🎉 May your 2025 be filled with love and laughter and blessings aplenty! Thank you so much for the continued support on my stories 🫶🏻🤗 you guys areeamazing!

Okay, it's time to bring in some drama... Shall we?

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The conference room hummed with low chatter as the team gathered for their weekly meeting at the office space that had recently been set up for the team to work together on a daily basis. The morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting soft light across the polished table. The smell of fresh coffee mingled with the faint aroma of leather notebooks and new paper. It was an ordinary Monday morning, and for once, everything felt… easy.

Sarocha sat at the head of the table, flipping casually through her notes, her posture relaxed. Her black blazer was unbuttoned, and her sharp heels tapped against the floor as she shifted in her chair. She looked like her usual confident self, but her eyes betrayed her distraction. They kept drifting to the woman seated beside her.

Rebecca was scrolling through her tablet, a small furrow between her brows as she reviewed some last-minute updates. Even in the mundane task of preparing for a meeting, there was something captivating about her—a quiet intensity that made Sarocha’s chest tighten.

“You look very serious this morning,” Sarocha teased under her breath, her lips quirking into a half-smile.

Rebecca glanced up, startled at first, but her expression softened when she met Sarocha’s gaze. “Just trying to keep up with you,” she replied, her voice light but tinged with warmth.

Sarocha chuckled, the sound low and intimate. She leaned in slightly, her voice just loud enough for Rebecca to hear. “If this is you trying, I’d hate to see what happens if you stop. You’d put the rest of us to shame.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the faint blush creeping up her neck. “Careful, Sarocha. People might think you’re flirting with me.” Her words were whispered carefully.

“Let them think what they want,” Sarocha shot back, her tone playful, but there was an edge of sincerity in her words.

Their quiet exchange was interrupted by Mr. Watanabe’s arrival. The senior board member’s presence commanded the room instantly, his crisp navy suit and sharp eyes giving off an air of authority. Everyone straightened in their seats as he entered, followed by a woman whose appearance seemed to suck all the air out of the room.

She strode in with an easy confidence, her black blazer tailored to perfection, her hair swept back in a sleek ponytail. Her dark eyes swept the room, sharp yet warm, and she carried an unmistakable charisma that turned heads.

“Good morning, everyone,” Watanabe began, his voice breaking the silence. “Before we dive into today’s agenda, I’d like to introduce someone who will be joining our team moving forward. Things have been moving along well, but for the sake of time constraints and an overload of intense work, we have decided to bring another professional in to assist. Torfan Taweema is one of the brightest young architects in the industry, and I believe her expertise will be a tremendous asset to this project.”

A polite round of applause followed, but Sarocha’s hands stayed firmly clasped on the table. Her eyes seemed perturbed, suspicious even, as they were locked on Torfan, recognition dawning on her. Torfan had worked on a few minor projects with Sarocha before, and though they had gotten along well, her sudden presence set Sarocha's teeth on edge. An unexpected surge of territorialism spread through Sarocha's chest unwittingly.

“Torfan,” Watanabe prompted, stepping aside so she could address the room.

“Thank you, Mr. Watanabe,” Torfan said, her voice smooth and steady. “I’m thrilled to be here and to have the chance to work with such a talented team. I’ve admired the work being done here, and I’m excited to contribute in any way I can.”