Chapter 3 the Third chapter

Alexa's POV

The office buzzed with the low hum of productivity as I reluctantly settled into my seat across from Steve, Dad said it was only going to be a short while but here we are.

His mere presence grated on my nerves, and the air between us seemed to crackle with unspoken animosity. As much as I tried to focus on the task at hand, every keystroke felt like a reminder of the brewing storm within me.

Steve's eyes, sharp and unwavering, met mine briefly before he shifted his attention back to the screen. I could practically feel the weight of his judgment, a constant reminder that we were far from allies.

I sighed, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes as I scanned through the documents on my screen. The sooner we got this over with, the better.

"Let's just get through this without tearing each other apart," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to Steve.

He smirked a barely noticeable twitch at the corner of his lips.

"I make no promises. Just try to keep up, Alexa."

His condescending tone irked me, but I bit back a retort. This project was a necessary evil and wasting time on petty arguments would not get us anywhere. I focused on the words on my screen, determined to prove that I could be professional, even in the presence of my nemesis.

As we delved into the details of the documents, our exchanges became a series of tense negotiations. Each suggestion was met with scepticism, every decision was analysed and critiqued. The constant back-and-forth was draining, and I could not shake the feeling that Steve was deliberately making this process more difficult than it needed to be.

Hours passed in this push-and-pull, a dance of collaboration and conflict. We argued about everything, from the colour scheme of the presentation to the wording of each paragraph.

Steve leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in contemplation. "You know, Alexa, as much as I despise working with you, there's a twisted kind of satisfaction in seeing our minds clash like this."

I scoffed, not willing to let him think for a moment that I agreed with him. "Satisfaction? More like a headache."

But his words lingered, and I found myself pondering the strange dynamics at play. Perhaps there was something oddly invigorating about the challenge he presented.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow across the office, our progress became more tangible. The documents began to take shape, a testament to our begrudging ability to find common ground amid the chaos. It was a revelation, a begrudging acknowledgment that, despite our differences, we were creating something noteworthy together.

Amid a particularly heated debate over the project's conclusion, I caught a glimpse of a genuine smile on Steve's face. It was fleeting, quickly replaced by his usual mask of indifference.

With the final touches in place, we both leaned back in our chairs, the weight of the completed project settling over us. A strange sense of accomplishment mingled with the lingering tension, creating an atmosphere that was both charged and oddly satisfying.

The board meeting was in an hour - after lunch - and I was hungry and needed a refill after our little exhausting episode and I thought 'Since there's an extra human here, why not just be nice, right?'

"I'm heading out to get lunch, do you need anything?"

The devil looked up at me from his phone after a long second and said nothing, then went back to whatever he was doing. Really?! Am I that insignificant?

You know I was starting to feel bad for what I did to him the other day but at this point, serves him right, I humped and walked out of the office.

The conference room was a sterile sea of Gray, As I settled into my seat, I could not escape the proximity of Steve, who, despite the neutral expression he wore, seemed to radiate an intensity that matched the sterile environment.

The room buzzed with small talk as colleagues filed in. When everyone was settled in Steve stood up from his seat and the room quieted down. The agenda unfolded, and with each item discussed, Steve, ever the eloquent speaker, presented everything with a level of confidence that bordered on arrogance. As he spoke, I could not help but notice the subtle way he highlighted my contributions, a surprising deviation from his usual dismissive attitude.

I found myself caught between begrudging acknowledgment and lingering suspicion. Was he genuinely recognizing my efforts, or was this another layer of the mind games he seemed to revel in? Regardless, the acknowledgment stoked a flicker of satisfaction within me, a sense of validation that I was loath to admit.

As the board dissected our project, the scrutiny intensified. Questions were fired from all directions, probing the intricacies of our collaboration. Steve, ever the composed strategist, handled the inquiries with ease, his responses laced with a polished charm that left the board members nodding in approval.

Yet, as the scrutiny turned towards me, a surge of defiance rose within. I met each question head-on, defending our choices and emphasizing the merits of our joint effort. The dynamics of the room shifted, and I sensed a subtle shift in the collective perception of our collaboration.

Amid the corporate jargon and strategic discussions, something unexpected happened. A moment of unspoken understanding passed between Steve and me – a shared glance that transcended the layers of rivalry. It was as if, in the pressure cooker of the boardroom, we were united by a common goal, if only temporarily.

He concluded the presentation and the room erupted into polite applause, and I could not help but exchange a brief, almost imperceptible nod with Steve.

Everyone filed out of the conference room, and the weight of the board meeting lifted, leaving Steve and me behind.

"Well done, Ms. Stones."

I was in unadulterated shock, "Did he just...," I asked nobody specifically. " Did you simply respect me Mr," I said in mock shock.

He rolled his eyes and I swear I saw a hint of a smirk as he walked out of the room.

Finally, I am done with the reason I flew halfway across the world, now I can go back to my vacation... Good riddance, I smiled striding out of the boardroom.