Chapter 3 Third Chapter

Liana pressed a hand against her chest as the elevator doors slid shut behind her. Her pulse was still erratic from the collision in the hallway - the tall man's piercing gaze lingering in her mind like a brand. She didn't have the luxury of dwelling on him though. Mr. Pierce's words echoed in her ears: "Both the files and the event schedule draft. Before noon."

Her watch read 10:47 AM. Time was already slipping.

She marched back to her desk, slid into her chair, and opened her laptop. The files for the Film & Streaming Division were already neatly compiled in the folder beside her, but the schedule draft was another story. The upcoming Titan Media Gala was only weeks away, and she had been tasked to propose a preliminary lineup of events and timing - a job usually reserved for someone far higher than a second-day intern.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, drafting possible flow:

Opening remarks by Adrian Blackwood, President of Film & Streaming Division.

Her hand hesitated as she typed his name. So that's who he was... she thought, remembering the weight of his gaze when she bumped into him.

She forced herself to move on.

Keynote by Jonathan Pierce.

Showcase of upcoming media projects.

Networking sessions.

Closing cocktails.

She polished the outline, rearranging segments until they flowed with elegance and efficiency. Her training in communications came alive here - this was her strength, turning chaos into clarity.

At 11:28 AM, Vanessa strolled by, coffee cup in hand. She peered at Liana's screen with an exaggerated smirk.

"Ambitious for an intern to draft something like that. Careful, sweetie. The higher-ups don't like overstepping."

Liana kept her expression neutral. "Mr. Pierce asked me to."

Vanessa's painted lips curved into a saccharine smile. "Of course he did." She sipped her coffee and sauntered off, leaving a trail of perfume and disdain.

Liana printed the draft, double-checked the files, and stacked everything in a slim leather folder. Her heart pounded as she glanced at the clock. 11:41 AM. Just enough time.

She made her way to the executive floor - quieter, colder, with a gravity that pressed down on her shoulders. The secretary outside Jonathan Pierce's office looked up as she approached.

"I'm here to deliver the files and the schedule draft for Mr. Pierce," Liana said, clutching the folder tightly.

The secretary gave a brief nod. "Go right in. He's expecting you."

Liana inhaled deeply, steadied her hands, and stepped into the office.

Mr. Pierce sat at his desk, spectacles perched low on his nose, reviewing a thick binder. But it wasn't his presence that froze her steps.

Seated across from him, legs crossed, was Adrian Blackwood.

His head turned slowly at the sound of the door, and his eyes locked onto her - the same eyes that had held her in the hallway, sharp and unreadable. Recognition flickered there, and something else she couldn't name.

Liana's throat went dry. She lowered her gaze quickly, stepping forward with as much composure as she could muster.

"Here are the files you requested, Mr. Pierce," she said, placing them on his desk, "and the preliminary draft of the event schedule."

Pierce skimmed the first page, then looked up at Adrian. "This is the intern I told you about. Quick, efficient, and not easily rattled."

Liana felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Not rattled? If only he knew.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her with unnerving calm. His voice, deep and smooth, filled the room.

"So, you're the one drafting my opening remarks schedule."

The air seemed to still.

Liana forced herself to meet his gaze, even as her pulse hammered. "Yes, sir. It's only a preliminary outline. Adjustments can be made to your preference."

A faint curve touched his lips - not quite a smile, more like a test. "Confident for a second-day intern."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her folder. "I... I only tried to structure it in a way that would reflect Titan Media's prestige."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Then Adrian leaned forward, flipping through the pages.

"Interesting," he murmured.

Jonathan Pierce dismissed her with a nod. "Good work, Torres. You're free to go."

Liana turned to leave, her legs stiff, but as she reached the door, Adrian's voice followed her.

"Miss Torres."

She stopped, her hand on the doorknob. Slowly, she looked back.

His gaze was direct, unblinking. "I don't forget faces."

The words struck her like a spark. Her breath caught, but before she could respond, Jonathan was already speaking to Adrian again, their discussion returning to business.

She slipped out of the office, heart racing, her mind in turmoil.

He remembered.

And she had the unsettling feeling this was only the beginning.