Rhea shut the door behind her leaving Miles and Daniel alone in the office.
Miles sat behind the executive desk, Daniel in one of the guest chairs across from him.
A sluggish Monday morning hung in the air.
Miles rubbed his temples. He hadn't gotten enough sleep, even after Saturday, thanks to an emergency video call with headquarters that had lasted four hours into the evening.
"I didn't intend for you to come to Mapla and stress out, big bro," Daniel said, his body tense like he was holding back more than just words.
"It's nothing I'm not used to," Miles replied, reclining into his chair.
"She's still my girlfriend you know," Daniel said, catching Miles off guard.
Miles turned sharply.
"Call me petty, but Maria really shouldn't be this important—especially to you?" Daniel's jaw tightened.
"She is part of the company," Miles said calmly, relaxing back into his chair, calm that Daniel was simply acting out again—not because he had seen anything.
Miles' mind drifted to the video from the fundraiser.
"You have an outstanding employee here," he continued. "It would be a waste to come all the way from Jellas and not have anything to show for it. Both of you have personal issues and I'm just making sure she's serious about our investment in the project."
Daniel exhaled, jaw tight. "Work would be easier if she weren't involved at all."
"Is there something that happened between you and Maria that warrants this distrust within the workspace?" Miles asked.
Daniel looked away.
"Given that this is her first project at the company, you can't just want to keep sinking her for personal gain. How long do you think she'll stick around if you keep doing that?"
Daniel leaned forward. "Here's the genius, big bro. Using her to benefit us. Pete's supervision could slowly take over from Maria. She stops attending follow-up meetings, and if the board asks, we'll say she wasn't serious, and we took over."
Miles wasn't sure the irritation on his face was masked at all. What the hell was wrong with Daniel?
They were quite careless as boys together, but that was a phase they both should have passed by now, given that they were just two years apart.
Daniel was still clearly immature.
"Just break off whatever you have with her," Miles said evenly, controlling his tone from turning to anger as he picked up his phone and scrolled.
"I promise, Miles," Daniel pressed. "Maria isn't what you think. I've seen how opportunistic she can be, and I'm simply putting her in her place early—so she doesn't manipulate me or any other males in the company to hand her favors without earning them."
Miles sighed, the pointless conversation worsening his Monday fatigue.
Rhea's message popped up on his phone:
Project Launch set for Thursday, sir.
"Daniel," Miles said, lifting his gaze, "this is a chance to prove Maria's worth beyond seeking favors from 'males'. Maybe even you'll see she's more than what you think."
Daniel slumped back, frustration etched on his face.
Miles might have felt some sympathy—if Daniel weren't being such a jerk, or if he himself weren't just as guilty.
Miles' thoughts drifted to the choice he'd given Maria over the weekend.
Her subtle teasing, his response.
Miles had been so bothered by her see-through attempts of resisting his help and proximity outside work that he had doubled down and used the project to further trap her with him.
"I just…" Daniel hesitated. "I just didn't imagine it would all be about something else in your time here."
"Fine," Miles sighed. "We can hang out together over the weekend. Hopefully, there'll be no emergency meetings or stuff to supervise."
Daniel's eyes brightened. "You can't back out on this."
"I'll try not to," Miles said, though his mind wandered back to Maria and her possible response to what he had said on that Saturday.
Deep down he kept telling himself that if his fascination with her was temporary, he could keep the secret of having Maria all to himself, at least for the time.
**
"How am I supposed to help if you keep hiding things from me, Grace?" Maria sighed into the phone.
"I can take care of myself," Grace said stubbornly.
Maria frowned, tapping her foot lightly where she sat on one of the metal benches in the boutique she and Jenny had branched to after work.
The artificial air of white musk and new fabric hung around in the elegant space filled with arranged racks of clothes, a few mannequins standing over the flawless tiled floor, beige walls, and a smooth ceiling.
"Mom told me about the subjects," Maria said, resigning from getting Grace to speak about it herself. "A variety of subjects to choose from will be more beneficial to you in getting into the university."
"It wouldn't make any sense to transfer right now," Grace mewled. "I'm already in a core graduating class. A lot of schools don't just accept anyone at this stage."
"Never say never," Maria said as her eyes immediately caught Jenny's hand waving over the dressing room door.
Maria went over to her, still on the phone.
"There's a scholarship opening in Minchstone including spots for your class too," Maria said, opening the door to the dressing room.
Jenny was almost done trying on the pretty blue outfit she had chosen.
She gestured to Maria for the zipper, which was still open halfway along her spine.
Jenny turned to the mirror on one wall of the dressing room as Maria obliged.
"How sure are you that I would get the scholarship?" Grace asked, her tone a little hopeful even as she tried to act nonchalant.
"Just trust me and promise you'll cooperate," Maria said, trapping the phone between her ear and shoulder as she zipped Jenny's dress.
She immediately gave a thumbs up in the mirror reflecting both their images, communicating that she loved the dress.
"Fine, sis," Grace resigned.
"And stop keeping things from me," Maria added. "I promise I'm not complaining."
"Heard you. I have to go now. Talk to you later." Grace said and hung up.
Maria lowered the phone from her face, still admiring the dress on Jenny's figure in the mirror.
"I love this one," Maria said.
"I love it too," Jenny said, swinging her hips playfully at her reflection. "Blue really looks good on me. It'll look superb at the launch."
Maria smiled.
"Where's the dress you picked?" Jenny asked.
"Oh I don't think I'll be needing a new dress for the—"
"Nonsense," Jenny cut in, struggling to reach her dress zipper to take it off, but Maria helped again.
"Of course, you need a new dress," she continued. "It's your project. You should look gorgeous to celebrate yourself."
Jenny finally stepped out of the dress and reached for the outfit she had worn to the boutique.
"I have dresses I've never worn," Maria said casually. "I'm sure I'll find something nice there."
Jenny shook her head at Maria, now fully changed into her own clothes and holding the blue dress folded over her arms.
"Thank God you have a friend like me who wouldn't let you downplay your dress sense like you downplay your brain," Jenny said and turned to Maria, who gave a confused look back.
"And I'm one hundred percent sure there are more stylish dresses, especially for your figure, this new season," Jenny continued with a smirk as she looked Maria up and down in the dress she had chosen for work today.
A dress from Daniel's side of the closet. A dress that might not provoke Miles.
The thought of Miles made her bite her lower lip.
Rhea had already forwarded at least three crafted speeches for her to choose from for her presentation of the project at the launch.
After that, they had spent most of the day reviewing paperwork for customers report from the risk strategy from Saturday.
Even Jenny had been busy handing out and supervising assignments to her team for the launch.
Suddenly, Maria felt overwhelmed.
It was all happening because of her—her idea.
Jenny took her hand as they walked together from the dressing room to a section of clothes wrapped in transparent nylon.
Pictures of the styles on models, along with different sizes, were neatly displayed on each rack.
"Okay, now let's see," Jenny said, releasing Maria's hand as she began looking through the rack.
Even as Maria pretended to search for a dress, her mind returned to Miles.
What he had said about his interest being directly tied to the project—and that if she truly intended to stick to morals, she could withdraw now that the project launch hadn't happened.
Maria sighed.
It was a decision left for her to make—and fast.
Because she already knew what Jenny would say if she decided to confide in her.
One way or another her decision would definitely affect her long-term chances in the company.
The worst outcome right now would be losing the rare opportunity the CEO was offering in exchange for access to her body—especially considering that he was fully aware she was dating his younger brother.
**
Rhea sighed as she entered the office later that evening and stretched her tired body.
It had been such a day.
Her eyes moved around the office before settling on Miles, who was lying back against the grey office sofa in just his shirt.
His tie loosened at the collar, two buttons undone.
The sleek muscles at the hollow of his neck were visible.
His lips were slightly parted, eyelids closed.
He had dozed off.
No doubt he was just as stressed as she was, all for taking that Maria girl seriously.
Rhea hesitated before quietly approaching him.
Her heels were loud, but he didn't stir.
She circled behind him and gently placed her palms on his shoulders, kneading the tense joints slowly.
"Right there," he murmured slowly, his eyes still closed, his face briefly reveling in the massage before he opened his eyes and jolted upright.
"Shit, Rhea," he said. "You scared me."
Rhea smiled. "Sorry sir. But you looked like you really needed that massage."
He smirked.
Rhea's toes curled in her shoes. He was such a charmer.
"I see you had your fun, too," he said, shaking his head as he stood to approach the executive desk. "I have not been appreciating being a workaholic these past few days."
Rhea followed behind.
"Well, I just hope it's all worth it in the end."
He circled the desk to retrieve his jacket draped over the executive chair.
"It's been braving theories. It's very promising," he replied.
"Mr. Daniel doesn't get along really well with Maria. And from what I've heard, they're dating too," Rhea began, her hunt for his true motives with Maria.
He lifted his gaze to hers as he wore his jacket, the city lights already brightening behind him as dusk turned to darkness beyond the glass wall.
"You heard they're dating but didn't hear the reasons they don't get along?"
Rhea froze but masked her reaction with a smile.
She had to be professional.
"I just thought well…They don't seem to be the perfect couple around us either."
"Exactly," Miles chuckled. "Same reason I keep them separated for work. Personal issues can't interfere."
Rhea lowered her gaze, embarrassed he'd seen through her.
His footsteps neared, his cologne trailing in the air as he moved past her.
The office door clinked.
"Send me the marketing plan for the launch before tomorrow morning."
"Yes sir," Rhea said, turning to face him.
"Goodnight, Rhea."
"Goodnight, sir."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Rhea standing alone in the office.