Ethan knocked on Claire's office door at nine-thirty, portfolio tucked under his arm.
"Come in."
She sat behind her desk, reading glasses perched on her nose, three separate design proposals spread before her. She glanced up when he entered.
"Montgomery. Good timing. I was just about to call you." She gestured to the chair across from her. "Sit."
Ethan sat, placing his folder on the desk between them. "The Chen revisions. Finished specs, material calculations, everything you asked for."
"Good." Claire opened the folder, pulling out his drawings.
She studied them in silence—one sketch, then another, flipping between pages, her pen tapping against the desk.
Ethan waited, pulse steady but aware.
Claire set down the drawings. Removed her glasses. Looked at him directly.
"The concept is strong," she said. "Your instincts for vintage elements are excellent. The stone placement shows real understanding of balance."
Ethan's chest lightened. "Thank you."
