Elle's office was pristine, glass walls letting the morning sun spill across sleek furniture and polished floors. The space smelled faintly of fresh paper and coffee, with a hint of her floral perfume lingering in the air. Her agency specialized in promoting influential people and top businesses.
Elle thrived here. This was her domain, her control, her ecosystem of order and achievement.
Alice Jake, her assistant, was already at her desk, tapping efficiently at the keyboard, organizing schedules, and scanning emails before they even arrived. Loyal, attentive, and nearly psychic, Alice made Elle's life easier than it had any right to be.
"Morning, Elle," Alice said, looking up with a faint smile. "You have a new calendar entry. Laura Pierce added it last night."
Elle's fingers paused over her keyboard. Curiosity flickered. Laura. The name was unassuming on the screen, but Elle felt the weight of it immediately.
"Let's see," Elle murmured. "Anything else I should know?"
Alice shook her head. "Nothing unusual. Just a meeting reminder… but it's tagged as 'Private: Attendance Required.'"
Her brow lifted. Private. Attendance required. A small smile tugged at her lips, she'd expected as much, yet somehow it didn't feel ordinary.
⸻
Across the city, Adrian Blackwell's office was equally immaculate, but the energy was different, decisive, commanding, silent authority filling the room without a word. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the skyline, sunlight glinting off steel and glass, yet it didn't soften his presence.
He was reviewing investment portfolios, analyzing market trends, and signing off on high-stakes deals with the precision of someone who had built an empire from strategy and discipline. Every movement had weight. Every decision carried consequence. Efficiency wasn't just a skill, it was a language he spoke fluently.
Reed Jacobs, his assistant, stood nearby, perfectly still until called upon. Observant, loyal, and quietly protective, Reed anticipated Adrian's needs before they were voiced. Reports flagged, meetings prepped, schedules adjusted, Reed ensured the day ran without hiccup, even in the chaos of high-stakes finance.
"Morning," Adrian said finally, eyes scanning a quarterly report. "Any deviations I should know about?"
Reed shook his head. "Routine, except for a new calendar block from Laura Pierce. Marked 'Private: Attendance Required.'"
The name surfaced again, uninvited. Elle Hayes. Adrian dismissed it just as quickly, but the silence afterward lingered longer than usual.
A flicker of interest crossed Adrian's face, gone before anyone could notice. Laura's meticulous timing never failed. He made a mental note to review it, but not yet. For now, the work in front of him demanded attention.
⸻
Alice glanced at Elle, her eyes flicking briefly to the calendar entry. "This Laura Pierce meeting… it's unusual, isn't it? She doesn't normally add private blocks without letting us know in advance."
Elle's lips pressed together, a faint smile tugging at her features. "Curiosity doesn't kill the cat, Alice. Just… keeps it alert."
Across town, Reed noticed the same calendar entry on Adrian's schedule. He raised an eyebrow subtly. "Private meeting. Attendance required. From Laura Pierce."
Adrian didn't comment immediately. He simply nodded once, making a note in his planner. Reed sensed it wasn't just another appointment. Something had shifted.
Both assistants, in their respective offices, exchanged a silent understanding of their bosses' rare reactions, small, almost imperceptible changes, but enough to know that today, something was different.