Hearts On The Horizon
e occasional interaction with Elliot that made my stomach twist in ways I couldn't explain, and then back to w
just the constant push and pull betwee
of the professional masks we wore, Elliot and I were playing a game-a game neither of us had fully figured out yet. It felt like a test, and
ssage from Mark, which was rare. He usually communica
project and want an update. It's crucial that you're there. I know you've been doing a gre
he board that we were on track, that I knew exactly what I was doing, it would seal my place here.
n a high-stakes environment made my nerves flare. He had a way of scrutinizing everything I did, making sure I was never comfortable enough
fect. There was
presentation. My laptop was open, the projector was set up, and I was runn
s hands in his pockets. He was dressed in a dark suit,
stepping into the room. "I t
" I replied, not hiding the tension in my
on the screen. "You've been working hard. I'll gi
yebrow. "What
ether, Clara. I know the pressure is on you, but we're a
sed to this-this feeling that he was being more than just a colleague. But that wasn't what matt
said, glancing at him briefly
rceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Okay. Just do
bothered me the most-that for the first time, Elliot wasn't just pushing me to do my best. He
-
ot's
on. But there was something more. I had seen how she operated in the field, how she led with confidence, but this-this felt different. There was a vulnerability in the w
the board. It was something else that was
I needed to be close to her, to protect her from whatever it was that had her so rattled. But I wasn't su
that I had come to admire-something that kept pushing her forward, even when she didn't seem to have it all to
tions. What was it about Clara that kept pulling me in? And wh
-
gies, and doubts. I wanted to do well. I wanted to show them all that I could handle it.
rves. I glanced over the presentation one last time, double-checking eve
as E
he room, I knew somethi