d of the interco

gh the silenc

d. My off

en gotten a chance to find her voice. The faint "Hello?" had

dn't even sat to admire her new desk

r as she rushed back, mentally cur

nto Damon's offi

tire life

p in hand, "I have never tasted coffee this bad. Cold

"I'm sorry, s

ere's no tim

We have a meeting with the med

"Media house?" she re

ng patience, "I hate repeating myself

ight-lipped sm

and pen," he continued, as if it were a comma

," she

ke-learn to make

ss the desk toward her. Viva scramble

Prep me. Come up with possible que

"Will that

to ask me quest

gging the files to her ch

nd she cursed the stilettos that now felt like

he call

ound, trying

f your heels

ted, but she

t a black card, sliding it across the ta

rrassing me in front of important people, if your reputation doesn't bother you , mine does. so

t the card,

mirk. He di

as a heart attack, Goldie wa

UPER POWERED VIVA************

office, Viva didn'

ed shoes in less than 5 minutes. Pleeeeeee

plied in

Shopping with your

you for a gol

ractically shaking. "I don't have t

there. Do

d looked around. She had

ed to herself, "this is your pho

iles on a small t

erviews-but none of it made any sense. So she p

ackgrounds. Pas

s-questions, answers, trigger phrases, tactics

her sup

was going to regret

e, the inte

Dav

gown, grabbed her notes, and

his phone. "Alright, Ms. D

known to twist narratives and feed blogs whatever they want to hea

y. Interest flickeri

Human. But brief. Keep your answers short and straight-

ack of Post-its n

cluding personal rumors, scandals, and company c

the notes.

er. He was impressed. An

right wher

sonal life-don't indulge. Be firm. Any carelessness is fue

, watching her like she was

owth," Viva said. "But throw in a flaw. A calculated

lent for a b

ze dropped

ked flatly, ignoring all

tless. "They'll be here ju

***RAT CHASE****************

r. "Go check if the conference hall is free-we're holdin

, her pho

h-he snapped. His ey

social life. Texts. Calls. Are

ying to silence the screen fa

his office, the last thing I wan

cked out of the room, alr

ll

t get past security. Y

no

both-check the hall and get the shoes.

or-just in time to see the

ked by. A m

come on, c

ted downstairs, found Lilly waving like

shouted after her. "You'

ti

*JOKES ON YOU VIVA*************

hought she was not okay. Her heels clacked with fury as she ran up the corr

ed the 13

fr

lded, expression murderous. And standing beside him, li

ally join us, Ms. Davi

urning

only share a last name... but a

aught a bird mid-hop, "c' mon n

ured to herself "You're the jok

," she said breathlessly, scann

l doors slid open

t greet

nde

able that gleamed like a lake under the moon.

open for them, her

ade it. You're late, sweaty, and po

nference hall, Damon leaned into his cha

better than the last time we met. Are you sure you'

ed. "You flatter me, Damon. But I never

en clutched in her hand-watching, smiling politely. But inside, she felt a strange pull of irritation. Da

tervie

ease-calm, poised, confident. He spoke like a man who knew every inch of his emp

ti

rs crea

ugh the room like si

hink it's a little unfair to grant my

one t

, the composure on hi

asn't welcome and didn't care. "It makes me a little.

y reduced from king to f

in. She couldn't let t

as an impromptu session. Not exactly planned. I'm sure Ms. Susan would

n for backup. He ca

"Either of us can represent the company. I

ted to Viva, co

are you

avid," she replied,

atever." With a dismissive wa

emained, thic

nd to prank each other like this. Brothers, you know? I assume you have sibli

hen her expression turned sharp. "But Viva... Damon and I go way bac

opped a fe

ate people digging i

r notepad wit

e you ar

as she exited the room, her perfume tra

led-slow,

n? S

weren't

ere on