Chapter 24 Unexpected Collaborations

Clara walked into the conference room, her mind still buzzing with the messages from Olivia and the not-so-subtle reminder from her manager. Julian was already there, as expected. His polished look was ever-present, his tie perfectly knotted, his hair impeccably styled. He looked like he belonged in a boardroom, but today, there was something different about him—an edge she hadn’t noticed before. He sat at the head of the long table, tapping his pen against the surface in a slow, rhythmic pattern, his eyes barely lifting from his notes when she walked in. It was as if he was pretending not to notice her, though she could see the subtle tension in his jaw.