23 | Focus, Nayla!

                                    

                                          
S A R A H
I step into the office building, the familiar hum of keyboards and murmured conversations filling the air. It's been weeks since I worked here, but the place feels unchanged, except for me. Nayla walks beside me, rambling on about her latest project ideas, her energy as infectious as ever.
"So, for the next presentation, I'm thinking we add a short skit to lighten things up," Nayla says, twirling a pen in her hand. "Something funny, you know? A little unexpected."
"Sounds great," I murmur, trying to focus on her words. But my thoughts are already spiraling. Being back here feels like stepping into a new chapter of my life, yet I can't seem to shake the weight of everything I left behind.
Nayla elbows me. "Hey, you okay? You seem... distracted."
"I'm fine," I say quickly, forcing a smile. "Just getting used to being back."
Nayla gives me a look but doesn't push. Instead, she bounds ahead toward the meeting room, leaving me to gather my nerves.
I follow her, clutching my notepad, and we settle into our usual seats near the back. Nayla immediately starts jotting down ideas for the upcoming campaign, her handwriting as chaotic as her personality.
The door opens, and a tall figure steps inside. I glance up and my heart stops.
Noah.
He's standing there, looking as effortlessly confident as ever in a tailored suit that fits him like a second skin. He's talking to my boss, Mr. Richard, who looks overly pleased to have someone like Noah in his office.
Panic surges through me. What is he doing here? How did he even-
Before I can spiral further, another familiar face steps into the room. Leelo.
His gaze sweeps the room until it lands on me. His expression softens, and he quickly excuses himself from Noah and Mr. Richard, making his way over.
"Sarah," he says smoothly, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "Before you freak out-"
"I'm already freaking out," I hiss, clutching my notepad tightly. "What is going on?"
Leelo leans against the back of my chair, his tone calm as ever. "Relax. This is just business. Noah's company is collaborating with yours to promote their latest project in Bluebuck Hills."
Bluebuck Hills. The name sends a shiver down my spine. 
"What does that have to do with me?" I ask, my voice sharper than I intended.
"Technically, nothing," Leelo says with a small shrug. "But we might be seeing each other a lot more, considering the campaign's location."
Before I can respond, Nayla suddenly perks up. "Oh, who's the tall one?" she asks, eyeing Leelo with interest.
Leelo smirks, straightening up. "Leelo," he introduces himself, his tone as charming as ever. "And you are?"
"Nayla," she replies, flashing a grin. 
I can't believe what I'm witnessing. Nayla is flirting blatantly and Leelo is eating it up.
I clear my throat, snapping their attention back to me. "Nayla, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure," she says, still smiling at Leelo as she gathers her things.
We step out of the meeting room, and I close the door behind us.
"Nayla, that's Noah's assistant," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
"And?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"And... Noah is the guy I told you about," I say, glancing nervously through the glass door where Noah is still talking to Mr. Richard.
Nayla's eyes widen. "Wait, that's him? The guy who kissed you? The one with the crazy ex-fiancée?"
I nod, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
Nayla lets out a low whistle. "Well, he's definitely not bad to look at. But seriously, Sarah, why didn't you tell me they were involved in this project?"
"Because I didn't know!" I say, my voice rising slightly. "This is the last thing I expected."
She places a hand on my shoulder, her tone turning serious. "Hey, breathe. It's just a job. You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to. And if he tries anything, you've got me and apparently Mr. Charming in there."
I glance back at Leelo, who is now casually chatting with one of my coworkers.
Nayla grins. "Seriously, though. Can I keep him?"
I groan, rubbing my temples. "Nayla, focus."
She laughs, pulling me into a quick hug. "Relax, Sarah. You've got this. And if not, you've got me to back you up."
As we head back into the meeting room, I can't shake the feeling that this is only the beginning of something I'm not ready yet.
Leelo's hand lingers on Nayla's for just a moment before he steps back, his usual calm, confident demeanor returning. His lips brush the back of her hand in a quick, almost possessive kiss, and for a brief second, time seems to freeze.
Nayla doesn't immediately react, but I notice her cheeks flushing a faint pink, her fingers briefly curling into a fist as if the sudden gesture caught her off guard. 
It's almost like she's trying to mask a fluttering feeling inside, her usual bravado gone.
Leelo doesn't seem to care. He gives her a subtle, knowing smile, a look that seems to speak volumes without uttering a single word, before he turns and walks back out of the room.
Nayla, now noticeably flustered, quickly gathers her composure, adjusting her pen nervously. But the pink in her cheeks lingers, and I can't help but notice how different she seems.
I feel a twinge of discomfort in my chest. 
The meeting continues as usual, but my attention drifts away from the conversation. I can't stop watching Nayla, her behavior suddenly a little more restrained than usual. 
I wonder what Leelo did to her, what's going on between them.
Meanwhile, Noah still doesn't notice me. He's talking to My CEO, lost in his own world, and I can't help but feel a sharp pang of frustration. He's so indifferent, so distant.
"Nayla," I say quietly, trying to pull myself from my spiral of overthinking.
"Hm?" she asks, not looking up from her notes.
"Focus," I say, tapping her notebook gently. "We're supposed to be working."
She grins, but it's not the usual carefree smile. "I am focusing," she teases, though her eyes flicker with something else. I don't know if it's excitement or something deeper.
Just then, her phone vibrates on the table. She grabs it, glancing at the screen, and I notice a flicker of surprise cross her face.
"Who's that?" I ask before I can stop myself.
Nayla blinks, a bit taken aback by the question, but she recovers quickly. "Oh, it's Leelo. How did he get my number?" she says nonchalantly, tapping the message open.
I feel my heart skip a beat. What could Leelo possibly be saying to her now?
"Nothing major," she says quickly. "He's just reminding me about some details for the campaign. You know how he is-always on top of things."
I try to push my worries aside, but it's like my mind won't stop racing.
Nayla's phone vibrates again, but this time, she doesn't reach for it. Instead, she seems to be lost in thought, her eyes flicking toward the door where Leelo had just disappeared.