The skyline shimmered in faint gold through the panoramic windows of the Venyx Corporation's top floor.
From his office,vast, minimalist, with a commanding view of the city.Adrian Venyx stood with one hand in his pocket, the other holding a digital tablet that displayed architectural schematics.
His expression, as usual, was unreadable, calm and calculating. Yet, behind those crimson eyes, something stirred.
Her name, Gwendolyn Felix kept appearing in reports and design drafts.
He'd seen the precision in her lines, the intuitive corrections she'd made where even senior designers faltered. It wasn't luck. It was instinct and instinct couldn't be taught.
Across the room, Lyon Hale, his long-time associate and assistant, leaned casually against the polished conference table, sipping from a mug of coffee.
"So," Lyon began, glancing at the screen. "You really went ahead and submitted her design to the board, huh? She's still a rookie, Adrian. Barely two weeks in."
Adrian didn't turn. "The board approved it unanimously. That's all that matters."
Lyon smirked, lowering his cup. "Come on. You don't just approve a rookie's draft overnight. Not you."
Adrian finally looked at him, calm but sharp. "Talent is irrelevant to rank. If someone can deliver results, I don't care what position they hold."
Lyon chuckled. "Still… she's got your attention. That's saying something."
Adrian ignored the comment, setting the tablet aside. "Call her in."
Lyon nodded, pressing a button on the desk intercom. "Design Department, this is Lyon Hale. Send Miss Gwendolyn Felix to the Vice Director's office. Immediately."
Moments later, the soft chime of the elevator echoed through the corridor.
---
Gwen's heart pounded as she stood outside the glass door marked "Vice Director,Adrian Venyx."
Her palms were damp. She smoothed her skirt nervously before knocking.
"Come in," Adrian's voice called from inside, deep, composed, yet commanding.
She entered slowly. The office felt colder than she'd imagined, illuminated by natural light that glimmered across polished surfaces.
Behind the desk sat Adrian, while Lyon Hale rested casually in one of the side chairs, his trademark warm grin in place.
"Good afternoon, sir," Gwen greeted softly.
Adrian gestured toward the chair in front of him. "Sit."
She obeyed, setting her sketchbook on her lap.
For a few seconds, silence reigned only the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Then Adrian spoke.
"Miss Felix," he began, eyes fixed on her. "Your revised layouts for the east atrium and façade improvements were chosen for Phase 4 implementation. The board was… impressed."
Her heart fluttered. "I— thank you, sir."
Lyon leaned forward with a grin. "You've made quite the name for yourself, Gwen. Not everyone gets praised by the Vice Director on their second week."
Gwen smiled shyly. "I was just trying to correct what felt off in the schematics, sir. I didn't expect it to be—"
"—Approved?" Adrian interrupted, his voice calm but edged. "Expectations are irrelevant. Results are what matter here."
She blinked, slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Understood."
Adrian's gaze lingered on her not unkind, but analytical. "Tell me something, Miss Felix. When you made those adjustments, what was your reasoning behind the atrium modification?"
Gwen straightened. "The initial load-bearing layout didn't account for the glass panel's density once scaled up. The southern frame would've warped under stress over time. So I redistributed the weight to the secondary support beams, preserving design symmetry while improving durability."
A brief pause. Lyon's eyebrows rose.
"Impressive," he said. "You caught a structural flaw none of the senior designers noticed."
Adrian's lips curved slightly,barely noticeable. "That level of insight is rare."
"Sir, I just—"
"You just worked harder than most," Adrian cut in. "That's precisely why you're here."
He tapped a few commands into his tablet. "Effective immediately, your salary will be increased to the standard mid-level designer rate."
Gwen's eyes widened. "S-sir? But I just started—"
"It's not charity," Adrian said flatly. "It's recognition."
Lyon chuckled, glancing at Gwen. "He's not one for sentimental gestures, trust me. If he's giving you a raise, you've earned it."
"I… I don't know what to say," Gwen murmured.
"Then don't," Adrian replied, leaning back in his chair. "Say it through your work."
The tone was firm, but there was something gentler in his expression now a faint trace of pride beneath his usual stoicism.
"However," he added, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly, "I meant what I said in my note. Do not stay after hours again without my authorization. The company doesn't need employees who overexert themselves to the point of collapse. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," she said quickly.
"Good."
Lyon stood, stretching. "Alright, I'll have HR handle the paperwork. Gwen, congrats again. And don't look so shocked,he's not that scary once you get used to him."
Adrian shot him a cold glance. "Lyon."
"Right, right," Lyon said with a grin, raising his hands in mock surrender as he walked toward the door. "See you around, Felix."
When the door closed, Gwen found herself alone with Adrian once more.
He looked at her silent, calculating,then quietly said,
"You have potential, Miss Felix. Don't waste it."
She met his gaze, her voice small but steady. "I won't, sir."
For the first time, his expression softened. "Good. You're dismissed."
She stood, bowed slightly, and left the room.
As the door shut behind her, Adrian exhaled quietly, turning his eyes back to the city outside.
Lyon's earlier words echoed faintly in his mind.
"You don't just approve a rookie's draft overnight. Not you."
He smirked faintly.
"Perhaps not," he murmured to himself. "But this one's… different."
The light caught his reflection in the glass the faintest trace of intrigue shadowing his calm, disciplined exterior.
The late afternoon sun cast a mellow glow across the streets of downtown New York.
People moved in hurried strides, businessmen, vendors, and the steady hum of traffic blending into the rhythm of city life.
Inside a cozy café nestled by the corner of Cedar Avenue, Gwendolyn Felix sat by the window, the steam from her cup of cappuccino curling into the air like soft wisps of cloud.
She glanced at her phone.(3:45 p.m)with her dismissed from work early.
Her heart lifted as the door opened and in walked Camille, tall, confident, and striking in her crisp navy police uniform.
The glinting badge on her chest caught the light, and her brown hair was tied neatly into a bun beneath her cap.
"Gwen!" Camille grinned, waving as she approached. "Wow, look at you! You look so… professional now!"
Gwen stood, smiling as they embraced. "And you look so official, Officer Camille."
Camille chuckled, removing her cap as she sat. "Still feels weird hearing that. I swear, I'm more used to chasing deadlines than criminals."
They laughed, and for a moment, the chaos of the city felt far away.
After ordering pastries, Gwen leaned in, excitement bubbling in her voice. "You won't believe everything that's happened this week."
Camille raised an eyebrow. "Try me."
Gwen began recounting the whirlwind of events, the interview, the accidental collision with Adrian, the design revisions, the board meeting, and finally, the meeting in his office that morning.
Camille listened intently, resting her chin on her palm, eyes widening at each turn.
"Wait— wait," she interrupted mid-sip. "You mean the Adrian Venyx? The Vice Director of the entire company?"
Gwen nodded shyly, stirring her coffee. "Yeah… and he kind of… praised my work. Said the board approved it for the next phase."
Camille's jaw dropped. "Gwen! That's huge! You've barely started, and they already picked your designs?"
"It doesn't even feel real," Gwen admitted softly. "Sometimes I think I'm dreaming."
Camille smirked, nudging her arm. "Oh, it's real, alright. And let me guess, he's as intimidating as those business magazines make him out to be?"
Gwen chuckled nervously. "More. He's strict… sharp… but he notices everything. It's like he can read a person's thoughts before they speak."
"Sounds terrifying," Camille teased. "Or maybe he just sees something special in you."
Gwen blushed faintly, glancing out the window. "He said I had potential. That's all."
Camille grinned knowingly. "Uh-huh. Sure."
The two shared a laugh before Gwen leaned back with a soft sigh. "I just want to do my best. I don't want anyone to think I got lucky. I want to earn it."
Camille's expression softened. "And you will, Gwen. You always push yourself, just don't forget to breathe sometimes."
"Yeah," Gwen murmured, smiling faintly. "I'll try."
Just then, Camille's radio crackled on the table.
A static-laced voice came through:
> "Unit 4, we've got a reported theft near 14th and Broadway. Responding officers required."
Camille grabbed her cap and stood immediately. "That's me."
Gwen blinked. "Already?"
"Duty calls," Camille said with a grin, fastening her badge. "You keep up with that Phase 4 thing, okay? Next time we meet, I want to hear about your promotion."
Gwen laughed. "You're getting ahead of yourself."
Camille winked as she headed for the door. "No, I'm just calling it early."
As she left, Gwen watched her through the café window,Camille jogging toward her patrol car, sliding into the driver's seat, and speeding off into the streets with purpose.
Gwen smiled, a warmth settling in her chest. Despite how different their worlds were, they were both chasing something, a dream, a purpose, a future.
She finished the last of her cappuccino, set her cup down, and whispered under her breath,
"Phase 4… I won't let you down."
---
The next morning dawned clear, sunlight spilling across Gwen's newly rented small apartment as her alarm buzzed insistently.
She groaned softly, reaching for her phone before blinking the sleep from her eyes.
A small smile crept onto her lips as the events of the past week replayed in her mind Adrian's piercing words, the meeting, the unexpected praise.
Today was the day she began work on the Venyx Estate Phase 4 Project.
After a quick breakfast, she dressed neatly in a soft gray blouse tucked into a navy skirt, tied her hair back, and slipped into her black heels. The subway ride felt shorter than usual or maybe her excitement simply made time blur.
When she arrived at the Venyx Corporation building, the atmosphere was more vibrant than usual. Employees buzzed around the lobby, folders in hand, the air humming with urgency.
"Morning, Gwen!" called Mr. Collins, waving as she entered the design and project department.
"Good morning, sir," Gwen replied, smiling politely.
Mr. Collins adjusted his glasses, glancing at the blueprint roll tucked under her arm. "Ready for your first day on Phase 4?"
"More than ready."
"Good," he said with a satisfied nod. "Adrian Venyx personally selected your concepts, make sure the technical structuring matches the creativity you showed."
Gwen nodded. "I'll make sure it does."
She settled at her desk and logged in to her workstation. On the screen lay the massive layout of Venyx Estate Phase 4.
A sprawling luxury residential zone featuring villas, community parks, and integrated water systems. Her section was marked in blue: Structural Layout and Design Coordination.
Her task was to develop the foundation schematics and roof curvature design for a new model,Lot B12, one of the central villas.
She pulled out her stylus and began sketching on her tablet, layering digital measurements and visual frameworks.
Time passed unnoticed.
By noon, the department had grown quiet except for the hum of computers and the scratch of pencils.
"Hey Gwen," said Lydia, one of the senior designers, peering over her desk. "You've been staring at that screen for three hours straight."
Gwen blinked, realizing how long she'd been at it. "I didn't even notice."
Lydia grinned. "That's what happens when the project pulls you in. You're doing well, though, Collins is impressed."
Before Gwen could reply, Mr. Collins's voice broke the chatter:
"Alright, team! Let's wrap for today. You've all earned a breather,and besides although Adrian the vice director is on a trip, I'm very sure he won't be happy with you all overworking yourselves."
Everyone looked up as he continued, "Lunch is on me, we're heading to Blue Ember Eatery downstairs."
A small cheer went up around the room. Even Gwen smiled, grateful for the chance to unwind.
---
Later — Blue Ember Eatery
The restaurant buzzed with life, filled with employees from different departments. The design team sat around two joined tables, laughter filling the air as plates of food arrived.
"Gwen," said Collins as he raised a glass of juice, "to your first official day on Phase 4. I can already tell your designs are setting a new tone."
The group clapped, and Gwen blushed modestly. "Thank you, sir. I'm just doing my part."
Beside her, Lydia whispered with a grin, "You're being too humble. Collins never compliments anyone this early."
"Stop," Gwen murmured, trying not to laugh.
Conversation flowed, work gossip, personal stories, and plans for the weekend. For the first time since joining, Gwen felt included.
As she listened to her colleagues joke and debate about color palettes and structural symmetry, she thought back to Camille's words ' keep up with the phase'.
She smiled faintly, sipping her drink.
She was keeping up and perhaps, finally finding her place in the rhythm of the office.
Across the room, Mr. Collins watched his team with quiet satisfaction. He leaned back, muttering under his breath,
"Adrian was right about her."