Around 4 pm, Knox stepped off the elevator wearing a suit and a brown leather jacket, his sharp Scottish accent cutting through the hallway noise. "Harper, lass! Good to see ye." He clapped his hands together, his green eyes canning her form appreciatively. "Ye look as bonnie as ever, even stuck behind that desk." He strode purposefully toward her, the leather of his brown jacket creaking with each step. "Marius expectin' me, then?" Knox winked at her as he approached her desk. From Marius's open office door, the sound of shuffling papers could be heard. Marius himself appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a weary expression. "Knox," he acknowledged flatly. "Took you long enough. Come on in before you charm all my employees away from me." His tone was dry, but there was an underlying tension in his posture.
Knox chuckled good-naturedly at Marius's comment, giving Harper's shoulder a friendly squeeze as he passed her desk. "Och, dinnae be gettin' jealous now, Marius. Can't help it if the lasses fancy a man wi' a bit o' artistic talent over one who just shuffles numbers aboot." He sauntered into Mariu's office without waiting for further invitation, tossing his brown leather jacket onto a guest chair with casual disregard. Knox settled into the chair opposite Marius's desk, crossing one leg over the other. "So," Kox began brightly, steeping his fingers under his chin. "Aboot this wee meetin'—I've got an idea that's gonnae revolutionise our spring collection. Somethin' bold, somethin' daurin'…" Knox leaned forward conspiratorially, his green eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's aboot bringin' in some truly unique fabrics—silk blends wi' metallic threads, sheer chiffons dyed in rich jewel tones. Nothin' else in this market's doin' the like." He gestured expansively with his hands as he spoke, clearly visualizing the designs in his mind. "I need yer advertisin' team tae craft a campaign roond it—somethin' edgy, provocative. Think high fashion meets modern art."
Marius listened intently, his initial irritation slowly being replaced by profession curiosity. He glanced briefly at Harper, who was already jotting down notes at her desk. "But here is the catch…" Kox continued, lowering his voice slightly. "I dinnae want models that are just bonnie faces. I want real women—curves, scars, a mix o' backgrounds. Somethin' honest, somethin' that will truly resonate wi' folk beyond that size-zero nonsense." He stood up abruptly and paced around Marius's office. "I'm talkin' aboot women wi' stories, wi' real personalities—not just bodies tae put on display. An' I need yer advertisin' geniuses tae capture that essence in their campaign." Knox stopped pacing and turned to face Marius, pointing a finger at him. "This isnae just aboot sellin' clothes anymore, Marius. It's aboot creatin' an experience… maybe even a movement." Knox's enthusiasm was infectious despite himself, his Scottish brogue growing stronger as he spoke passionately about his vision. "Think o' the buzz we could stir up—industry rags lappin' it up, social media goin' wild…"
Knox paused dramatically before delivering the final punchline. "An' the best part? Oliver's given me carte blanche on the whole thing. Says ma creativity needs a proper outlet." Marius's expression shifted from annoyance to genuine interest as Knox outlines his vision. He leaned forward in his chair, his initial scepticism melting away into intrigue. "Carte blanche from Oliver, huh?" he repeated thoughtfully, a smirk playing on his lips. "That explains why you are suddenly so ambitious. You know exactly how much leverage that gives you." He glances at Harper, who was still diligently recording every detail of the conversation. "Harper, get me the budget projections for a major campaign launch like this. Top-tier models, high-end production values." Turning back to Knox, Marius's competitive nature kicked in. "Alright, Knox. You have got my attention. But do not think for a second I will let your run wild with my advertising budget. Every dollar spent better have a clear ROI." Knox grinned widely, sensing victory. "Course it will! These designs are gold, Marius—pure gold!"
"I will have to reach out to the accounting department for projections. Perhaps we should schedule another meeting for tomorrow morning, so I can have time to collect the necessary information and documentation," Harper said quickly. Knox clapped his hands together, his enthusiasm undimmed by the delay. "Excellent suggestion, lass! The mornin' it is—eight sharp. Gies me time tae sketch oot a few preliminary designs the night." He retrieved his leather jacket from the chair, swinging it over his shoulders with practiced ease. "An' dinnae ye worry aboot accountin' gettin' in yer road—I'll hae a wee word wi' Oliver masel'. Remind him whose brilliant ideas are keepin' this company in the black." With a wink aimed at Harper, Knox headed for the door. "Lookin' forward tae seein' yer sharp minds at work the morn!" Once Knox departed, Marius let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Eight AM meeting," he muttered, already reaching for his phone.
"I will start preparing," Harper said quickly and turned to leave the office. "Wait," Marius called out, his voice stopping her mid-stride. He stood up from his desk, walking around to lean against the front edge. "Since you are already planning ahead, I need you to do something else for me." His tone shifted from business to something more personal. "Cancel my dinner plans for tonight. Tell whoever it is that something urgent came up with a project." He watches her reaction as she processed the request. "And Harper? Bring those budget projections to my apartment around eight. We can go over them together." His expression was casual, but there was an underlying intensity in his eyes that had not been present during their professional discussion. "My place is comfier than staying late here. Plus, I would rather not spend my evening staring at spreadsheets alone."
"My workday ends at five PM," Harper says quickly. "And– I have plans." Marius's expression shifted from casual to something more challenging. He pushed off the desk and took a step toward her, closing the distance between them. His movements were deliberate, each step measured.