Chapter 10: The Unexpected Confrontation

It had taken a little time, but Noah was finally beginning to feel like her new office was a second home.

The sleek glass walls and the minimalist decoration were no longer daunting, even if the responsibilities of her position weighed always in her mind. She was buried in paperwork when a knock came at the door.

"Come in," Noah called, glad for the interruption.

The door squeaked, and in walked Mia, the usual vibrancy now diminished. She had taken on a pale tint in her face, while her steps seemed like heavy weights.

Noah immediately sprang to her feet with concern etched on her face.

"Mia, you really look like you've had a rough day. What's going on?"

Mia slumped into one of the window chairs. "I'm so glad to see you; I need a break.

Noah sat down across from her, creases deepening in his brow. "What's wrong?"

Mia blew out a deep sigh, her fingers playing with the edge of her purse. "I've been trying to make this custom suit for this really important client.

He's, like, influential in the business world, and he knows just what he wants. I put my heart into this design, but he just keeps rejecting every attempt.

Noah's eyebrows knitted together in sympathy. "That does sound incredibly frustrating. Have you been able to pick up any useful information about him?"

Mia shook her head in frustration. "I have tried everything. I gathered all the details I could, but he has just been so vague. It's like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. Nothing seems to meet his expectations.

Noah placed a reassuring hand on Mia's arm. "I can only imagine that must be tough. At times, clients could get rather demanding."

Before Mia could respond, a gentle knock at the door broke into their conversation. Noah looked up; her face went into surprise mode as Vincent James, Damien's best friend and business partner, walked in.

"Mr. James," Noah said, rising to her feet. "What brings you here?

Vincent's eyes raked over Mia, still seated, her back turned to him. "I hope I am not interrupting."

"No, not at all," Noah replied with a smile. "This is Mia, my best friend and a very well-known designer. Mia, this is Vincent James. He's a very influential man in our company."

Mia slowly turned around, her eyes wide with surprise as she recognized Vincent. "You're. you're the client?"

An eyebrow arched, his face cool and impassive. "Yes, that's me. I trust you've been putting in hard work on the designs."

Mia's shock gave way to a mix of dismay and annoyance.

"Hmph, well, if I had known it was you who was the client, that might have saved some frustration on my part. I tried all sorts of things to meet your expectations.

Vincent did not flinch. "I was expecting more from a designer of your standing. These designs have underwhelmed me.

The anger flashed in Mia's eyes. "Underwhelming? I have put my heart and soul into these designs. If this is not to your satisfaction, perhaps you should have made what you wanted more clear."

Vincent didn't change his nonchalant demeanor. "I was hoping for creativity and originality, but it seems I've disappointed myself. Perhaps I overestimated your abilities.

Indignant, the redness spread across Mia's face. "You think you can just waltz in here and start critiquing my work without understanding the kind of effort I put into this?"

Noah continued to watch the exchange with growing concern, feeling the tension crackle in the air. She decided it was time for an intervention before things escalated further.

"Alright, let's all take a deep breath," Noah said, her voice firm but unruffled. "Mia, Vincent's reaction may not have been quite what you expected, but we do have to run this on a professional basis.

Vincent, if you have suggestions as to what should be done differently, then details would be great.

Vincent's eyes flashed with something like irritation, but his voice stayed even. "I'm just saying I expected more. If you can't provide that, then perhaps you should reconsider how you went about it."

Mia was boiling over with irritation. "Reconsider? I am not going to be dictated to by some vague demands and criticism; I am a designer, not a mind reader!

Vincent's eyes slightly narrowed. "And I'm not here to coddle you. If you can't deliver what I'm looking for, I'll have to find someone who can."

Mia flushed red with anger and embarrassment.

"You know what? Forget it. If you're not interested in what I have to offer, then you can go find someone else.

Vincent's calm finally broke, a flash of surprise dancing across his face at Mia's outburst. "Very well. If you're so eager to give up, I won't waste my time."

With that, Vincent pivoted and strode for the door. Noah watched Vincent leave, his air of confidence broken for a moment.

The angry breaths from Mia resounded in the quiet of the room, her hands clenched into her sides.

Is everything okay?" Noah asked, reaching out to touch his friend comfortingly.

Mia slumped her shoulders, taking another deep breath. "I will be okay. I just can't believe the audacity he had to belittle."

Noah nodded understandingly. "You did the best you could. Sometimes customers can be quite sticky, and that doesn't reflect your talent.

Her eyes still flashed with anger. "I'll show him. I'll come up with something that he won't be able to reject."

Noah watched as determination began to overcome the anger in Mia. The conversation returned to the task at hand, but the tension remained palpable in the air.

The meeting with Vincent James had left a sour taste in her mouth, and her friend Mia's plight was weighing heavily on her mind. But there was no time for that; there were still mountains to climb.

With a morning of meetings and strategizing with her new team behind her, Noah felt it was time to bring Damien up to date on her progress. She gathered her notes and made her way to Damien's office, her mind racing. The office was abuzz with activity, and Noah negotiated the busy hallways with purpose.

As she drew near Damien's office, she could feel a soft light underneath his door and the muffled murmur of voices. She frowned as she adjusted her stride-the something was off. She knocked softly, listened for Damien's curt reply.

"Come in," Damien called out in his voice, but without his usual authority.

Noah turned the handle and pushed the door open. Her expression changed from focused determination to stunned surprise. She had appeared at the threshold, stopped by what lay before her.

Damien slouched in his chair, his arm casually thrown over the backrest. Clara sat on the edge of his desk, all smiles, totally unwound.

They shared a moment of tenderness as their eyes locked and they kissed each other softly.

Noah's heart seemed to stop beating as she froze in the doorway, not knowing how she should react to this-at all.

Not the sight before her eyes, and least of all, so unexpected. His hand was resting against Clara's cheek, his kiss soft and unhurried.

Clara's eyes flashed open, and she turned toward the door, her expression changing from tenderness to shock.

The next thing Clara did was to pull herself away from Damien in a flash, her face aflame with embarrassment.

"Oh!" Clara exclaimed, scrambling to rise. "I didn't realize we had company."

Damien appeared surprised; his eyes widened as he turned toward the door, his face changing to reflect a look of annoyance and embarrassment.

Noah, said Damien coldly, his voice edged. You didn't knock? Noah's cheeks flushed with color, her eyes darting between Damien and Clara.