CHAPTER EIGHT

~Nella~

As I entered, he didn’t acknowledge me. Silence hung in the air as he stared at his computer screen, his fingers tapping lightly against his desk. I hesitated before clearing my throat softly, about to speak.

But before I could get a word out, he cut in.

"When is the shoot for the concealer product coming up?" His tone was sharp, businesslike.

"Next Wednesday," I replied.

"Where?"

"At the Aurelia gallery "

"Why?"

That last question caught me off guard.

"Uh…" I hesitated, unsure of what answer he was looking for.

"Do you ever think outside the box Nella?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

"But, sir, I found your signature on it, and Amira handed it to me so I thought you must have approved it," I responded, attempting to defend myself.

"Have I not instructed you to carefully review every file entrusted to you, regardless of my prior examination?" he retorted, his voice cold.

"I did," I stammered. "I thought it was a compelling concept. The surrounding artwork, the historical sculptures—it’s captivating to the eyes."

"You thought?" His gaze was piercing.

This time, I was speechless, staring dumbly.

"Call for a meeting immediately with the production and content creators team," he ordered, rising from his seat.

With that I left his office in a rush, eager to ensure that everyone was assembled in the conference room promptly. Among the content creation team were Hannah, a Set designer, and Elsa, an Art director.

Within ten minutes, the conference room was filled, with Roy already seated at the head of the table. The atmosphere was tense, as team members offered various ideas for the upcoming project. Roy, however, dismissed each suggestion, particularly rejecting the notion of shooting in a gallery. An uneasy silence settled over the room as creativity seemed to drain away.

In that quiet moment, a thought sparked in my mind—a different approach that might break the stalemate. My heart quickened, uncertainty swirling within me. But what did I have to lose? It was merely a suggestion.

"What if we consider shooting on a college campus?" I ventured, my voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

Cassie scoffed immediately. "No—no, that's a dumb idea," she retorted dismissively. I held back a sharp reply; after all, Cassie rarely contribute anything useful.

Before I could respond, Roy interjected, his tone sharp.

"And what makes you think it's a dumb idea, Miss Cassie?"

Cassie's confidence wavered, her words stumbling over each other as she tried to defend her position but failed to articulate a coherent argument.

Roy turned his attention back to me, his gaze expectant. "Go ahead, Nella. Explain why shooting on a college campus could be a better choice."

Taking a deep breath, I began, "Targeting college students is strategic, given their significant engagement with beauty products. A college setting provides a real-life backdrop that reflects their daily experiences, promoting relatability. Moreover, featuring a diverse range of individuals would highlight our commitment to inclusivity. Additionally, leveraging the social media influence prevalent among college students could greatly expand our campaign's reach."

The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on me.

Roy's stern expression softened into a rare smile. "Perfect, Nella. Perfect," he said, his approval lifting the collective spirits in the room.

The team erupted into applause. I noticed Hannah flashing me a thumbs-up, her smile bright and encouraging. A wave of relief washed over me as my heart slowed, and I allowed myself a quiet, satisfied smile.

Roy turned to me. "Nella," he said, his voice steady yet tinged with approval, "you’ll lead the shoot. It was your idea, and I trust you’ll deliver the results we’re expecting."

A surge of pride swept over me, but I kept my expression composed, determined to live up to his confidence in me. The room hummed with quiet anticipation as Roy dismissed the team.

But as everyone began gathering their things to leave, Roy remained seated, his finger rhythmically tapping on the table. He appeared lost in thought, his brow furrowed, as if mulling over something weighty.

"Hold on," he said, his voice slicing through the chatter, signaling us to sit back down.

The room froze. We hesitated, then sank back into our chairs, the air thick with curiosity.

Roy’s eyes scanned the room before locking on the women.

"Do any of your boyfriends drop you off or pick you up from work?" he asked, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.

A heavy silence followed, the kind of stillness where you could almost hear a pin drop. No one knew how to respond. A chorus of confused glances swept across the room, each person trying to make sense of his sudden, out-of-place question.

Why was he asking about relationships now?

It felt entirely out of context, and frankly, more than a little strange.

I knew he’d been a bit off since the morning, but why was Gray dropping me off suddenly such a problem?

I wasn’t the only one feeling this way—everyone seemed equally bewildered.

The silence deepened, and the room became a battlefield of raised eyebrows, twitching lips, and nervous fidgeting.

Roy finally stood up, the tension still hanging thick in the air. He looked like he regretted his question, but as always, his expression hardened, the mask of his bossy demeanor settling back into place. He walked out of the room without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

The instant the door closed, the dam broke. Voices erupted in every direction. Everyone spoke over each other, laughing, questioning, and speculating wildly as we shuffled out of the conference room.

The rest of the day dragged on, as if Roy had set out to make me miserable. I couldn’t make sense of the pointless errands he kept assigning me, and it became clear that Elsa was growing concerned. She even asked if Roy was going through something personal and taking it out on me.

Everyone knew Roy was a perfectionist, strict and demanding, but today felt different—like he was pushing me to the edge, desperate to see me break.

Finally, the day ended. As usual, I grabbed his suitcase and handed it to Amira, his ever-efficient assistant. I stood by the car, waiting for him. As he walked toward me, I felt my heart race, though I couldn't understand why.

It had to be his cold, imperious gaze—but if I were being honest with myself, Roy was undeniably captivating, even in his cruelty. He was a walking contradiction—a demon disguised as an angel. He exuded power effortlessly, drawing every eye in the room. Any woman would be drawn to him if they didn’t know him personally. His eyes, intense yet strangely warm, had a magnetic pull.

I remembered how the office buzzed with talk of his looks when I used to be part of the team—how the ladies would gossip about his charm, and how they wouldn’t mind spending a night with him.

That night still lingered in my mind. My one-night stand with a stranger.I could still picture his muscular frame, the tattoo finely written on his rib cage and the one drawn on his left arm in delicate characters. The memory of his voice—low, smooth, and calm—and how perfectly he stroked me carefully lifting me like his woman.

How did someone so stunning manage to be so cold and distant?

I shouldn't be thinking about him this way. Roy was the last person I should be imagining in this light. I had never seen him smile, and I doubted anyone else had either. How did his parents even raise such a person?

“You can go home,” he said, his voice cutting through my thoughts as he slid into the car. “At least your boyfriend won’t have to pick you up if you leave early.”

His words hit me like a jolt. My pulse quickened. Was he really letting me go?

I was supposed to accompany him to a meeting before heading home, but now he was sending me home already?

And why did he have to bring up my boyfriend?

What was his issue with him picking me up?

I stood there, frozen for a moment, trying to process what just happened. Finally, I exhaled a sigh of relief. At least I’d have the evening to myself. The team was going out for dinner—it was Friday—and now, I had the whole weekend to unwind.