"Sounds good," Harper says and checks her phone. "I should be heading back. Lunch time is almost over." Oliver nods reluctantly, his expressions shifting back to professional neutrality as reality intrudes on their private moment. "Right. Back to pretending we are just colleagues." He moves around the desk to open the door for her, his hand brushing against her lower back briefly as he guides her toward the exit. The touch is quick but intentional, a final reminder of the intimacy waiting for them later tonight. "See you at five," he murmurs quietly as she passes through the doorway, his voice dropping to that intimate register reserved exclusively for moments like these. Stella glances up from her desk as Harper emerges from the CEO's office together.
When Harper returned from lunch, Marius's office door was closed and there were moans coming from inside. "Marius…" a woman moaned sweetly and gasped. Harper stood outside the office door, listening to the sounds within. Her professional façade waved for a moment, replaced by a flicker of something unreadable in her blue green eyes. A few minutes later the door opened, and another employee came out, Clare. She has straight, shoulder-length dark blond hair parted slightly to one side. She is wearing a fitted knee-length grey dress with a subtle textured pattern. The dress has short cap sleeves and a rounded neckline trimmed with a darker border detail, adding contrast to the otherwise simple design. She looks flustered and her light green eyes widens when she sees Harper. In her left hand, she is holding a bright blue folder, tucked against her side. She quickly left, her black flats with a glossy finish and a decorative bow on the front click clack on the floor as she rushes past.
A few moments passed before Marius appearing in the doorway. His shirt was untucked from his pants, and his hair looked rumpled. He noticed Harper waiting patiently. "Back already?" he asked, running a hand through his hair to straighten it. His voice varied that familiar confidence, though there was a slight breathlessness beneath it. "I hope you have a productive lunch break. Mine certainly was." He stepped aside, gesturing for Harper to enter. The office air smelled faintly of perfume mixed with cologne. Harper cleared her throat. "What is next on the agenda?" she asked professionally. Marius's eyes narrowed slightly at Harper's abrupt question, catching the subtle shift in her tone. He moved back behind his desk, taking a moment to tuck in his shirt and adjust his tie before sitting down. "Straight to business," he remarked dryly, leaning forward with elbows on the desk. "I like that about you, Harper. Always focused." He picked up a pen and tapped it against a black notepad. "Alright then. For the rest of today, I need you to draft responses to these client inquiries." He slid several folders across the desk toward her side.
"The campaign proposals you organized earlier might give you some context," Marius continued smoothly, as if nothing unusual had occurred during lunch. "Prioritize the ones marked 'urgent'. I want first drafts on my desk by close of business." Harper nodded. "I received an email for a meeting request from Mr. Knox," she added quickly. His tapping pen stopped abruptly. He frowned at her announcement, clearly surprised by the interruption to their planned schedule. "Knox? What does he want?" he leaned back in his chair, studying her face intently. "Did he specify what this meeting is about? Design departments rarely concern themselves with advertising campaigns unless there is a problem." His tone became sharper as he waited for an answer. The casual confidence from moments ago evaporated completely, replaced by the authority of someone who expected immediate results.
"Well?" Marius prompted impatiently when Harper hesitated. "Do not keep my guessing. If Knox needs something from us, I need to know now." She shrugged slightly. "Email just requested a meeting for 4 pm. Did not say what it is about. I could ask if you want?" she offered. He considered her offer for a moment, drumming his fingers on the desk. The impatience in his expression softened slightly as he weighed the options. "No, do not bother asking yet," he decided finally. "Knox likes to play games sometimes. Let's see what he actually wants at 4 o'clock." He stood up and walked around the desk to stand closer to where she was, his presence filling the space between them. "You can handle this though," he said confidently. "When Knox arrives, bring him directly to my office. Do not offer him coffee or small talk. Just get him here so we can find out what is so important." His eyes scanned over her professional attire before meeting her gaze again.
"And Harper? Make sure you take notes during whatever nonsense he brings up," Marius instructed with a wry grin. Harper nods. "Well, then I will draft those responses until then," she said professionally as she sat down at her desk and turned to the computer screen. He watches as she settled back into her chair, her fingers already flying across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. A satisfied expression crossed his features as he observed her focus. "That is what I like to see," he murmured, more to himself than to her. He returned to his own seat but did not immediately dive back into work. Instead, he picked up his phone and dialled a quick number. "Knox's office," he announced into the receiver after a brief pause. "This is Marius from advertising. I just got a meeting request for 4 pm today. Care to enlighten me on why you are gracing us with your presence?" There was a short silence while he listened to whatever response came through the line. His jaw tightened slightly, and he exchanged an irritated glances with Harper.
"Fine," Marius sighed heavily into the phone. "4 o'clock it is. But if this is another one of your pointless power plays…" he put the phone down and looked back over to his own computer. 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."