Chapter 4: Welcome to the Team

Alina had always loved first days. The crisp newness of a fresh notepad, the quiet buzz of curiosity, the slightly awkward introductions. But today felt nothing like that. Today, her heels clicked against the polished floors of Zenith Media’s corporate headquarters like tiny hammers pounding against her nerves.

She paused outside the glass conference room, heart fluttering wildly in her chest.

This wasn’t just any first day.

She had made a mistake — an unforgettable, humiliating mistake — and now she was expected to work side by side with the two men at the heart of it.

Ryan.

Daniel.

Alina adjusted the strap of her handbag and took a deep breath. You’re a professional. This is your dream job. You’ve earned this. Whatever happened outside these walls is irrelevant now.

With one last exhale, she pushed the door open.

Inside, the room buzzed with quiet conversation. A long, modern conference table sat in the center, already dotted with tablets, notepads, and half-empty coffee mugs. A few other team members were milling around, and at the head of the table—

Daniel.

He looked up as she walked in, his expression warm and welcoming. “Alina! There you are. We were just about to start.”

She smiled nervously, grateful for his kindness. His voice was just as smooth and steady as it had been in the team meeting at the retreat. He was the type of person who could disarm a room with his presence — confident, composed, but not arrogant.

And yet, as she moved toward the table, her eyes instinctively sought out the man beside him.

Ryan.

He was already seated, a silver laptop open in front of him. His fingers tapped idly on the keyboard, though his eyes met hers the second she entered. His face was unreadable — not cold, not friendly. Just... neutral.

She nodded politely in his direction. He nodded back. That was it.

She took the seat two chairs away from him and focused on the briefing papers in front of her, hoping no one could sense the tension bleeding off her shoulders.

“Alright,” Daniel began, clapping his hands once as he stood. “Welcome to the MetroDrive campaign kickoff. This is one of our biggest accounts this year. High stakes, high visibility, and a ridiculously tight deadline. Which is why we’ve pulled in our top talent — and, I might add, a very promising new team member.”

He gestured toward Alina with a bright smile. “Everyone, meet Alina Kapoor, our newest creative strategist. Alina, you already met Ryan at the retreat, but let me introduce you to the rest of the team…”

As he moved around the room making introductions, Alina nodded, smiling where appropriate, but her mind was only half-present. All she could think about was the fact that she was now officially tethered to this mess — this triangle — for the foreseeable future.

Because yes, she would be working directly with Daniel. The man she had been drawn to even before meeting him. And yes, she would be working just as closely with Ryan — the man she had accidentally, impulsively, slept with under false assumptions.

And worse still, no one knew the truth. Daniel stood before her, professional and kind, completely unaware of the undercurrent of betrayal lingering in the room.

Ryan said nothing.

---

After the introductions, Daniel launched into the campaign overview. “MetroDrive is launching its first electric SUV, and they want something fresh. Edgy, but elegant. Smart, but emotional. Their words, not mine.”

Alina nodded, already jotting down ideas. This was her zone — strategy, storyboarding, emotional branding. She could handle this. She wanted to handle this.

“Alina, since your background includes automotive campaigns from your last agency, we’d love to hear your input,” Daniel added, smiling directly at her.

She straightened. “Of course. I was actually thinking about how we can position the car as more than just an EV — more like a lifestyle statement. Something that appeals not just to eco-conscious consumers but to aspirational buyers too. We could lean into freedom, adventure... possibly even connection.”

Ryan finally spoke.

“That’s a good angle,” he said, voice calm. “But we’ll need to balance that with practicality. MetroDrive wants results. They care about impressions, conversions, and test drives. Emotional branding is fine — if it doesn't lose the numbers.”

His tone wasn’t condescending, but it was clipped. Professional. Alina forced herself not to react.

“I agree,” she replied, cool and steady. “We can use a dual-layered approach. Lead with emotional appeal in the videos and social reels, then tie in the practical selling points through targeted CTA placements.”

Daniel grinned. “I like it. Feels like we’ve got the beginning of a solid pitch already.”

Alina allowed herself a small breath of relief. Maybe, just maybe, they could survive this as coworkers.

---

After the meeting, as people began filing out, Daniel turned to her again. “Alina, you’re off to a great start. Ryan and I both lead this project together, so you’ll be working closely with us. Don’t hesitate to bring bold ideas. We want you to shine.”

She smiled. “Thank you, I really appreciate it.”

Daniel gave her a friendly nod and stepped out to take a call.

And then it was just her and Ryan.

She glanced sideways, wondering if he’d say anything. He didn’t move, but his eyes flicked toward her. “You handled that well.”

She turned slightly toward him. “Thanks.”

There was a pause. Not awkward. Just full.

Then he added, without looking at her, “We’re going to have to be professional about this. Whatever it was.”

Alina nodded, voice low. “I know. It won’t happen again.”

He looked at her finally — and this time, there was something else in his eyes. Regret? Resentment? She couldn’t tell.

“Let’s just do our jobs,” he said flatly. “No distractions.”

She held his gaze. “Fine by me.”

As she picked up her tablet and walked out, her heart thudded in her chest, not from nerves, but from the unmistakable truth—