The project

"Click!" The key in the office door turned. Julie felt confused. "What are you doing?" She asked as she watched Steven unlock the door.

When Steven turned the knob and pulled the door, it creaked open. He did not reply to her request or previous questions as he walked out of Julie's office. There were so many mixed emotions going on inside his head, and Steven did not want to say something that would hurt her more or make them argue.

"Bang!" The door slammed shut, and Julie was left standing alone with various thoughts running through her mind.

"I should have known this would not have ended well," Julie said as she tried to keep her balance. However, Julie was unsuccessful in keeping it together. She missed her steps, fell back a little, and landed on her desk.

'I mean, he's in his thirties, and I am asking him to keep us a secret like we are still in high school.' Julie thought, feeling like she should have said nothing to Steven.

"Beep!" Her phone vibrated. Julie stopped sitting on the edge of the desk and took her phone out of her bag. There was a text symbol on the screen, and she clicked on it.

"If you want this relationship to be a secret, then I agree with your request. Do you mind having a meal with me at a restaurant this afternoon?" The text message stated.

Julie smiled like a cheery person. She let out a sigh of relief. Steven's message was not what Julie expected, but it was the exact words she needed to hear. Julie responded to his message without hesitation.

"Buzz..." Steven took his phone out of his pocket and smiled before entering the conference room.

"Good morning, Chris and Jackson!" Steven announced as he took his seat. He gazed at his best friend and could tell that Jackson was nervous. His buddy kept tapping his fingertips on the table anxiously.

Jackson was a bold man, and Steven loved that about his friend. Therefore, he did not judge his buddy for being nervous since this was Jackson's lifelong dream, and everything about his future intentions was riding on him convincing Chris to invest in his project.

The conference room felt tense. Everyone seemed to be nervous except Chris. He kept his cool and remained patient, even though he had been here since this morning, and his time got wasted a little. However, that did not upset him.

Steven then gazed at Chris, and he could not believe a man could be that stunning. His Strong Silent personality, bold fashion sense, and his striking look made Chris appear like the type of guy you want to be friends with, but you don't introduce your girlfriend to him.

"Not to waste any more time. Jackson, you can begin with your presentation of the project." Steven announces. His buddy gazes at him, and Steven nods his head a little.

Jackson stood and approached the projectile. Before he begins his explanation, Jackson looks at Steven and notices that his friend was whispering something, so he reads Steven's lip. "You will do great. Don't worry! I believe in you." His buddy told him, then Steven smiled. That little encouragement boosted Jackson's confidence to a hundred percent.

"Here we go," Jackson mumbled to himself before starting his display.

"Imagine a life in which you didn't have to plug all of your electronics into a wall by using wireless electricity." He said in his opening introduction.

After three hours of back-and-forth discussions, the conference ended. Chris and Steven rose from their seat and clapped with a pleasant expression. Steven felt proud of his brother's intelligence. He could feel the passion in every word that Jackson said, and it just proves to him how much this project meant to his friend.

"I told you before Jackson that your ideas are excellent. Now, I must get my board members acknowledgment for this proposal and make them see it brilliantly as I do. Grant me two weeks, and I will get back to you." Chris said with excitement in his eyes.

The room was voiceless for a while after his statement. "Perfect! We will be expecting your final approval." Steven replied to Chris, attempting to break the silence.

Chris walked up to Jackson, and they shook hands. Next, he approaches Steven, and they exchange handshakes.

"Since we have settled this matter, I will take my leave then." Chris responded to Steven.

The two men left the conference room together, leaving Jackson alone after Steven offered to walk Chris out.

Jackson felt depleted from the explanation he had presented. Yet he still had doubts that he may have performed satisfactorily. There was so much he wanted to say but left some out.

"Do you believe Chris will want to invest in this project?" Jackson asked Steven when he entered the conference room after he had guarded Chris outside the company.

"Brother, you worry a lot. If they challenged me to put my head on a blade for someone that would win Chris's investment, it would be you." Steven replied, but he could tell that Jackson still had doubts.

Jackson's mind got occupied with the idea that if he had explained every detail of his project step by step, then he wouldn't feel this stressful. He did not even have space in his mind to allow Steven's words to have a positive effect.

"Come here!" Steven ordered Jackson, and his friend moved closer to him. He grabbed Jackson in that instant and gave him a brotherly hug.

"You did well today. You work hard, and you earn my gratitude. I love you, bro." Steven said, and that was enough to clear up Jackson's insecurities.

'"I love you too, man!" Jackson replied as he tapped Steven on the back.

It was an emotional moment for these two friends. But they had each other to lean on. It meant the world to both of them to be each other's brother's keeper.

"Did you talk with Julie? You seem distracted when you first came into the room." Jackson asked.