UrbanCraft Bistro & Bar

Kiara chuckled, "Come out of it, Kayla. You know it can't be. This is just an honest friendship request."

"Okay, if you say so," Kayla teased, ending the conversation with a wink. "Do take care."

With a smile, Kiara bid farewell, "Bye."

As Nolan sat in the car, Kayla shouted, "Bye, Nolan!" to which he responded with a cheerful, "Byee."

_ _

The next day, Darren immersed himself in his work, fervently exploring strategies to navigate the intricate challenges posed by the business at hand.

Methodically, he compiled a wealth of information, meticulously arranging insights and potential solutions, fueled by a burning determination.

As he delved deeper into his research, Darren envisioned a pivotal moment—a meeting with Kiara, where he could set aside his pride and share the carefully gathered knowledge, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding.

—-

At the office space, Nolan's inquiry echoed in written words, carried by a trusted colleague to Kiara in her dedicated workspace.

"You haven't still decided the place and time ." The words on the paper wrote.

As she unfolded the paper, a genuine smile graced her face, revealing the satisfaction of the message within.

Responding in kind, she carefully crafted a text, steering Nolan toward their rendezvous point with a teasing sense of mystery.

"Meet me at UrbanCraft Bistro & Bar, by 2pm" her words danced on the screen, holding a promise of an enjoyable lunch. Nolan, receiving the message, felt a surge of anticipation and gratitude.

Confirming the details, he reinforced the temporal aspect, sealing their lunch plans with a firm, "2 pm it is.

In the dynamic rhythm of the office, a colleague leaned in, bearing news that disrupted the cadence of Kiara's work.

"Mr. Darren asks after you," the message hung in the air, prompting Kiara's curiosity.

"Really? Any idea what he needs?" Kiara inquired, her attention fully engaged.

"He wants you in his office now," came the prompt response, urgency underscoring the words.

"Alright, thanks for the heads-up," Kiara replied with a nod, gracefully navigating the unexpected shift in her priorities.

As she reached the office, the conversation broke out between her and Darren.

"Good day, sir," Kiara greeted, cautiously entering Darren's office.

"Good day," Darren replied with a forced smile, gesturing for her to take a seat.

As she settled into the chair, Darren inquired, "How are you today?"

"Fine, thank you," Kiara stammered, still somewhat taken aback by his unexpected kindness.

Leaning back in his chair, Darren continued, "You should be aware now of the task placed before us.

The CEO informed me that we'll be working together."

With a touch of sarcasm, Darren added, "It's quite unfortunate, but what can I do?"

Kiara, sensing the need to maintain a professional demeanor, sat down and looked at him.

Despite her internal turmoil, she suppressed any visible signs of frustration.

"What time is it for the next break?" Darren asked, shifting the conversation.

"2 pm," Kiara replied, glancing at her watch.

"Perfect! Meet me at UrbanCraft Bistro & Bar by 2 pm. There are some details we need to iron out," Darren instructed.

"Uhhhh…." Kiara hesitated, realizing that was the same time and place she had planned to meet Nolan.

"Ok, sir," she finally responded, a subtle hint of disappointment in her voice.

"You can take your leave now," Darren said, refocusing on his computer as Kiara left the office, contemplating the overlapping schedules and the tasks ahead.

Upon Kiara's arrival at her office, a sense of urgency propelled her to reach for her phone, the device becoming a conduit for a shift in plans.

In a swift message, she conveyed to Nolan a change in her availability, a delicate note of adjustment to their planned rendezvous.

"I will no longer be available by 2 pm," her words, typed with consideration, hinted at a need for flexibility.

The prospect of their date lingered, as she suggested finding an alternative time which left Kiara navigating the intricate intersection of work and personal life.

—--

"Hushh! Kiara, you really shouldn't be letting thoughts of your date with Nolan overshadow the importance of your meeting with Darren," Kayla advised, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial tone as they exchanged concerns in the hallway.

Kiara hesitated, "No... but," expressing a lingering worry on her face.

"No ifs or buts," Kayla interrupted, assuming a reassuring posture against the entrance door to the hall.

"Remember, Nolan is just a friend, but Darren is your boss. Business should always come first before friendship in these situations."

"I just didn't want to hurt Nolan's feelings; he was so excited about this," Kiara confessed, grappling with the emotional side of the dilemma.

Kayla placed a comforting hand on Kiara's shoulder, "One thing I know for sure is that Nolan won't take it the wrong way; he'll understand.

Besides, you've already sent him a message ahead of time. Now, let's focus on you preparing for the meeting with Mr. Darren Hernandez."

As they walked towards the office space, Kayla shifted the conversation. "I overheard the two of you have been selected to work with 'Epic Verse Publishers.'

Congratulations! It hasn't been officially announced yet, so I haven't been able to congratulate you properly, I'll still pretend I don't know," she said with a playful chuckle, injecting a sense of camaraderie into the moment.

"Where did you hear that from?" Kiara was shocked to know that the information of her working with Darren had already spread even without sharing the news."

Kayla replied with a mild laughter, "well, the things you might think we don't know, are the things we know of in this company.

_ _

Later that afternoon, Kiara strided into the restaurant, exuding confidence in every step.

Her attire which was a perfect blend of professionalism and style, drew fleeting glances from other patrons.

Spotting Darren at the bar, she approached him with a determined yet friendly demeanor.

Despite the cordial greeting, her smile carries a hint of formality.

As they sit down to discuss business, Kiara maintains a professional tone, focusing on the task at hand while keeping a polite but measured distance in her interactions with Darren.

Amidst the discussion, Darren tactfully shifts the conversation, leaning slightly forward, glancing at the menu as he asks,

"Have you had a chance to look at the menu? Any preferences or dietary restrictions I should keep in mind while ordering?"

Offering a touch of warmth to the conversation, Kiara replied

"Perhaps something with a mix of flavors or any specialties the restaurant is known for? I'm sure your choice will be delightful."

Kiara's warm suggestion received a cool response from Darren. "Fine. I'll pick something. No need to make a production out of it," he retorts, his tone reflecting the strained dynamics between them.

"Is there anything specific you have in mind or anything you'd like to address regarding our upcoming task?"

"No not really, let me hear from you first"

With a subtle gesture, Darren retrieves his laptop from its case, placing it on the table. "I thought we could go through the details here. What are your thoughts?" he suggests, ready to delve into the business matters at hand.

Darren leans in, his tone thoughtful yet enthusiastic.

"I've been mulling over some strategies to make our collaboration on the book-to-movie adaptation truly stand out.

"Let's nail down a partnership framework for clear communication. I'm thinking of unified branding to connect book and movie promotions seamlessly.

"We can sync production calendars for efficiency and leverage data analytics.

"What's your take on that?" Pausing, he awaits Kiara's response, ready to discuss additional ideas.

"Sounds solid, Mr. Darren, I'm onboard with the partnership framework, unified branding, and the practicality of syncing calendars. Data analytics is a must. Let's also explore cross-promotional events and optimize our online presence.

"Yes yes", Darren said in agreement.