DEFLATED

Giselle arrived at Blackwood Industries, eager to start her second day. As she settled at her desk, her phone buzzed.

"Mister Hart wants to see you in his office," the receptionist announced.

Giselle's heart skipped a beat.

She gathered her thoughts and made her way to Mister Hart's office.

"Ah, Giselle! Good morning," Mister Hart said, his warm smile welcoming.

"Good morning, sir," she replied.

Mister Hart gestured to a chair.

"I've reviewed your work, and I'm impressed. I think you're ready for a bigger challenge."

He handed her a contract.

"I want you to lead the design team for our new luxury project, Lumina."

Giselle's eyes widened.

"This is...a huge responsibility."

Mister Hart nodded.

"I believe you're up for it. You have exceptional talent and vision."

But doubts crept in.

"Are you sure I'm ready for this? It's a massive project..."

Mister Hart leaned forward, his eyes sparkling.

"Giselle, I wouldn't offer this if I didn't think you could handle it. You have something special. Your unique perspective and creativity will make Lumina shine."

He smiled reassuringly.

"I believed in you from the start. That's why I fought for you to join our team."

Giselle's doubts began to fade.

"You really think I can do this?"

Mister Hart nodded emphatically.

"I know you can. I wouldn't trust anyone else with this project."

Giselle's confidence surged.

"Thank you, Mister Hart. I won't let you down."

Mister Hart beamed.

"I know you won't."

Giselle left Mister Hart's office, contract in hand, feeling elated.

As she walked back to her desk, colleagues congratulated her.

"Way to go, Giselle! You're leading Lumina!"

Giselle smiled, still in awe.

Back at her desk, she began reviewing the contract and project details.

Her phone buzzed.

Mister Hart's text:

"Meet me tomorrow at 9 am to discuss Lumina's concept and timeline."

Giselle nodded to herself.

"Time to get to work."

She spent the evening researching sustainable luxury designs and brainstorming ideas.

The next morning, Giselle arrived at Mister Hart's office, prepared.

"Good morning, Giselle. Let's dive into Lumina's concept," Mister Hart said.

Giselle presented her ideas.

Mister Hart listened attentively.

"I like your thinking. Let's refine the concept and create a timeline."

Together, they outlined:

1. Project scope

2. Design milestones

3. Budget allocation

4. Team assignments

Giselle felt a surge of excitement.

"This is going to be amazing!"

Mister Hart smiled.

"I knew you'd be perfect for this project."

Giselle decided to take a break with a cup of coffee since it has been a long day. She was walking checking messages on her phone and didn't notice the figure in front of her.

BOOM.... She spilled the coffee and her her hit something hard but has a nice manly scent.

She lift her face to look up and no one else but the CEO everyone feared. Roderick Blackwood himself. He's expression was blank, no one could read him at that moment.

"Oh no I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Let me clean it up" she said panicking as she was visibly worried.

"Scoff..."

"How careless..'' Roderick said with his Dio voice almost whispering

The office fell silent.

Everyone stepped back, watching the scene unfold.

Roderick's piercing gaze locked onto Giselle.

"Carelessness, it seems, is a trait you excel in," he said, his voice icy.

Giselle felt her face flush.

"I-I'm so sorry, Mister Blackwood."

Roderick's expression remained unforgiving.

"Apologies are worthless, Miss Giselle. What matters is competence."

The room seemed to shrink, Giselle's embarrassment intensifying.

Mister Hart intervened.

"Giselle, grab some napkins. Mister Blackwood, please accept our apologies."

Giselle hastily grabbed napkins and began dabbing at Roderick's suit.

Roderick's gaze never left hers.

"This incident reflects poorly on your attention to detail, Miss Giselle."

Giselle felt a sting.

"I understand, sir. It won't happen again."

Roderick turned to leave.

"See that it doesn't."

As he walked away, Giselle felt deflated.

As Roderick walked away, the office erupted into whispers.

"Heard she spilled coffee all over the CEO," someone snickered.

"Incompetent, if you ask me," another coworker chimed in.

Giselle's face burned as she returned to her seat, feeling humiliated.

Colleagues glanced at her, their eyes filled with judgment.

"You'd think she'd be more careful," a coworker whispered.

Giselle's eyes stung, her confidence shattered.

Just as tears threatened to fall, a gentle voice interrupted.

"Hey, Giselle, don't let them get to you."

Natasha, a kind-hearted designer, sat beside her.

"It was just a mistake. We've all been there."

Giselle smiled weakly.

"Easy for you to say. You're talented and never mess up."

Natasha chuckled.

"Oh, you'd be surprised! I've had my share of blunders."

Giselle's gaze met Natasha's understanding eyes.

"Thanks, Natasha. You're a lifesaver."

Natasha smiled.

"Anytime, friend. Remember, one mistake doesn't define you."

Giselle took a deep breath, feeling a glimmer of hope.

Giselle spent the rest of the day in a daze, replaying the incident in her mind.

She couldn't shake off the feeling of shame and humiliation.

"What if Mister Blackwood fires me?" she worried.

"What if I run into him again?" she panicked.

Giselle avoided the office corridors, fearing encounters with Roderick or judgmental colleagues.

She hid behind her computer screen, struggling to focus on her work.

Natasha's kind words echoed in her mind, but Giselle couldn't shake off the self-doubt.

As the day drew to a close, Giselle packed her belongings, eager to escape.

"Tomorrow will be better," she told herself.

But as she left the office, she caught a glimpse of Roderick's car parked outside.

Her heart sank.

"What if he's still here?"

Giselle quickened her pace, her anxiety spiking.

Giselle trudged through the front door, her feet heavy with exhaustion.

"Hey, sis! How was your day?" Samuel called out.

Giselle mumbled a quick "Goodnight" and headed straight to her room.

The family exchanged concerned glances.

"Rough day, huh?" Chris whispered.

"Let her have some space. We can talk tomorrow."

Giselle shut her bedroom door, leaning against it.

She let out a deep sigh, releasing the tension.

The day's events replayed in her mind: Roderick's scathing words, colleagues' snickers, and her own embarrassment.

Giselle flopped onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.

Why did today have to be so awful?

She wanted to escape, to forget.

Giselle's phone buzzed with texts from Natasha and the family, checking in.

She ignored them, needing solitude.

As tears threatened to fall, Giselle grabbed her journal.

She poured out her emotions, writing until her hand cramped.

Exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted off to sleep

Roderick Blackwood leaned back in his leather chair, sipping scotch.

Julian St. Clair, his trusted advisor, sat across from him.

"The Lumina designs are impressive, Roderick," Julian said.

Roderick nodded.

"Giselle's work shows promise."

Julian's expression turned serious.

"Speaking of Giselle, I heard about the coffee incident."

Roderick raised an eyebrow.

"What about it?"

Julian hesitated.

"Some staff members felt your reaction was...harsh."

Roderick snorted.

"Carelessness deserves criticism. She was lucky I didn't fire her on the spot."

Julian leaned forward.

"Perhaps, but public humiliation wasn't necessary. You know how sensitive creatives can be."

Roderick's gaze hardened.

"I didn't humiliate her. I stated facts. She spilled coffee on me. That's incompetence."

Julian sighed.

"Roderick, sometimes compassion—"

Roderick cut him off.

"Compassion is a weakness, Julian. In business, you must be ruthless."

Julian's eyes narrowed.

"What about empathy? Understanding?"

Roderick shrugged.

"Sentiments for the weak. I built Blackwood Industries on precision and excellence."

Julian's expression hinted at disapproval.

"Excellence without humanity is hollow, Roderick."

Roderick's face darkened.

"I didn't become CEO by coddling feelings."

The tension between them was palpable.

Julian sensed the tension and decided to shift gears.

"Remember when we were kids, Roderick? Summer vacations at Grandfather's estate?"

Roderick's expression softened, ever so slightly.

Julian smiled.

"Who could forget? You always won at chess, but I beat you at horseback riding."

Roderick's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Only because I let you."

Julian chuckled.

"Modest as ever."

The tension dissipated, replaced by warmth.

Roderick leaned forward, cradling his scotch.

"Do you recall that time we snuck into Grandfather's study?"

Julian's eyes sparkled.

"And found those old business letters?"

Roderick laughed.

"We thought we'd discovered treasures."

Their shared laughter filled the room.

For a moment, the CEO and advisor roles faded.

They were just two old friends reminiscing.

Julian seized the opportunity.

"Roderick, sometimes I worry you're losing sight of what truly matters."

Roderick's gaze narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Julian's voice was gentle.

"Family, friendships, compassion...they make life richer."

Roderick's expression turned introspective.

Perhaps Julian's words struck a chord.