Morning at Orion Creative Studio.

 The office looked like controlled chaos.

Designers arguing about fonts.

Someone yelling about a campaign deadline.

Coffee machines working overtime.

Aria stood by the desk, a notebook in hand. She looked down at its open pages.

New job.

New office.

New life.

And she was already overwhelmed.

Intern: First day?

Aria: Is it that obvious?

Intern: You’re still smiling.

Aria laughed.

Aria: Give me two hours.

Suddenly the entire floor went quiet.

Not normal quiet.

Respect quiet.

Someone whispered.

Designer: He’s here.

Aria looked up and saw him.

Kael Voss walked across the floor.

Tall.

Sharp jaw.

Black shirt rolled to the elbows.

Calm.

Controlled.

And completely uninterested in everything around him.

Aria blinked.

Aria (whispering): That’s the creative director?

Intern: The boss.

Aria: He looks like he hates creativity.

Intern: He hates people.

That was reassuring.

Kael stopped near a designer’s desk.

Designer: The perfume campaign draft is ready.

Kael glanced at it for two seconds.

Kael: The concept is weak.

Designer: It took three weeks -

Kael: Then three weeks were wasted.

Ouch.

He walked away.

Aria raised an eyebrow.

Aria: Charming.

Intern: He wasn’t always like that.

Aria: What happened?

Intern: No one knows.

Across the room Kael suddenly stopped.

He turned.

And looked directly at Aria.

She froze.

Had she said something out loud?

Their eyes locked.

For just a moment.

Something curious flickered in his expression.

Not interest.

More like recognition of someone new in the room.

Then he walked away.

Aria exhaled.

Aria: Okay… he’s intimidating.

Hold off. He always says no to the opening pitch.

Aria: Oh, he will.

Yet everything shifted unexpectedly.

While everyone else looked afraid of him…

Aria looked curious.

________________________________________

Later – Creative Meeting

Aria sat at the edge of the long table.

Her first brainstorming meeting.

Kael stood near the screen.

Kael: The new fragrance campaign must feel authentic.

Designer: Romantic?

Kael: No.

Copywriter: Luxurious?

Kael: Predictable.

Aria muttered quietly.

Aria: Honest.

The room went silent.

She didn’t realize she said it out loud.

Kael slowly turned toward her.

Kael: Explain.

Oh.

Great.

First day and already in danger.

Aria swallowed.

Aria: People don’t buy perfume because of luxury.

Kael watched her.

Aria: They buy it because it reminds them of someone.

The room stayed quiet.

Aria continued.

Aria: A memory. A moment. A person they can’t forget.

Kael studied her carefully.

Longer than necessary.

Kael: Name?

Aria: Aria Vale.

Kael: New writer.

Aria nodded.

Kael turned back to the screen.

Kael spoke up. The room had been quiet too long. A real thought finally arrived, he said. This one actually made sense.

Half the room looked offended.

Aria blinked.

Intern whispered.

Intern: You just survived your first meeting.

Then again, Kael made a move nobody saw coming.

His eyes found her once more.

Hold still. For only that moment.

Now here it comes - something never seen before

A hint of warmth touched his face.

________________________________________

End Scene

When the last person stepped out of the meeting room,

Kael spoke without looking at her.

Kael: Aria.

She stopped.

Aria: Yes?

Kael: Don’t get comfortable.

Pause.

Kael: It takes more than that to impress me.

She smiled slightly.

Aria: Good.

His eyes moved toward her.

Aria finds simple fights a bit dull. She’d rather face something tougher now and then.

Just then -Kael almost smiled.

Curiosity begins.