Chapter 7 Perfection or nothing

The week had dragged on, each day blending into the next. It was like I was stuck in a loop-work, meetings, the occasional interaction with Elliot that made my stomach twist in ways I couldn't explain, and then back to work. The usual. But something was different now. Something had shifted, and I wasn't sure how to deal with it.

It wasn't just the project. It wasn't just the constant push and pull between me and Elliot. It was... everything.

I spent my days in the office, pushing through spreadsheets and meetings, but my mind kept wandering. I kept thinking about how, despite all of the professional masks we wore, Elliot and I were playing a game-a game neither of us had fully figured out yet. It felt like a test, and I wasn't sure if I was passing or failing. I couldn't ignore the way our exchanges left me thinking about him long after the words were spoken.

That morning, when I checked my email, I noticed a message from Mark, which was rare. He usually communicated in person. But there it was, sitting in my inbox.

Clara, there's a meeting tomorrow with the board. They're interested in the progress of the project and want an update. It's crucial that you're there. I know you've been doing a great job, but they need to see the results firsthand. Come prepared with everything you've got.

The weight of his message hit me hard. This meeting was big. No, it was huge. If I could convince the board that we were on track, that I knew exactly what I was doing, it would seal my place here. I would be seen as indispensable. That's exactly what I needed-what I had worked for all these years.

But my stomach tightened at the thought of presenting in front of Elliot. Even though I was prepared and confident, the idea of facing him in a high-stakes environment made my nerves flare. He had a way of scrutinizing everything I did, making sure I was never comfortable enough to slack off. It wasn't malicious-at least, I didn't think so-but it still felt like he was always watching, waiting for me to make a mistake.

I had to be perfect. There was no other option.

That evening, I stayed late at the office, going over every detail of the presentation. My laptop was open, the projector was set up, and I was running through the slides for the fifth time when I heard a knock on the door.

I glanced up to see Elliot standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. He was dressed in a dark suit, his tie loosened slightly, his expression unreadable.

"You still here?" he asked, stepping into the room. "I thought you'd be done by now."

"I want to make sure everything's perfect," I replied, not hiding the tension in my voice. "It's a big presentation tomorrow."

He nodded, his eyes flicking over the presentation on the screen. "You've been working hard. I'll give you that. But you don't have to do this alone."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, leaning against the wall. "We're in this together, Clara. I know the pressure is on you, but we're a team. And I'm not going to let you carry all the weight."

I tried to focus on the slides, pretending his words didn't stir something inside me. I wasn't used to this-this feeling that he was being more than just a colleague. But that wasn't what mattered. What mattered was that I needed to prove myself, and I didn't need anyone's help to do it.

"I've got it under control," I said, glancing at him briefly. "Thanks, but I can handle it."

He studied me for a moment, and then nodded, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Okay. Just don't burn yourself out. You're too valuable to the team for that."

As he left the room, I couldn't help but feel the weight of his words. And maybe that's what bothered me the most-that for the first time, Elliot wasn't just pushing me to do my best. He was looking out for me, in a way that made it harder to ignore the growing tension between us.

---

Elliot's POV

I watched Clara as she prepared for the meeting, the way she meticulously reviewed every detail, checking and rechecking her work. I had to admit, I admired her dedication. But there was something more. I had seen how she operated in the field, how she led with confidence, but this-this felt different. There was a vulnerability in the way she handled this presentation. I could see it in the tightness of her shoulders, the way her fingers hovered over the keyboard as if she was afraid to make a mistake.

It wasn't just the project. It wasn't just the board. It was something else that was making her so determined to prove herself.

I had been watching her for weeks now, trying to figure out what it was about her that made me feel like I needed to be close to her, to protect her from whatever it was that had her so rattled. But I wasn't sure if it was a sense of responsibility, or something else. Either way, I couldn't get her out of my head.

I stood at the door for a moment longer, taking one last look at Clara as she worked. There was a fire in her that I had come to admire-something that kept pushing her forward, even when she didn't seem to have it all together. And that was what made her different. She didn't rely on anyone's help, even when she clearly needed it.

I walked out of the room, my mind buzzing with unanswered questions. What was it about Clara that kept pulling me in? And what would happen when we finally got everything out in the open?

---

The night before the meeting, I barely slept. My mind kept racing with questions, strategies, and doubts. I wanted to do well. I wanted to show them all that I could handle it. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something-someone-was going to throw me off track.

The next morning, I arrived at the office early, my stomach a knot of nerves. I glanced over the presentation one last time, double-checking everything, making sure I had covered all my bases. And then the door opened.

It was Elliot.

And as he walked into the room, I knew something was about to change.