26. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Bridge Over Troubled Water
T he day had shifted into late afternoon when Cassie, Alex, and Kellan gathered around the whiteboard in the conference room, coffee cups in hand and notebooks already half-filled with scribbles.
The blinds were up, sunlight filtering through, and there was an energy in the room—focused, creative, and charged.
They’d spent the morning brainstorming possible clients for the expansion project, batting ideas back and forth with growing excitement. Every name was weighed, researched, then discarded—until Cassie paused, her eyes lighting up.
“I have someone,” she said, reaching for her laptop. “Horizon Media. We pitched them two years ago, but the timing wasn’t right. New leadership now, bigger budget, and they’re actively searching for a fresh agency. This could be perfect.”
Alex leaned in, interested. “Do you have a contact? ”
“I do,” Cassie said, already typing. “I’ll make the call.”
That afternoon, she got through to Horizon’s Director of Marketing and secured a meeting—two weeks out. Just enough time to pull together something amazing.
***
Over the next two weeks, the three of them became a powerhouse team.
Cassie and Alex, finally in sync, collaborated with a kind of intuitive rhythm—finishing each other’s sentences, building off one another’s ideas, the tension between them now tinged with something gentler.
At times, Kellan would glance up from their screen to find the two of them standing close, shoulders nearly brushing, eyes locked as they argued—passionately, playfully—over a design tweak or strategy point.
There were shared smiles over morning coffee, hands brushing as they reached for the same marker, subtle glances across the table during moments of agreement that lingered a beat too long. They worked long hours, but no one seemed to mind.
And as the pitch came together, so did something else—quiet, tentative, and hopeful.
***
The day before the pitch, the team gathered in the conference room, the walls covered in mockups and bullet points, the air thick with anticipation.
Cassie was animated, walking through the final flow of the presentation. “But I still think we should include the community engagement initiative. It speaks directly to Horizon’s new brand mission and sets us apart.”
Kellan looked uncertain. “I don’t disagree—it’s a great idea. I just don’t know if it’s fully baked yet.”
Cassie turned to Alex, her brow raised. “What do you think?”
Alex smiled thoughtfully, clearly weighing both sides. “I think… if we can tighten the language and present it as a phased idea, not a demand—it could land really well. It’s bold. But bold might be exactly what they’re looking for.”
Cassie grinned. “Yes. Exactly.”
Kellan sighed with a good-natured groan. “I don’t know. It still seems… pushy.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Kellan?” Cassie smirked.
They all laughed. The mood was light, hopeful—until the door creaked open.
Leah stepped inside without knocking, a tablet in hand, her expression immediately putting everyone on edge. She looked hesitant, dejected even, like she was about to deliver the last thing anyone in that room wanted to hear.
Cassie straightened. “Leah?”
Leah sighed, crossing her arms. “I—” She hesitated, then finally said it. “We have to cancel the pitch to Horizon.”
Silence overtook the room. Cassie’s pen stilled in her hand. Kellan blinked as if they had misheard her.
Alex sat up, their entire body going rigid. “What?”
Leah swallowed. “It wasn’t my call. The directive came from higher up. Apparently, even if we landed Horizon, they won’t approve hiring additional staff to execute the pitch. So, there’s no point in going forward. ”
Cassie felt like she’d just been punched in the gut. “That makes zero sense.”
Kellan shook their head. “We planned for this. We budgeted. We showed how profitable it would be long term. Who the hell is saying no?”
Leah exhaled slowly, looking pained. “I don’t know. I asked Eddie directly, but all he said was that it’s ‘not feasible at this time.’”
Cassie’s frustration sharpened. “You asked him? And he wouldn’t give you a straight answer?”
Leah shook her head. “I’ve known him for years, but I don’t know him like that.”
Cassie’s eyes flicked to Alex, who hadn’t said a word.
Because Alex wasn’t just frustrated. They weren’t just disappointed. They were furious.
Their hands were curled into fists, their breathing shallow, and their entire body radiated restrained rage. Not the calm, measured professionalism they’d shown before. This was different.
Kellan noticed too, exchanging a look with Cassie. Leah, catching on, hesitated. “Alex?”
Cassie narrowed her eyes. “This is personal, isn’t it?”
Alex stared at the table, jaw clenched so tightly it might crack. Then, finally, they looked up. “It was him.” Their voice was flat, but underneath it was an ocean of anger.
Leah shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t—”
Alex cut her off. “My father.”
No one spoke.
Leah glanced at Kellan and Cassie, looking unsure. “I honestly don’t know, Alex. ”
But they didn’t need her to confirm it. Alex already knew. Their father wouldn’t help them succeed, but he sure as hell wouldn’t hesitate to block them. And now? Now Alex was done playing fair.
Without another word, they shoved back their chair and stormed out of the conference room.
“Alex—” Cassie started, but they were already gone.
Kellan let out a low whistle. “Uh… should we follow?”
Cassie shook her head. “No.” She glanced toward the door, tension tightening in her chest. “This is something Alex has to handle.”
***
Alex didn’t knock. They pushed straight into the CEO’s office, their presence alone enough to make Eddie Hughes’ assistant jolt in surprise.
“Alex—” she started, but Eddie—who was already looking up—raised a hand to cut her off.
“Hold my calls,” Eddie said simply.
The assistant nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Eddie exhaled, setting down his pen. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”
Alex stalked forward, their blood boiling. “It was him, wasn’t it?”
Eddie said nothing, his face a mask—stoic but gentle.
Alex’s voice dropped, low and dangerous, hands clenching at their sides. “Was it my father?”
For the briefest second, there was hesitation on Eddie’s face. A flicker.
And that was all Alex needed. Their stomach twisted, anger mixing with something bitter and painful .
Eddie sighed, briefly dropping his chin to his chest. “Alex, sit down.”
“I don’t want to sit down.” Their fists began to tremble at their sides. “I want to know if my father just sabotaged my work. Again.”
Eddie pressed his lips together, then leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Your father isn’t trying to sabotage you.”
Alex let out a harsh laugh. “Right. He just happened to block the biggest opportunity I’ve worked on since moving here.”
Eddie exhaled. “He’s trying to protect you.”
Alex’s nails dug into their palms. “Bullshit. He doesn’t want me to succeed.”
Eddie shook his head. “He doesn’t want you to fail.”
Alex’s breath hitched, eyes widening.
Sensing a brief crack in Alex’s shields, Eddie leaned forward. “Your father knows what happens when you overextend. He’s seen agencies crash from taking on too much, too soon. He doesn’t want that for you. He doesn’t want you to—”
“To what? Prove I can do this without him?” Alex’s voice was sharp, cutting. “He doesn’t get to protect me from making my own goddamn choices.”
Eddie watched them carefully, unreadable.
Alex clenched their jaw. “This isn’t about me failing. It’s about control. He can’t stand that I don’t need him.”
Eddie said nothing. Because, deep down he knew Alex was at least partly right, his face echoing his thoughts.
The truth settled in Alex’s chest like fire, burning hot and consuming. They straightened. “Reverse the decision.”
Eddie sighed, rubbing his temple. “Alex—”
“Reverse it.” Alex’s voice was cold and unyielding. Their eyes staring like daggers, fixed. Unblinking. “Or I’ll walk. ”
Eddie’s eyes darkened. “You wouldn’t.”
Alex lifted their chin. “Try me.” Alex held their gaze, the seconds stretching out painfully.
Then, slowly, Eddie sighed. “Give me until the end of the day.”
Alex didn’t even blink. “We don’t have until the end of the day.” Their voice was calm, deadly serious. “You have an hour.”
Eddie’s gaze sharpened, assessing them. Then, slowly, he nodded.
Alex turned on their heel and walked out, the door shutting behind them with a click that reverberated in the silence.
And for the first time in their life, Alex didn’t feel powerless.
***
Alex stormed back into the conference room, their jaw clenched and shoulders tight. The tension in their body hadn’t eased, and the fire in their eyes was unmistakable.
Leah, still by the door, hesitated before asking, “Was it him?”
Alex didn’t answer. They dropped into their chair and pulled the pitch deck toward them, flipping through it with sharp, deliberate movements.
Leah looked at Kellan, who only shrugged, before trying again. “Alex—”
“I said we’re doing this pitch,” Alex cut her off, their voice firm.
Cassie watched them carefully. She could see the hurt simmering just beneath the surface, barely contained. She got it. She felt it too.
“Leah, Kellan,” Cassie said gently, her gaze never leaving Alex. “Can you give us a minute?”
Leah hesitated, looking between them .
Kellan raised a brow but ultimately nodded. “Yeah, sure.” They both stepped out, the door clicking shut behind them.
Cassie leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Alex.”
Alex didn’t look up.
Cassie watched them, noting the way their fingers tightened around the edge of the paper. The way their chest rose and fell with controlled breaths. The way they were clearly still seething but refusing to let it fully show.
“I know you’re pissed,” she said quietly. “You have every right to be. But I also know something else.”
That got Alex to glance up, if only slightly.
Cassie continued. “You’ve been carrying the weight of this situation from the start. Not just the job. All of it. And today just proved what I already knew… you’re not here because of your last name. You’re here because you belong here.”
Alex’s shoulders dropped a fraction. Their jaw softened.
“I see you,” Cassie said, voice low and honest. “And I trust you.”
That vulnerability broke something loose in Alex. Their eyes glistened, though they blinked quickly to keep it at bay. They looked down at the pitch deck, then back up at her. “That part you wanted to add… the one Kellan wasn’t sure about?”
Cassie tilted her head.
“Add it,” Alex said.
A small smile curved at the edge of Cassie’s lips. She nodded and marked the edit without another word.
Outside the conference room, Kellan peered through the glass wall, watching them. Cassie and Alex were working side by side, heads bent close, fingers brushing occasionally as they typed and revised. They were leaning into each other without realizing it.
Kellan nudged Leah. “Look at that. ”
Leah followed their gaze, eyebrows lifting in surprise.
Kellan whistled. “Ten bucks says they don’t even realize they’re on the same page right now.”
Leah smirked. “Not taking that bet.”
They stepped inside again, careful not to break the flow. Cassie and Alex barely noticed, too focused, too in sync. Kellan and Leah exchanged another glance but stayed quiet, letting the magic happen.
Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again. But this time, it was Eddie that stepped just inside the door frame.
A hush fell over the room. It wasn’t unheard of for Eddie to drop into meetings unannounced, but it was definitely not common.
Alex immediately stiffened, their grip tightening on their pen. Cassie reached over without thinking and placed a hand briefly on Alex’s arm. It was grounding. It was enough.
Eddie’s gaze swept across the room before landing on Alex. He nodded once. “Make your pitch.”
And just like that, he turned on his heel and walked right back out.
The four of them sat in silence, staring as the door slowly drifted close in Eddie’s wake, the soft click the first sound to break the stillness.
“HELL YES!” Kellan whooped, fist-pumping the air.
Leah grinned wide, relief evident on her face. “Oh my God, we’re actually doing this.”
Cassie didn’t cheer. She just turned to Alex, her expression serious but warm. “What did you do?”
Alex met her gaze, calm now, composed. “I showed him the numbers again.”
Cassie held their stare, searching. She could push. She wanted to. But instead, she offered a soft nod. “Then let’s finish this.”
Alex gave a quiet smile. And just like that, they did.