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The office was finally beginning to calm after a whirlwind morning when Amanda's phone buzzed with an urgent message from the PR director:
"Celebrity from Saturday's shoot is here. Wants to meet with Ms. Mathews about a potential collaboration on Amanda's campaign. Immediate."
Amanda's brows shot up. Now? The shoot had only wrapped two days ago. She hadn't expected interest so quickly, especially from this caliber of star.
She pushed away from her desk, adrenaline buzzing through her veins, and immediately began pulling campaign boards, design proofs, and updated schedules.
Within minutes, she had transformed Conference Room A into a polished pitch setting—mock-ups clipped to easels, mood boards neatly displayed, water glasses refreshed.
The energy on the floor shifted as whispers spread. Assistants darted past with folders, interns peeked over cubicles, and someone murmured, "Did I just see them in the lobby? No way..."
When the celebrity finally stepped through the glass doors—flanked by their manager, sunglasses perched on their head, charisma radiating like a spotlight—the office practically vibrated.
Amanda greeted them first, extending a steady hand. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. We're excited to hear your thoughts."
Her tone was calm, professional. Inside, her heart hammered.
Ericka swept in moments later, every bit the CEO, her navy suit sharp enough to cut glass.
She gave the celebrity a nod of greeting before taking her seat at the head of the table.
But Amanda caught the flicker of surprise in her emerald eyes as she glanced at the boards.
She hadn't been briefed, and yet... she said nothing, simply trusting Amanda to lead.
The celebrity leaned forward, tapping a hand against the campaign board Amanda had centered on the table. "This vision—bold, clean, powerful. I want in. Let's talk collaboration. Exclusives, cross-brand content, global rollout."
A current of excitement shot through the room. Amanda swallowed hard, then stepped forward, laser-focused.
She outlined her vision, layering strategy over design. How the campaign's theme aligned perfectly with the celebrity's current brand push. How their combined influence would create cross-market traction. How exclusives could double the reach and push the company into a whole new demographic.
Amanda spoke clearly, with conviction, gesturing at the boards with controlled precision. Staff scribbled notes as the celebrity nodded along, visibly engaged.
All the while, Ericka watched. Silent. Measured. Her eyes never left Amanda—calculating, yes, but also something softer, proud.
When Amanda finished, the celebrity's grin was sharp and genuine. "That's the energy I want to tie my name to. You get it. You really get it."
Amanda exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, shoulders loosening slightly.
Then Ericka's voice slid in, smooth and decisive, filling the room with quiet authority. "Then we'll make it happen. Amanda will take point on execution—with full authority."
Amanda's head whipped toward her, eyes widening. "Full authority?"
Ericka only smirked, leaning back in her chair. "You've already proven this is yours. No reason to hide it."
There was a beat of silence as the celebrity nodded, clearly satisfied. Hands were shaken, contracts noted, and within minutes the room was alive with staff chatter, already buzzing about the scale of what had just been agreed.
As the celebrity and their team exited, Amanda gathered her things with steady hands, though her pulse thundered in her ears. She followed Ericka back to her office, shutting the door behind them.
Amanda set the files on the desk. "You didn't have to put me on the spot like that. In front of everyone."
Ericka rose slowly, circling the desk until she stood close enough for Amanda to catch the faint trace of her perfume. Her eyes glinted with quiet pride. "Didn't I? You were the star of that meeting, Amanda. All I did was make sure the rest of them recognized it."
Amanda blinked, words caught in her throat. "...You really trust me with this."
"I don't just trust you." Ericka's voice softened, her hand brushing Amanda's arm with the kind of touch she only reserved for private moments. "I believe in you. And after today, so does everyone else."
Amanda's chest tightened, her smirk faltering into something warmer, deeper. "Good. Because I'm going to make you proud."
Ericka smiled, rare and soft. "You already do."
The elevator doors slid shut behind the celebrity and their team, and the whole office seemed to hold its breath. Heads peeked over cubicle walls, whispers buzzed in corners, eyes darted between closed office doors.
Amanda stepped out first, campaign folder tucked under her arm. For a split second she kept her face perfectly professional, scanning the floor like she was about to issue instructions. Then she broke into a grin so wide it lit up the entire space.
"We got it!" she announced, her voice carrying clear across the floor. She lifted the folder in triumph. "The collaboration is official—they're on board for the campaign!"
The room erupted. Cheers, applause, even a few whoops broke out from the design team clustered near the back. Someone banged on a desk, another shouted, "Yes, Amanda!" The tension that had been building all morning spilled into a wave of relief and celebration.
Amanda laughed, unable to hide her joy as she spun once in the middle of the floor, her energy infectious. "You guys—you just made history with this shoot. It's going to change everything."
From her office doorway, Ericka appeared, arms folded, watching the scene unfold. The CEO mask was still on, but the tiny curve of her lips gave her away. She didn't have to say anything—just her presence was enough to steady the room.
Amanda caught her eye and gave the smallest nod of acknowledgment before turning back to the team. "Alright, let's ride this momentum. Notes will be sent out by the end of the day, but for now?" She raised her voice over the clapping and laughter. "Celebrate. You earned it."
The cheering grew louder, spilling into laughter and chatter. Some staff clapped Amanda on the back as they passed, others shook her hand, and one of the interns said breathlessly, "This is the coolest day of my life."
Amanda beamed, but her eyes flicked back to Ericka one last time. Ericka held her gaze, the pride in her eyes hidden from everyone else—but not from Amanda.