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The day had slowed into that easy rhythm that always came after a successful campaign rollout.
The air in Mathews Creative felt lighter victory hummed quietly under every conversation, every click of a keyboard.
Amanda sat at her desk, reviewing a vendor update when her phone buzzed.
Once.
Twice.
Then, three more times in rapid succession.
She frowned, picking it up.
Group Chat: "Mathews Squad ????"
(aka the chaotic, semi-professional mix of their department leads and creative staff)
Carter: Okay soooo... can we talk about that Mode+ interview?
?? ??
Leah: Because OMG.
The chemistry was criminal.
Jamie: Yeah, Amanda, go ahead and make it official already.
We ALL see it.
Maria: Literally.
You and Ms. Mathews finishing each other's sentences?
? The lingering looks?? The subtle smiles?
? Girl, it was giving married energy.
Amanda sighed, hiding her grin as she typed back:
Amanda: Guys, LEAVE me alone before you get me fired ??
Within seconds:
Leah: Oh please, that would never happen.
Jamie: Fired??? Amanda, be serious.
Ms. Mathews would build a whole department just to keep you around.
Carter: Yeah, no way she's letting you go.
She loves you. Like... literally.
We can SEE it.
Maria: It's the way she looks at you in those interviews for me. That woman is gone.
Amanda buried her face in her hands, trying not to laugh out loud. Her cheeks were burning.
She typed quickly:
Amanda: Guys, stop before I report you all for workplace harassment ??
Jamie: LOL please do. We'll just show HR the proof in those interviews.
Leah: Yeah, they'd close the case in five minutes and send y'all a wedding registry link.
Carter: The interview CONFIRMED everything we've been saying for months.
Maria: The way you two can finish each other's sentences?
?? Crazy chemistry. Unreal. We were all sitting here like.
.. oh, so they're in love love.
Amanda couldn't help it she laughed out loud this time, drawing a curious look from one of the designers walking past. She waved it off and kept typing.
Amanda: You guys are out of control. Nothing is confirmed. It's called teamwork. Look it up.
Leah: Teamwork with heart eyes?? Interesting concept.
Jamie: Girl, even your "no" sounds like a "yes."
Carter: Just make it official already. We'll bring champagne to the office.
Amanda groaned dramatically in her chair, muttering, "These people are going to be the death of me."
From her office across the hall, Ericka looked up catching Amanda laughing at her phone. Her brow arched in quiet curiosity.
She leaned in the doorway a moment later, voice low but amused. "You seem entertained."
Amanda froze, hiding her phone behind a folder. "Just... the team. They're, uh, happy about the interviews."
Ericka smirked, crossing her arms. "Ah. The team."
Amanda nodded quickly. "Yep. Totally normal, professional conversations."
"Mm." Ericka's gaze lingered, one eyebrow raised just enough to make Amanda squirm. "Should I be concerned?"
Amanda smiled sweetly. "Not unless you consider enthusiasm a liability."
Ericka chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
As Ericka walked back into her office, Amanda exhaled slowly, letting out a small laugh once the door closed.
Her phone buzzed again.
Leah: Did she just walk by? ??
Amanda: Y'all have cameras or something??
Jamie: No, we just know that look on your face ??
Carter: Don't worry, we'll behave.
Maria: (for now)
Amanda rolled her eyes, typing one last message before silencing the chat:
Amanda: Y'all are fired. Every last one of you. ??
She set her phone down and leaned back in her chair, still smiling to herself.
The group chat exploded again, the same thread buzzing across phones in the open-plan office.
Mathews Squad ????
Leah: Just tell us you love her so we can rest easy.
Jamie: Yeah, give us the headline.
We need it for our morale.
Carter: Or I'll microwave myself in the name of shipping you two.
Maria: I bet I can prove she loves you. ??
Amanda's thumb hovered, breath caught. She typed fast:
Amanda: Don't you even try anything. ??
Jamie: Oh come on. Tell us or Operation Confession starts in 5.
Leah: We're serious. We're staging a reveal.
Carter: You sure you want that, AP? ??
Amanda: GUYS. YOU BETTER NOT.
The teasing turned into a theatrical countdown — everybody joining in for the dramatic effect, messages racing down the thread like fireworks.
Maria: In 4 minutes...
Jamie: 3...
Leah: 2...
Carter: 1...
All: OPERATION UNDERWAY ????
Amanda's face flushed. She slapped the phone face-down on her desk and tried to look busy, but the whole office seemed suddenly keyed into the ridiculous energy. A few people nearby snickered. Someone in Marketing dramatically stood and pretended to adjust an invisible camera.
At her desk, Amanda couldn't help herself — she peered at the screen again. The chat was full of GIFs, mock confessional memes, and a single bold line from Carter:
Carter: Ok team if she won't say it, we'll make her. Someone cue the "romantic soundtrack."
A hushed laugh ran through the row of desks. The person beside Amanda hit play on a tiny speaker and the office filled with an over-the-top slow orchestral swell, like a rom-com montage.
Ericka, who was passing with a stack of files, paused at the threshold of Amanda's area. She cocked an eyebrow when she saw Amanda mortified, then glanced at Amanda's phone where the chat was visible for a second before Amanda slid it away.
"You look like you're being pranked," Ericka said quietly, amusement and a trace of concern in her voice.
Amanda tried to smile. "Just the team being dramatic," she whispered back. "Ignore them."
Ericka leaned on the edge of Amanda's desk, one hand on her hip. "They're persistent." Her gaze flicked to Amanda's face, softer now. "Are you alright?"
Amanda forced a laugh, heart beating hard. "I'm fine. Really. They just like to have fun." She typed one more message to the group, palms slightly trembling.
Amanda: Okay fine — I love her. Happy?? ?? (There. Happy now? Back to work.)
Immediately the chat blew up with heart emojis, champagne GIFs, and a cascade of congratulations.
Leah: FINALLY. We are relieved.
Jamie: See? A happy workplace now.
Carter: Welcome to Team Mathews Wedding Fund. ??