13. Project
Project
L eaning back in their office chair, Alex closed their eyes, the weight of the last week weighing heavy on them.
Their plan to join the LA office as seamlessly as possible had blown up.
In epic proportions. And the frustration was beginning to get the better of them.
The sharp rap of knuckles against the door drew their attention. Sitting up, Alex waved Kellan in.
With a tense smile plastered on their face, Kellan stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind them. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah…” Alex’s voice softened as they noticed Kellan’s obvious nervousness. Smiling reassuringly, they added, “Don’t worry. You’re not in trouble.”
Kellan visibly relaxed. “Whew! I didn’t realize those fries were yours, I thought—” Kellan clamped their mouth shut when they saw the look of confusion on Alex’s face.
Clearing their throat, they took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Alex’s desk.
“You look… um… like you had a bit of a rough night. ”
“Shit. You have no idea,” Alex replied, drawing in a deep breath.
Kellan shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Sensing they weren’t quite done, Kellan waited for them to continue.
“L-last night was… a disaster,” Alex said finally, their voice quieter now.
Exhaling deeply, they leaned forward, resting their elbows on the desk and meeting Kellan’s gaze.
“I was already running late getting to the rink. When I rushed toward the locker rooms, I… I nearly collided with Cassie in the hallway.”
“Oooh.” Kellan winced, their face falling as they put the pieces together. “I’m guessing that didn’t do you any favors.”
“Good guess.” Alex grimaced, their voice edged with frustration. “She said something about not even being able to get away from me outside of the office. That I was ruining hockey for her now too.”
Kellan’s eyes softened, and their mouth pulled into a sympathetic line. “Dude. That sucks.”
“Yeah, and I couldn’t shake the look on her face.
I played like shit,” Alex continued, shaking their head.
The tension was building again, their shoulders stiff with the memory.
“My legs felt like lead, my passes sucked. I completely whiffed a shot at a wide-open net. My team won, no thanks to me that’s for sure. ”
Kellan sat back, studying Alex for a moment. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you didn’t call me in here just to tell me that story…?”
Alex straightened, the familiar flicker of determination crossed their face. “That thing you offered to help with last week? Let’s do it. There’s no reason to wait. It’s going to take time to get it going, and I say the sooner, the better.”
Nodding enthusiastically, Kellan’s face brightened with excitement. “I’m in. When do we start?”
“How about tonight? After work?” Alex asked, an edge of resolve in their tone .
“Sounds good.” Kellan agreed without hesitation. “But not here. Too many prying eyes and ears.”
“My place is out,” Alex said, shaking their head ruefully. “My sister’s having a girls’ night.”
“And my place…” Kellan shuddered, pulling a face. “Anyway, my place is a no-go too.”
Alex tapped a pen against the desk, deep in thought as they considered their options. “My sister took me to a place on the corner of Fourth and Broadway. Cozy, but busy enough to blend in.”
“Kellan nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, that could work. I’ll bring the old business plan, so we have a starting point.”
The tension in Alex’s shoulders finally eased up slightly for the first time in days. A sense of relief settled in, just a little, like a small but significant step forward. “Perfect. I’ll see you there.”
Standing, Kellan paused, their gaze flicking over Alex’s tired features one last time before they added, “And hey, for what it’s worth… Don’t let Cassie get in your head too much.”
“Too late.” Alex looked up at Kellan, managing a small, wry shrug.
Kellan gave them a knowing look and turned, heading for the door.
Alex watched them disappear down the hallway, the soft sound of their footsteps fading.
They let the silence stretch out for a moment before closing their eyes again, taking a deep, steadying breath. In and out. One. Two. Three. Four.
After several seconds, Alex opened their eyes and brought their computer to life with a click.
The weight of the day hadn’t completely lifted, but a plan had formed.
They weren’t alone in this. Kellan was on their side, and maybe…
just maybe… they could turn things around.
They had a chance to fix the mess they’d made. The hard work started now.
** *
Alex arrived at Coast Beach Cafe and Bar a few minutes early, taking in the atmosphere.
The wicker chairs and marble-topped tables scattered across stone floors giving it a relaxed, eclectic charm.
The warm glow of string lights illuminated the space, the gentle ocean breeze from the open doors causing them to sway gently.
They took a seat at a table in the back, taking a deep breath, the rich aroma of freshly brewed espresso mingling with the mouth-watering spices drifting from the kitchen.
They pulled out a notepad and pen from their bag, laying them neatly on the table as they waited.
The ambient noise around them, the clinking of cups, the gentle murmur of overlapping conversations, the hiss of milk being steamed behind the counter, was oddly comforting.
This was neutral ground. Quiet, inconspicuous, and just busy enough to be perfect.
A few minutes later, Kellan stepped inside.
They paused in the doorway, scanning the cafe with sharp eyes until they spotted Alex tucked in the back.
A flicker of relief passed over Kellan’s face as they weaved their way through the tables and slid into the seat across from Alex.
“I feel like I’m committing corporate espionage,” Kellan muttered, setting their bag on the table with a soft thud.
They glanced around conspiratorially. “If Cassie walks in, I was just getting a coffee.”
Alex smirked, lips twitching but saying nothing. Instead, they reached for the folder Kellan was already pulling from their bag. “This is the original proposal?” Alex asked, flipping open the cover.
“Yep,” Kellan confirmed, pushing their iced decaf to the side. “Cassie put this together a couple of years ago. The old boss never got it, so it just… sat.” Kellan huffed, obvious bitterness in their tone. “I think it’s solid, but it definitely needs some fresh data. ”
Alex’s eyes moved across the pages, their brow furrowing as they read.
The report was clean, efficient, thorough.
Cassie hadn’t just put in the work; she’d thought ahead, anticipated roadblocks, outlined solutions.
“She was ready,” Alex muttered under their breath, then shook their head, focusing.
They grabbed a pen, making notes in the margins…
minor tweaks that could elevate it to the next level.
“This is fantastic,” they said aloud, glancing up.
“But I think we can plus it up with some strategies that worked in New York.”
Kellan took a long sip of their drink, watching Alex over the rim of the cup. “You really are invested in this plan, huh?”
Alex looked up from the pages, their expression open and unguarded, the usual tension that pulled at their features replaced with something quiet and sincere.
“I am,” they said, voice steady. “One hundred percent. It makes sense, Kellan. The agency’s been doing amazing work, but the market is always changing.
We can’t just keep doing what’s worked in the past. Sooner or later, long-term relationships won’t be enough. We need to evolve.”
They leaned forward, tapping the edge of the folder with their pen for emphasis. “This plan opens up opportunities. Not just for growth, but for staying ahead. For staying relevant. And… if we do this right… we can justify another Senior Creative position.”
Kellan exhaled slowly, the weight of what Alex was saying sinking in. They tapped their fingers lightly on the tabletop, processing. “You mean Cassie’s promotion.”
“Yeah.” Alex nodded without hesitation. “She deserves it. We both know that. I don’t want to be the reason she doesn’t get it.”
Something in Kellan’s expression softened. “Is this how you plan to win her back?”
Alex opened their mouth as if to protest, then snapped it shut, leaning back in their chair. “ M-maybe…?”
A grin tugged at the corners of Kellan’s mouth, their amusement obvious. “You’re either incredibly smart or a total idiot.”
With a flush warming their cheeks, Alex let out a chuckle, the sound short but genuine. “Probably both?”
Kellan laughed under their breath, leaning in and pulling the folder closer. “Alright, romantic idiot. Let’s make this proposal bulletproof.”
Over the next two hours, the table transformed into a command center—laptops open, notebooks filled with scribbles, the original printout covered in notes among empty coffee cups and French fries containers.
Kellan methodically went through the client portfolio, highlighting the accounts still outsourcing their social media and interactive campaigns.
They flagged the ones with the biggest growth potential and pointed out where Sharpe could confidently step in.
Alex, meanwhile, layered in insights from New York…
ideas that had worked, metrics that proved success, and new service offerings that aligned with Sharpe LA’s strengths.
Every addition came with a strategy, a revenue projection, a rationale grounded in experience.
It wasn’t just ambition. It was practical, smart, and well thought out.
As the night wore on, Kellan found themselves stealing glances at Alex, their curiosity evolving into something else.
They’d been trying to convince Cassie that Alex was the real deal…
that they were qualified, that they weren’t just some nepotism hire coasting on a last name.
But tonight? Tonight, Kellan didn’t have to convince anyone.
They saw it firsthand. Alex was sharp, focused, and determined.
Not just to do a good job, but to do right by the team. To do right by Cassie.
Kellan leaned back, stretching their arms overhead with a groan. “Okay,” they said, grinning. “This thing is starting to look like a real threat.”
Alex gave a tired but satisfied smile. “Good. That’s exactly what I was going for. ”
As they started packing up, Kellan glanced sideways at them, something unreadable flickering behind their eyes. “Now we just have to get Cassie to see it too.”
***
The next morning, the quiet hum of the office was just beginning to come to life.
The muted click of keyboards and the soft murmur of early conversations buzzed faintly through the glass walls.
In their office, Alex sat hunched over the desk, flipping through a stack of printed notes, highlighter cap between their teeth.
A yellow line trailed neatly beneath a projection figure before they paused to scribble a small correction in the margins.
They’d been at it for over an hour already, cross-checking everything twice, maybe three times. The nerves hadn’t kicked in full force yet, but they were hovering just below the surface. This meeting with Leah had to go well.
A soft knock on the doorframe made Alex glance up, pen stilled in their hand.
Kellan leaned casually against the doorframe, but there was a visible tension in their eyes.
With a quick glance down the hall, they stepped fully inside and closed the door with a quiet click.
Hands tucked into their pockets, they gave Alex a small, knowing smile.
“Just wanted to say good luck with Leah.” Keeping their voice low, cautious, they added, “Not that you need it, but still.”
Alex smiled at them, appreciation spreading across their face as they set their pen down beside the notebook. “Thanks. I appreciate all the help last night. I think we put together something really strong. ”
“Yeah, I think so too.” Kellan nodded. “Leah’s tough, but she’s fair.
She already believes we need to grow as a company, which is a step up from Frank.
” Hesitating, they glanced back to the glass wall before sinking into the chair in front of Alex’s desk.
“But here’s the thing, she’s seen this proposal before.
She was a part of it. She’s gonna poke holes in it.
It’s not personal. She has to know if people will defend their ideas or fold under pressure. ”
Alex nodded, absorbing every word, knee beginning to bounce under the desk as adrenaline and nerves started to creep in. “Good to know. So don’t back down?”
“Exactly. Push back, but be smart about it. She respects confidence, not cockiness.” Kellan studied Alex for a moment. “Also, she’s big on numbers. She’s gonna ask about those… where they came from… what do you have to back them up.”
Flipping through their notes, Alex pulled up the figures they’d included and turned the page toward Kellan.
“I figured as much,” Alex said, a small smile tugging at the corners of their mouth.
“I had a friend in the New York office email me some numbers from last quarter. I updated and double-checked them again this morning.”
Kellan smirked. “See? Told you that you didn’t need luck.
” They stood, giving another quick glance through the glass walls.
“I know a big reason you’re doing this is for Cassie.
But Leah already knows she’s more than qualified for a promotion.
She’s by the book. The personal angle… that won’t get you anywhere. ”
“Agreed.” Alex nodded, serious now. “Leah needs the facts so she can take them higher up the food chain.”
“Exactly.” Kellan clapped their hands together, then pointed at Alex with finger guns. “Alright, boss. Go make it happen.”
A small laugh escaped Alex’s throat, releasing a bit of tension. “Working on it. ”
With a final nod, Kellan slipped out the door, leaving Alex with a little more confidence and just enough time to check those numbers one more time.