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Feeling like I need to be doing something other than just watching, I grab a pen and frantically begin scribbling notes. But this stupid fountain pen is too juicy, and the ink smudges each time my hand moves across the page.

I wonder how many assistants are left-handed? Seems like a pretty big obstacle in the job if you ask me.

“Roman, are you telling me you haven’t even started the promo?” Leo cuts in. He’s not even talking to me, and I feel my spine stiffen at his sharp tone. The room goes quiet.

Roman squirms in his seat, then finally speaks. “I don’t see anything about that in my notes, so it must’ve slipped through the cracks after Kennedy left.” His eyes drop to the table, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

I’ll be honest, I don’t fully understand what’s going on right now, but I don’t have to know what they’re talking about to see Roman’s clearly the one at fault. He looks so defeated and stressed out, like an empty shell of himself. And even though I was furious with him only minutes ago for how he spoke to me, I can’t help the feeling of protectiveness I have for him.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I raise my hand.

“Kira, is there something you’d like to add?” Leo asks.

Roman jerks his head up to look at me, like he doesn’t trust what I’m about to say.

His intuition isn’t too far off base.

I clear my throat and word vomit the first thing that pops into my head. “What about product placement? We could partner with a reality show and have the cast use the products on screen…” I glance over to find Roman staring at me, his expression shifting from irritated to curious. I take that as encouragement and continue, “I was going to run the idea by Roman, but since we’re all here talking about it…”

“I don’t hate that idea,” Leo says, eyes darting between Roman and me. “Do you have a specific show in mind?”

“Of course,” I say, my voice sounding more surprised than confident.

Leo just stares, then gestures for me to continue. “What is it?”

“Oh…” I say, realizing he wants me to tell him right now. My eyes dart around the room as I try to think, finally landing on a photo of the Phantom sculpture in the center of the town square.

I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “Cryptid Chasers.”

He sits back in his seat, appearing to be mulling over my idea. “Send me a list of product ideas by the end of the week, ranked from hot to cold.”

The room breathes a collective sigh of relief, and I feel an unusual sense of pride blooming in my chest.

My eyes find Roman, who’s looking at me like he’s still trying to figure out what just happened.

You’re welcome, I mouth, unable to resist goading him.

Leo ends the call and Luka and Guy gather their things. I start to get up, but Roman places a hand over mine. “Hang back for just a minute.”

My stomach does a somersault and my heart lodges in my throat. I’ve worked with some of the most attractive people in the world, and here I am, short-circuiting from a simple touch of his hand. It’s pathetic. I have to shake this stupid schoolgirl crush if I know what’s good for me.

“Sure,” I say, as nonchalant as I can muster while I still pretend to scribble notes from the call.

Once everyone is finally gone, I look back up, and I’m surprised to find Roman wearing a wide, knowing grin.

“You’ve got a little…” He gestures to his forehead and then to his cheek.

I look down at my ink-covered hands, now damp with perspiration, and purse my lips. I don’t need to look at myself to know that I’ve just smudged black ink all over my face.

Fantastic. This day just keeps getting better and better.

He adjusts his tie, transforming back into boss mode. “Look, Kira, what you did back there was…”

I try to meet his gaze, but he looks away, fidgeting with his tie and looking around the room.

Suddenly, all the warm, fuzzy butterflies I was feeling incinerate on the spot. My jaw tenses and my mouth goes dry.

Oh my God…is he trying to fire me?