Tessa

The meeting had gone better than she could have ever imagined.

Correction: it had gone unbelievably well.

She practically floated out of the glass-walled conference room, trying not to squeal as she made her way toward the waiting area where Graham sat, typing away on his phone.

He stood when he saw her, eyes scanning her face like he could read the whole story there.

And maybe he could — because before she even said a word, he gave a small, lopsided smile.

“Good news?”

Tessa grinned so hard her cheeks hurt.

“Permanent gig,” she breathed, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Not just the first campaign — they want me on retainer for ongoing projects. Property shoots, corporate events, branding updates — the whole thing!”

Graham blinked, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right.

Then — slowly — the biggest, most genuine smile she had ever seen broke across his face.

“That’s incredible, Tess,” he said, voice low and full of something she couldn’t quite name.

Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms.

Graham caught her instantly, hugging her tight, lifting her off the floor for a brief second before setting her down again.

Tessa buried her face in his chest, laughing breathlessly.

“I can’t believe it,” she whispered.

He chuckled, rumbling against her.

“Believe it,” he said, squeezing her one more time before letting her go — reluctantly, it seemed.

She stepped back, cheeks flushed, buzzing with happiness.

“They said they haven’t had someone bring so much energy and creativity to the table in years,” she said, still breathless.
“And that was all because you vouched for me.”

Graham shook his head, his eyes warm.

“No. It was because you’re exactly what they needed,” he said simply.

Tessa’s heart did a weird, swoopy thing in her chest.

Exactly what they needed.

Exactly what he needed?

She didn’t let herself dwell too much — the day was too bright, too full of hope.

“Come on,” Graham said, jerking his chin toward the elevator.
“You’re getting lunch. My treat.”

Tessa looped her arm through his, grinning up at him.

“Best grump ever,” she teased.

He rolled his eyes but let her tug him along.

And as they stepped into the elevator — their arms brushing, their laughter soft — Tessa realized something.

This wasn’t just the start of a career.

It might just be the start of everything.

---

Graham

He couldn’t stop looking at her.

Across the tiny Italian place he’d dragged them to, she was practically glowing — hair messy from the breeze, eyes bright, hands gesturing wildly as she recounted every moment of the meeting.

Graham knew he should be listening better.

He caught pieces here and there — branding refresh, timeline discussions, potential travel gigs — but mostly he was just watching her.

Wondering how he had ever thought she was just a hurricane to be tolerated.

She was a force of nature, yes.

But also — somehow — the calm after the storm.

He didn’t even realize he was smiling until she caught him staring.

“What?” she asked, half-laughing, a little pink in the cheeks.

Graham shook his head slowly.

“Nothing,” he said quietly.

Everything.

Tessa ducked her head shyly and attacked her pasta.

Graham leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of water.

Maybe it was reckless.
Maybe it was inevitable.

But somewhere deep inside, a quiet certainty settled into place.

He was already all in.

And he was going to make damn sure he was worthy of her.