Chapter 6 Corporate Hostage Situation (Aka Team-building Day)

• Clara didn’t hate many things. She considered herself a person of balance. But “mandatory team-building retreats” were up there with slow walkers, bad coffee, and Julian Nightingale’s smug face.
• So naturally, the company decided the best way to boost morale was to stick the entire executive transition team in a lakeside lodge for the weekend.
• Because nothing says productive workplace culture like trust falls and screaming into the wilderness.
• She stepped off the shuttle bus wearing all black like she was mourning her dignity. “Is this... camping? Are we camping?”
• Julian came up behind her, dressed in—of course—a perfectly fitted fleece and jeans that probably cost more than her rent. “Technically, we’re glamping.”
• Clara didn’t break eye contact. “You just said that out loud.”
• “You’re not a nature person, are you?”
• “I like nature just fine when it’s far away and behind glass.”
• ⚡
• By hour three of the “bonding experience,” Clara had faked two headaches, one twisted ankle, and the sudden death of a fake cat.
• Julian saw through all of them.
• “You’re not going to get out of this,” he said, lounging beside her at the firepit. “You could at least pretend to try.”
• Clara squinted at him. “I will stab you with this marshmallow skewer.”
• “I’d like to see you try. I’ve been stabbed before.”
• She blinked. “Wait—what?”
• He smiled like he’d just told her he once jaywalked, not survived a felony. “Boarding school in Switzerland. Long story.”
• “I suddenly feel like I don’t know enough about your criminal background.”
• Julian leaned closer, conspiratorially. “You don’t know enough about me, period.”
• Clara made a note to avoid all future eye contact.
• ⚡
• The team-building leader, a woman named Stephanie with terrifying positivity and a whistle, stood before the group clapping her hands.
• “Next up: The Trust Obstacle Course!”
• Clara leaned over to Olivia. “What happens if I simply perish right now?”
• Olivia handed her a granola bar. “We tell HR you went out doing what you loved—avoiding effort.”
• “Touching,” Clara muttered.
• ⚡
• They were paired together, of course.
• Clara suspected the universe was doing this on purpose now.
• “Julian, you’re Clara’s partner for the blindfold maze,” Stephanie chirped.
• “Of course I am,” Clara whispered to no one.
• She tied the blindfold over her eyes and instantly regretted everything.
• “Okay,” Julian said gently, his voice behind her. “One step forward.”
• “I swear to God, if you lead me into a bush—”
• “I would never,” he said, mock-offended. “You’re far too sharp. The bush would lose.”
• Clara laughed before she could stop herself.
• That traitorous little snort that escaped her nose was enough for Julian to smirk the entire way through the maze.
• ⚡
• That night, after too many s’mores and not enough dignity, Clara found herself walking alone along the path near the lake.
• The moonlight shimmered on the water, casting everything in silver and shadow.
• “Trouble sleeping?” came Julian’s voice behind her.
• She didn’t jump.
• She didn’t need to turn to know it was him.
• “I’m just—thinking.”
• He stepped beside her. “Dangerous habit.”
• They stood in silence for a moment, the kind that didn’t feel heavy. Just... familiar.
• Like she’d done this before. Stood beside him. Under a different sky.
• She shook the thought off.
• Julian broke the silence. “You’re different from what I expected.”
• “Oh? And what did you expect?”
• “A social climber. Cold. Calculating.”
• Clara raised a brow. “Charming.”
• He shrugged. “I was wrong.”
• She didn’t answer.
• Because for once, he didn’t sound like he was trying to win.
• ⚡
• Back in her cabin, Clara stared at the ceiling, wide awake.
• Something about this entire trip had unsettled her.
• Not the nature. Not the team-building.
• Him.
• The way he looked at her.
• Like he knew her.
• Like he recognized something she couldn’t explain.
• She pressed her fingers to her temples.
• “I need therapy,” she whispered to herself.
• Then added, “...and a restraining order for fate.”