C16 Step Into My Orbit

One of the decorators’ hands tightened around Cleopatra’s shoulder, grounding her in the moment.

“If Guinevere were even half this stunning, we’d all be doomed,” someone murmured from the shadows, their voice a mix of awe and reluctant relief. “Thank God she isn’t.”

Joss’s smile faded into something more thoughtful. “This is the first time I’ve seen her so disorganized,” he said quietly. “She’s never acted like this before. Almost as if she’s afraid of something, something I can’t quite put a name to yet.”

Cleopatra laughed softly, sensing the direction the conversation was heading and stepping in before it could take a sharper turn. “Maybe she’s just tired,” she said lightly, her tone easy and dismissive, neatly closing the subject. She gently removed his hand from her shoulder, her calm presence once again steadying the room.

***

Two weeks had passed since Cleopatra began her tenure at INK Model, and in that time, she had yet to encounter Calvin. Though they were part of the same company, their worlds seemed deliberately partitioned into different buildings, different routines, just close enough for their orbits to brush, yet never truly collided. Each near-miss carried the faint sting of intention, as though some invisible force kept him just beyond reach.

Cleopatra had tried subtle detours, quiet hopes stitched into her daily rhythm but each effort ended the same: emptiness. Slowly, reluctantly, the truth anchored itself in her chest. Calvin was avoiding her.

And he had perfected avoidance with meticulous precision. Different schedules. Different entrances. Different exits. He convinced himself it was necessary, a safeguard to prevent old wounds from reopening. The distance was his armor, and he wore it well.

She sat in the hum of the group office, thoughts adrift, when Joss’s voice cut through the quiet. Calling her over for help with some outfits, he pulled her out of her reverie. Startled, she rose, tucking the thought of Calvin behind her as she followed him.

But fate, as it often does, had other plans. Halfway to the car, they collided.

The world stilled. Cleopatra froze, breath caught, eyes lifting instinctively to meet his.

For the briefest moment, discipline faltered. Calvin’s gaze traced her features: the calm strength etched in her expression, the poised curve of her posture, the way the parking lot lights haloed her as if she were meant to stand there. She didn’t look fragile. She didn’t look lost. She looked steady. Radiant.

A sharp, involuntary tightening gripped his chest, stealing his breath, leaving a hollow ache he hadn’t anticipated.

He wrenched himself back, forcing his face into neutrality, straightening, jaw taut, retreating behind the familiar barricades of composure.

When Joss stepped forward with a greeting, Calvin clutched at it like a lifeline, offering a measured nod and a polite, controlled, and mechanical smile.

“Good afternoon, sir,” he greeted, voice smooth and respectful, yet carrying a weight that made her pulse skip.

“How’s work?” Calvin’s tone was deep, calm, controlled, his eyes briefly flicking toward her before darting away, as if he feared what lingering might do.

“All good, sir,” Joss said, voice steady but low, every movement sharp and attentive. His eyes flicked to Calvin, wide and focused, hands stiff at his sides. Each word, each nod, precisely perfectly measured to show obedience. He leaned slightly forward, posture taut, like a soldier reporting to a commander, every fiber of his eager to please, careful not to falter under Calvin’s gaze. “We keep up the good work and make a positive impact on the company.”

“Very well, then.”

Calvin’s gaze snapped back to her. “How’s work so far?”

Without hesitation, Cleopatra closed the distance between them, each step measured, purposeful. Her presence was magnetic commanding attention without a word. She tilted her head, index finger resting lightly on her jaw, lips pouting just enough to unsettle him. “Hmmm…” she murmured, letting the pause stretch just a fraction too long. “Fine so far.”

“Good, if you say so,” he replied, turning to leave but her next words stopped him, halting him mid-step, as if gravity itself had shifted.

“Do you still work in this building or did you simply come to see someone?”

Calvin’s chest tightened. He wasn’t supposed to be here. His secretary could have done this, but he had chosen to come himself, risking everything to maintain the delicate balance he so carefully constructed. He inhaled slowly, shoulders squared, every movement precise, every expression rehearsed yet she saw the small cracks he couldn’t hide.

“I’ve had some complaints about the workspace,” he said, voice measured, neutral. “I just came to observe.” A simple statement, yet beneath it lurked the tension he couldn’t entirely suppress his gaze lingering on her longer than any professional distance should allow.

“It would be great if we kept seeing you around,” she said, her smile radiant, disarming, like sunlight breaking through a carefully constructed barrier. Her words carried an unspoken dare, and for a fleeting moment, Calvin felt his composure waver.

He cleared his throat, a soft, controlled “Ahem,” then turned and slid into his car, leaving without another word. And yet, the air between them still crackled, heavy with everything left unsaid.

No sooner had he vanished beyond, than Joss lunged forward, his hand snapping out to seize hers. His grip was tight, almost desperate as her eyes widened in raw disbelief.

“Do you… know the CEO?”

“Let go,” Cleopatra chuckled, tugging her hand free, her grin playful yet knowing, leaving a trace of mischief in the air.

She walked ahead, each step deliberate, leaving Joss frozen for a heartbeat before he quickly caught up. As they reached his car, he shook his head in exasperated awe. “You are full of surprises.”

Her smile deepened, soft, sweet, and laced with quiet triumph. A faint glint flickered in her eyes, knowing all too well that the greatest surprise, the one Calvin had carried away with him, was only just beginning to unfold.

***

It was Friday, and Cleopatra hadn’t been to Atelier in two weeks. As soon as her work at INK wrapped up, she hurried down to the club, her mind still buzzing with deadlines and meetings but excitement flared beneath the surface. She hadn’t been here in a while, and she had missed the familiar rhythm of the place, the warmth of its people, the quiet sanctuary it offered from the corporate chaos.

The moment she arrived, Ana came running, throwing her into a tight, joyful hug.

“I’ve missed you so much! You’ve simply forgotten about me, haven’t you?” Ana’s voice was playful, almost childlike, bubbling with energy.

Cleopatra laughed softly, her hand gently patting Ana’s hair. “No, I didn’t. I’ve only been trying to adjust to the work environment there, I could never forget you.”

Ana grinned, then stepped back, eyes sparkling. “Oh! Before I forget” she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially, “I don’t know how Mr. Alvin knew you were coming today. He asked me to tell you to come see him in his office.”

Cleopatra raised an eyebrow, tilting her head as a flicker of curiosity pricked at her. Did he know I was coming today or was this something else? “I texted him that I was coming, but I didn’t specify the day,” she said casually, though her heartbeat quickened with anticipation.

With a small nod to Ana, she made her way toward Alvin’s office. Each step felt deliberate, measured, but there was a tiny thrill under her skin, a flutter of excitement she couldn’t entirely hide. ‘I wonder what this is about’

At the door, she pressed the doorbell and stepped inside without hesitation.

Alvin looked up the moment she entered. Relief washed over his usually composed face, softening the stern lines of his jaw and the sharpness in his eyes. “Thank God you’re here today,” he said, voice warm, carrying a weight that made Cleopatra’s chest tighten unexpectedly.

For a brief moment, the air between them seemed charged, a silent acknowledgment of how much her arrival mattered more than either of them had said aloud.