Page 21 of Saving Little Clark

As if sensing my gaze, he turned to me with a grin. "Can you believe we're actually going to be working for the loves of our lives?" he stage-whispered. "I mean, talk about mixing business with pleasure."

A laugh bubbled up in my throat. "We can't say things like that here!" I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one had overheard. "They're our bosses. We have to be professional."

"Oh please, like you weren't making heart eyes at Brody all through that video call last night," Alex scoffed, bumping his shoulder against mine. "Face it, we're both in way over our heads with these two. But hey, at least we'll have each other if they break our hearts with their stupidly perfect faces andpersonalities. Speaking of," he continued, nodding towards the elevators.

I followed his gaze and I caught sight of Will and Brody striding towards us. They made a striking pair. Will in his impeccably tailored suit and polished wingtips, Brody in a crisp button-down and dark jeans that hugged his muscular frame in all the right places.

“Hey, guys. Finish the paperwork here and we’ll meet you on the ninth floor, okay?” Brody said with a smile before leaving with Will.

Wrapping up the formalities, we stepped into the elevator and Alex leaned in close to me, his voice low and conspiratorial. "God, I’m so excited. I think I might faint if Will so much as looks in my direction."

I bit back a snort, elbowing him gently in the ribs. "Get it together, man. We're supposed to be cool and collected, remember?"

"Right. Totally profesh." Alex took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders and schooling his features into a serious expression. But I could see the twinkle in his eye, the barely-contained excitement and nervousness that mirrored my own.

My nerves eased a bit as Alex launched into a series of observations. "I'm calling dibs on the spinning chair closest to the window. I need my daily dose of vitamin D to keep this flawless complexion."

As the elevator doors opened onto a bright, airy office space, Will and Brody turned to us with matching smiles. "Welcome to InnovaTech, guys," Will said, his deep voice making Alex shiver. "We're so thrilled to have you joining the team."

"The pleasure is all ours," Alex purred, stepping forward to shake Will's hand. Their touch lingered a beat too long to be strictly professional, their gazes locked in a heated exchange that made me feel like I was intruding on something private.

"I have to say, I was very impressed by your portfolio," Will continued, his eyes never leaving Alex's face. "The way you use color and negative space to convey emotion and movement is truly stunning."

Alex preened under the praise, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Clark here is the real mastermind behind our designs. I just add the razzle-dazzle."

Brody turned to me then, his gaze warm and appreciative. "Just between us? I think those dinosaurs on your tie are absolutely adorable."

"Thanks," I managed, my voice coming out a little breathless. "I figured, if I'm going to be spending my days staring at a computer screen, I might as well have some friendly faces to keep me company."

As we settled into the sleek, modern conference room, I felt a buzz of anticipation thrumming through my veins. Brody took his place at the head of the table, his presence commanding yet approachable. I nodded eagerly as I listened, my mind already brimming with ideas.

Alex suggested mini-games and puzzles, so the kids can display their achievements and connect with friends.

“Oh, that reminds me!" Alex snapped his fingers. "Clark, I meant to ask. Where did you get those adorable dinosaur sheets for your bed? I was thinking they'd be perfect for the science section in the app, maybe as a background pattern or something."

I froze, my heart plummeting into my stomach. Oh god. He did not just bring up my bedding in front of Brody and Will. My very childish, very not-suitable-for-a-professional-setting bedding.

"Um," I said eloquently, my voice strangled. "I mean, I'm not sure if that's really relevant to the project."

But it was too late. Brody was already leaning forward, his eyebrows raised in curious amusement. "Dinosaur sheets, huh? That's an interesting choice. Any particular reason for the theme, or do you just really love Jurassic Park?"

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole, to transport me to a parallel universe where I wasn't being interrogated about my Little nature by the most attractive man I'd ever met.

"It's just a silly inside joke," I stammered, shooting Alex a desperate look. "Something from our college days, you know how it is. Let's move on.”

But Alex, damn him, was on a roll. "Oh, it's more than just a joke," he said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Our boy Clarkie here has a whole playground in his bedroom. Stuffed animals, nightlights, the works. It's like walking into a kindergarten classroom, I swear."

If looks could kill, Alex would have been a smoldering pile of ash on the conference room floor. I felt my face burning with humiliation, my hands clenching into fists under the table.

How could he do this to me? How could he expose my deepest, most vulnerable secret in front of the people I most wanted to impress?

I risked a glance at Brody, bracing myself for disgust or mockery. But to my surprise, his expression was soft, almost tender.

"There's nothing wrong with holding onto a little childhood magic," he said gently, his gaze never leaving mine. "In fact, I think it's kind of beautiful.”

He didn't think I was weird or immature or pathetic. He saw the beauty in my quirks, the value in my vulnerability.

I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure. He smiled, reaching out to give my hand a quick, reassuring squeeze.

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