Page 71 of Just The Way You Aren't

"See? It's contagious," I grin. "Before you know it, you'll be that executive with a golden retriever on your desk screensaver."

"Probably already halfway there," he admits with a rueful smile.

"Steven Walt," he says suddenly, extending his hand. "Sorry about the collision. I was so focused on getting out of that conference room..."

The name hits me like a freight train.Steven Walt. Guardian Productions. The Steven Walt.The CEO whose opinion could determine whether Damien keeps his job, whether the deal Alfred's been trying to destroy actually goes through. My heart rate spikes, but I manage to shake his hand calmly.

"Willow Harper," I reply. "I'm actually here to see Damien Langley."

"Ah, you work here?" Steven asks.

"No, I'm just visiting. We're working together on a fundraiser for Silver Hearts."

"Silver Hearts?"

"We help elderly people remain independent and stay in their homes," I explain. "Damien's been incredible—not just with the upcoming fundraiser, but actually hands-on volunteering. He calls bingo, delivers meals, helps with repairs..."

Steven's eyebrows raise. "Damien Langley calls bingo and delivers meals to the elderly?"

"And he does minor home repairs," I inform him, watching his skeptical expression. "Last week he fixed Mrs. Baumgartner's stove so she could cook her own meals again."

"That's... not the Damien Langley I know," Steven admits. "The man I see in board meetings is all business. All numbers and schedules."

"That's the thing," I say, warming to the subject. "Yes, he's organized and professional, but he genuinely cares about the work. Whether it's making sure our fundraiser is perfect or ensuring Mrs. Horowitz's dog has a comfortable place to wait while she's at our day program." I pause, studying his face. "He puts that same dedication into everything he does."

Steven is quiet for a moment. "You really believe that."

"I've seen it," I say simply. "I know the meeting today must be important?—"

"Very important," he interrupts. "And it's not going well. Actually, we're having some... creative differences."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Damien respects your work so much. He's mentioned how important it is to get everything exactly right for Guardian Productions."

"Has he?" Steven looks thoughtful. "You know, Ben—my uncle—doesn't think Langley cares about anything except the bottom line. Says he doesn't listen to creative concerns."

"That doesn't sound like the Damien I know," I say honestly. "He spends hours listening to our seniors talk about their needs, their fears, their dreams. If he seems focused on numbers, it's probably because he wants to make sure everything's sustainable and perfect."

Steven studies me for another long moment. "Would you be willing to tell my uncle what you just told me?"

Talk to his uncle? A small surge of alarm runs through me at the thought. "You want me to talk to him about Damien?"

"About who he really is. Ben's the composer on this project, and he's... well, he's feeling unheard right now." Steven glances back toward the conference room. "Maybe hearing about Damien from someone who's actually worked with him would help."

I think about Damien, about how much this deal means to him, about Alfred Rothchild waiting for him to fail. I don’t expect I can persuade anyone in the meeting—and I seriously doubt Damien will welcome my interference with his prize client—but I have a feeling refusing Steven Walt’s request would only make things worse. "Of course," I say. "I'd be happy to help however I can."

Steven nods decisively. "Come with me. I think it's time my uncle met the real Damien Langley."

As we approach the conference room, I can hear muffled voices through the door. Steven pauses, his hand on the handle.

"I should warn you," he says quietly. "This might be a bit... intense. Ben's frustrated, and when he gets frustrated, he tends to shut down. The rest of us are caught between wanting to respect his creative vision and managing budgets."

"I understand," I reply, thinking of how many times I've mediated between different personalities at Silver Hearts. "Sometimes people just need to feel heard."

Steven opens the door, and all conversation stops. The conference room is impressive—huge windows overlooking the city skyline, a massive table, and screens displaying architectural plans. Damien sits at the head of the table, his posture rigid, surrounded by several people I recognize as Walt family members and executives.

Damien's eyes go wide when he sees me, and I can see his confusion mixed with suspicion.

"Everyone," Steven announces, "this is Willow Harper. She was just telling me about Mr. Langley's volunteer work with her organization, and I thought you might be interested to hear about it. Particularly you, Uncle Ben."

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