Bonds

Chapter 67

-Maya’s POV-

The cacophony of construction filled the air – hammering, sawing, drill whines echoing through the uast putted space. Amidst the chaos, I

stood frozen, a lone island of calm in a sea of activity.

People scurried around me like busy ants–construction workers in hard hats, electricians wrestling with wires, a team of painters meticulously applying a coat of crisp white to the exposed brick wall. I barely registered their presence, my mind lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

“Amaya?” Ms. Edwards‘ sharp voice cut through my fog. She stood beside me, her clipboard clutched in one hand, the other resting on her hip. “Come on, earth to Amaya. Let’s see what you think of this.”

I blinked, forcing myself back to reality. This was it. The moment of truth. After weeks of planning, mood boards, late nights spent poring over blueprints and fabric swatches, the redesign was finally taking shape. A nervous flutter rose in my stomach.

“Right, sorry,” I mumbled, forcing a smile. “Sure, what is it?”

She gestured towards the center of the room, where a team of workers were assembling a massive structure. It looked like a giant metal frame, but the details were still shrouded in scaffolding and tarpaulin.

“That.” She announced with a flourish, “is the centerpiece of our open floor plan – the collaboration hub.”

“Collaboration hub?” I repeated, peering at the skeletal structure. “Explain?”

Her smile widened. “Ah, yes! The heart of this new design. It’s a multi–level platform, essentially. We’ll have different sections dedicated to different types of collaboration – brainstorming zones, breakout areas for smaller meetings, even a quiet zone with soundproofed pods for

focused work.”

My eyebrows shot up. “That’s actually a great idea,” I admitted. “I remember suggesting dedicated quiet zones during the initial meeting with

Mr. Thorne.”

A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. “Indeed you did,” she conceded. “And a great idea it was. Mr. Thome was quite impressed with

your suggestion, you know.”

cheeks flushed a faint pink. “Really?” I

He specifically mentioned it during our last call. He even

focused

think he would specifically comment on how much he liked my idea. Back then we each did our own thing so we didn’t

levels. Up here, on the top platform, we’ll have a dedicated presentation area. Large projector screen, sleek

could picture

another section of the frame,

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Chapter 67

ping pong table for

face. A ping pong table? That was unexpected, but I liked the idea. A touch of fun could go a

creativity.

the quiet zone. Soundproofed pods, comfortable

finer detalls – lighting options, soundproofing materials, ventilation systems. It wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about creating a functional, comfortable space that catered to the

I enthused, genuinely impressed with the level of detail and thought that had gone into the design. “The mix of open

input. You have a real eye

be appreciated then. faint cough cut through our conversation, and I turned to see a young man standing awkwardly a few feet away.

asked hesitantly. “The electricians need to know where to run the wiring for the presentation area’s

screen.

H

them with a practiced

needs to run…”

placement and outlet configurations. I took the

natural light. Demolished cubicle

Modern stainless steel appliances gleamed under the harsh lights, and a row

said to myself, a satisfied smile curving my lips. It was starting to feel real, this vision we’d

spaces.

I wanted to do for him. Alex had always been impersonal when it came to work and I tried but eventually let it go

to refocus. There was still a lot to be done. We needed to finalize furniture selections, choose color palettes for the different zones, and address any logistical

cue, Ms. Edwards reappeared beside me, the blueprints now neatly rolled up and tucked under her arm. “So, Amaya,” she began, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, “what do you think about the progress so far? Any initial concerns or

Ms. Edwards, I’m impressed. It’s exactly how I envisioned it.