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.”

a faint pink. “Really?” I

our last call. He even said something

and focused

surprise deepened. I mean I didn’t think he would specifically comment on how much he liked my

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

the frame where a platform was taking shape. I could picture it –

towards another section of the frame, “we have the brainstorming zone.

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Chapter 67

a ping pong table for some

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

creativity.

concluded, leading me towards the base of the structure, “we have the quiet zone. Soundproofed pods, comfortable ergonomic chairs, perfect for those times when someone

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

that had gone into the design. “The mix of open space and

wouldn’t have come together this well without your input. You have a real eye for design and a great understanding of how to create spaces that work

her praise. It felt good to be appreciated then. faint cough cut through our conversation, and I turned to see a young

electricians need to know

screen.

H

her face. “Of course, Michael. Let’s see…” She pulled out a roll of blueprints and began studying them with a practiced eye. “The projector will be mounted on the ceiling, right here,” she pointed to a specific spot on the plans,

needs to run…”

wire placement and outlet configurations. I took the opportunity to wander around the rest of the space, my gaze flitting across the various sections taking

windows bathing the interior in natural light. Demolished cubicle walls had been replaced with sleek glass partitions, allowing for visual

steel appliances gleamed under the harsh

satisfied smile curving my lips. It was starting to feel real, this vision we’d meticulously crafted

spaces.

when this was what I wanted to do for him. Alex had always been

I forced myself to refocus. There was still a lot to be done. We needed

under her arm. “So, Amaya,” she began, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, “what do you think about the progress

shook my head, a genuine smile gracing my lips. “Honestly, Ms. Edwards, I’m impressed. It’s exactly