Page 480 of Savage Bosses

She nodded in agreement. Deja had to admit the office would get noisy at times and this was the perfect spot to get work done. She opened her laptop and began organizing her thoughts for the brainstorming session.

Are we going to wait for Jeff and Angie?”

No, you and I will get the project started and once our ideas are formulated, we will bring them in to help with execution.”

Deja nodded.

“Did you familiarize yourself with the company?”

“Yes, and I have some ideas.”

“Let's hear some of them,” Stephen said as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Alright,” Deja took a deep breath, and connected her laptop to the wireless projector that was hanging from the ceiling. She pulled up a PowerPoint that she prepared. “My first idea is to create an interactive, virtual experience showcasing the startup's products. This would allow potential customers to get a feel for the product before committing to a purchase.”

“An interesting concept, but it's hardly groundbreaking.” Stephen dismissed the idea without giving it due consideration. “What else do you have?”

Deja bit back a retort, reminding herself to stay focused on the task at hand. “We could also develop a series of targeted social media ads, utilizing influencers and engaging content to increase brand visibility and credibility.”

“Social media ads?” Stephen scoffed, rolling his eyes. “That's Marketing 101, Deja. We need something more innovative.”

Growing increasingly frustrated by Stephen's dismissive attitude, Deja fought to maintain her composure. She knew that her ideas were solid, and she refused to let him intimidate her. “Fine,” she said, gritting her teeth. “How about we create a viral marketing campaign using augmented reality? Users could interact with the product in real-world environments, generating buzz and excitement around the launch.”

“Augmented reality?” Stephen raised an eyebrow, finally showing a flicker of interest. “Now that's more like it. But can you pull it off?”

“Absolutely,” Deja replied with quiet confidence, her eyes never leaving his. “Just give me the chance.”

“Very well.” Stephen nodded, his expression still cold and unreadable. “We'll proceed with that idea.”

As they delved deeper into planning the campaign, Deja couldn't help but feel the tension between them rising. She knew they were working against the clock, and she had to find a way to break through Stephen's cold exterior if they were going to succeed. But as the days turned to nights and their close proximity wore them both thin, Deja wondered if they would ever find common ground—or if the animosity in the room would threaten to derail the project, they both needed to succeed at.

It was day five and Deja and Stephen had been working non-stop for a few hours,

“Have you finished the storyboard for the augmented reality campaign?” Stephen asked, his piercing blue eyes boring into her. His tone dripped with condescension, and it took all of Deja's restraint not to snap back at him. “Almost,” she replied quietly, focusing intently on her laptop screen. She could feel his gaze lingering on her, but she refused to let him rattle her. “We only have a few days to pull this off,” he sneered. “We're running out of time.”

“I'm aware,” Deja replied, her voice strained but firm. “But if we work together, we can have the prototype ready for our tech team in the morning.”

“Okay, what do you need from me?” Stephen asked. His tone almost sounded civil.

Chapter Six

T

he next day, Deja was determined not to let Stephen’s harsh demeanor break her spirit. Taking on more responsibilities than she'd initially been assigned, Deja began to coordinate with their tech team to develop the campaign's augmented reality components. She carefully crafted each interaction, ensuring that users would be drawn in and captivated. Every detail had to be perfect, and Deja threw herself into the work with a fierce determination fueled by her desire to prove Stephen that she was more than capable of doing the job. She worked tirelessly through the evening.

“Stephen, I've sent you a draft of the storyboard,” Deja said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion tugging at her bones. “Please review it and let me know if you have any feedback.”

“Fine,” he replied curtly, barely acknowledging her before returning to his own work. Deja bit back a sigh of frustration, but she refused to let him see how much he was getting under her skin. As the days wore on and their deadline loomed closer, Deja found herself working late into the night. She was able to pull Jeff and even Angie in on the project to help. Fueled by a potent mix of determination and pure stubbornness. She refused to let Stephen's cold and aggressive demeanor deter her from achieving success on this project. She knew that it would be a challenge, one that would test her resolve and push her to her limits, but she wouldn't back down.

“Deja, we need to discuss our presentation for the pitch meeting,” Stephen said, finally addressing her with a hint of civility. “I've reviewed your storyboard, and I have some... suggestions.”

“Alright,” Deja agreed, steeling herself for another round of criticism. “Let's hear them.” As they worked through his proposed changes, arguing and negotiating over every detail, the tension between them remained high. But Deja refused to let it hinder her progress. She had come too far to let Stephen's attitude towards her derail her chances at success on this project. As the hours ticked by, she began to see a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to put aside their animosity and truly work together. But with the deadline looming ever closer, the pressure mounting, Deja knew that they still had a long way to go.

Stephen looked down at his watch and it was nine o’clock. “Let’s call it a night. We will continue in the morning.”

Deja watched as Stephen stood and stretched. His muscular frame was imprinted perfectly in his fitted shirt. She squirmed in her seat, trying to get the thoughts of being under him out of her head.

What the hell is wrong with you? This man hates you.

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