Page 8 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Actually, I started watching this new sci-fi series called 'Beyond the Stars.' It's surprisingly good, you should give it a try!" I suggest, hoping the conversation will help pass the time before our morning briefing.

"Sounds interesting, I'll check it out," Ruby says, nodding enthusiastically. She then lowers her voice and leans in closer. "Speaking of stars, have you heard about the latest office romance?"

Her eyebrows waggle mischievously, indicating that she's about to share some juicy gossip.

I feel a pang of discomfort but try to maintain a neutral expression.

"No, I haven't," I admit cautiously, aware that engaging in office gossip isn't the most professional choice.

"Well," Ruby continues, undeterred by my hesitance. “Apparently, Jack from the creative team and Sarah from social media have been seeing each other secretly for a couple of weeks now. I mean, can you believe it? They've managed to keep it under wraps until Lisa accidentally walked in on them during lunch."

"Wow," I say, feigning surprise while a small, disapproving voice in my head reminds me to be cautious with what I say. "I hope everything works out for them."

I quickly try to steer the conversation back to safer grounds.

"By the way, Ruby, do you happen to know if we're expecting any updates from the social media team about our upcoming campaign?"

"Ah, yes," she says, her expression turning serious as she snaps back into work mode. "I believe they're presenting their progress during today's briefing."

"Great, thanks for letting me know!”

"And did you hear about the new project we're starting next week?" Ruby asks, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Which one? We've got quite a few on the go," I say, genuinely curious.

My mind races through all the tasks and deadlines that lie ahead.

"True, but this one's huge," she leans in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Word has it that it's a major luxury brand – top-secret stuff."

"Wow, that sounds exciting," I reply, careful not to let too much enthusiasm creep into my tone.

I don't want to appear overly ambitious or nosy, but I can't deny that the prospect of working on such a prestigious account is tempting.

"I guess we'll find out more during the team meeting later."

"Definitely," Ruby nods, taking a sip of her coffee. "It's going to be a game-changer for the company, I can feel it."

I nod in agreement, savoring the rich taste of my coffee as I mentally prepare myself for the rest of the day. I enjoy these small moments with Ruby. She's friendly and outgoing, always eager to strike up a conversation with her colleagues. But I'm also careful not to cross any boundaries, maintaining a professional distance even as we chat about work matters.

"By the way," Ruby says, suddenly leaning towards me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Have you heard anything about that new guy on the creative team? I've heard he's quite the heartthrob."

"Really?" I feign surprise, knowing full well that she's fishing for gossip.

Steadying my voice, I quickly steer the conversation back towards safer ground.

"I haven't had much interaction with him yet, but I'll have to keep an eye out during our next meeting. Speaking of which, I should probably get back to my desk and finish up some tasks before it starts."

"Of course, don't let me keep you," Ruby smiles, seemingly unfazed by my subtle deflection. "Catch you later, Clara!"

"See you around, Ruby," I reply warmly, standing up and heading back to my desk.

As I dive into my work, I can't help but appreciate the relationships I've begun to form with my colleagues. In this fast-paced, high-stakes environment, it's important to maintain both focus and integrity, while still allowing myself to make connections with those around me.

I step into the office kitchen, the scent of catered lunch drawing me away from my desk. As I fix myself a plate, I can't help but overhear snippets of conversation from the creative team huddled in the corner. They're deep in discussion about the latest ad campaign, and their enthusiasm is infectious.

"Hey, Clara!" Sam, the lead graphic designer, calls out to me, waving me over. "Have you seen our latest concept for the client's branding? We'd love your input!"

I walk towards them, curiosity piqued.

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