Chapter 12: A Stolen Moment.

The tension in the office had reached its peak. Isla could feel the pressure mounting as the deadline for the joint project drew near. She hated how working with Jin Woo made her feel—conflicted, frustrated, and strangely captivated. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, there was something about him that kept drawing her in.

Jin Woo, on the other hand, was composed as ever. He exuded his usual confidence, but there were moments when Isla caught him stealing glances at her, his expression unreadable. Was there something more behind his cold demeanor, or was she just imagining things?

The day of the final presentation arrived. Isla and Jin Woo had been forced to spend more time together than either of them had anticipated. Countless late nights and heated arguments over the smallest details had brought them closer in ways that neither of them wanted to admit.

As they stood in the conference room, waiting for their turn to present, Isla felt her nerves begin to take over. Her hands were trembling slightly, and she cursed herself for letting Jin Woo get under her skin. She was usually so calm, so in control. But today, the stakes felt higher than ever.

Jin Woo seemed to notice her unease. Without a word, he leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nervous?"

Isla stiffened, refusing to meet his gaze. "Why would I be?"

"Because you care about this more than you're letting on," he replied, his tone unexpectedly gentle.

She scoffed, trying to brush off the comment, but something about the way he looked at her made her heart race. There was no trace of the smug arrogance she was so used to. Instead, there was something softer, almost concerned.

Before Isla could respond, the door to the conference room opened, and they were called in to present. For the next hour, they worked in perfect harmony, delivering their pitch with a precision that surprised even them. They were a perfect balance—Isla's creativity and Jin Woo's strategy complementing each other seamlessly.

When it was over, the room erupted in applause. Isla could hardly believe it—they had done it. As the crowd filtered out, she turned to Jin Woo, a rare smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "We actually pulled it off."

Jin Woo nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "We make a good team."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Isla could feel the electricity between them, the tension that had been building for weeks. Before she could stop herself, she took a step closer, her eyes searching his face for any sign of what he was thinking.

And then, in a moment that surprised them both, Jin Woo reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. It was such a small gesture, but it sent a jolt of warmth through Isla's chest.

"Isla..." Jin Woo's voice was low, almost hesitant, as if he wasn't sure what he was about to say.

But before he could finish, the door opened again, breaking the moment. One of their colleagues stepped in, oblivious to the charged atmosphere between them. Jin Woo quickly stepped back, his usual stoic expression returning, but Isla could still feel the lingering heat of his touch.

As they left the conference room, the weight of what had just happened settled over Isla. Things between them had changed, whether she wanted to admit it or not. And for the first time, she wasn't sure if their rivalry was enough to keep them apart.

She stole one last glance at Jin Woo as they walked back to their desks, her heart beating faster than ever. Whatever this was, it was far from over.