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Subject: Common Grounds Campaign

Claire clicked it open.

Excellent direction yesterday. Let’s move forward with the “ritual” concept. I’d like to see first-round copy ideas by Friday.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. One meeting, one strong direction, and already, it was moving forward.

She opened a blank document.

More Than Coffee.

She typed it once. Deleted it. Typed another.

Where Every Morning Begins.

Better. Not perfect. But closer.

“Claire?”

She looked up.

Avery leaned over the divider. “Quick question. Which headline do you like better?”

Claire stood and crossed the aisle. They spent five minutes tweaking two lines until both of them stepped back from the screen.

“There,” Claire said. “Now it sounds like something I’d actually stop to read.”

Avery laughed. “I don’t know how you do that.”

Claire smiled. “I’m not sure I do either.”

Claire spent most of the morning refining concepts, headlines, and mockups. Yesterday’s meeting had turned into pages of notes scattered across her desk. She had worked late yesterday. She would probably work late today too. That was fine. She wasn’t about to let her first client or Victoria Sinclair down.

If Mrs. Sinclair believed she could handle the campaign, Claire intended to prove her right.

Mrs. Sinclair stopped by once, glanced at the latest mockup, and nodded. “It’s coming together.” Coming from Victoria Sinclair, that felt remarkably close to a standing ovation. Claire smiled to herself and kept typing.

By the time noon rolled around, she hadn’t looked away from her screen once. Her phone chimed. She looked down to see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Biscuit says he hopes you have a good day.

Claire stared at her phone. How did Noah get her phone number? And why wouldn’t Biscuit leave her alone?

Claire: How did you get my number?

Noah: I got it from the building resident directory.

Claire: You looked me up? Freak.

Noah: You made that sound a lot creepier than it was.

Claire: Because it is! Why did you need my number?

Noah: Biscuit wanted to check on you.

Claire: Tell Biscuit I’m fine. And I’m still not a dog person.

Noah: He doesn’t believe you.