Reza shrugged. "Yeah, she's the type who's picky about projects. Usually works with companies that have long-term environmental visions. If you managed to catch her interest, you must've been convincing."
Evan gave a faint smile. "Or she just doesn't want me destroying her plants again."
Reza laughed. "That's possible! But still, you got her attention."
Evan didn't respond, just turned his focus back to his laptop screen.
After Reza left, he leaned back in his chair. His friend's words echoed in his mind.
Nadira did seem genuinely interested in working with him. But was it purely professional? Or was there another reason behind it?
—
Evan looked at Reza standing in front of him, arms crossed. His friend looked serious—like a senior mentoring a newcomer.
"Your proposal's good, but you only listed one vendor," Reza said, his tone instructional.
Evan tried not to scoff. The situation felt ironic. He used to be the one in Reza's position—pointing out mistakes, mentoring juniors. Now, he was the one being treated like a newbie.
"Johan's definitely going to ask for vendor comparisons," Reza continued. "You need at least two or three options. Can't just have Nadira."
Evan took a deep breath. Of course he knew that. He'd been in Johan's shoes. If the timeline had gone the way it was supposed to, he wouldn't need this kind of reminder.
"I get it," Evan said finally. "I'll look for other vendors."
Reza nodded, satisfied, like Evan had just learned something important. "Good. You're new on this project, but if you keep things tidy, I'm sure you'll rise quickly again."
Evan offered a faint smile. Again? If only Reza knew—he never used to need this kind of coaching.
After Reza left, Evan stared at his laptop screen. His fingers began typing out names of other vendors, but his mind stayed fixed on one thing—Nadira.
For some reason, he wanted this project to go to her.
—
Evan typed up a list of other vendors, looking for options to compare with Nadira. But his focus kept wavering. He didn't like having to follow procedures he'd already mastered, especially being treated like a beginner.
Still, if he wanted this project to succeed, he had to play by the rules.
After gathering two more vendor options, Evan revised his proposal, making sure all the data was complete before handing it back to Reza.
That afternoon, Johan called him into the office.
"I've reviewed your proposal," Johan said, leaning back in his chair. "But I want you to set up meetings with all the vendors so we can see which one fits best."
Evan nodded. "Understood, sir."
He left Johan's office and immediately messaged Nadira first.
Evan:Hey, can we meet to discuss the office garden project?
A reply came shortly after.
Nadira:Sure. Just don't destroy my plants again, okay?
Evan smirked at her message. Apparently, Nadira hadn't forgotten how they first met.
He wasn't exactly sure why, but the more time passed, the more drawn he felt to her.
—
After several meetings about the office garden project, Evan began looking for excuses to meet Nadira outside of work. At first, he added extra questions about which plants suited certain office areas. Then it evolved into conversations about hobbies and everyday life.
One afternoon, after a meeting with another vendor, Evan waited until Nadira was done talking to her staff.
"Nadira," he called as she was about to get into her car.
She turned, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
"Do you have any recommendations for good plant shops?"
She crossed her arms. "Your office running out of plants again?"
Evan chuckled. "Not for the office. I want to try adding some to my apartment. But I have no idea where to start."
Nadira gave him a skeptical look. "You sure you can take care of plants?"
Evan pretended to think. "If they're easy to maintain, maybe."
She let out a small sigh, then said, "Alright. I've got time this Saturday. If you want, I can take you to a good place."
Evan hid his victorious smile. "Saturday? Cool. I'll pick you up."
Without realizing it, he'd started to enjoy this process of getting closer. Not just because Nadira was attractive, but because something about her made him want to know more.
—
Since their first visit to the plant shop, Evan had been finding more reasons to meet Nadira. Initially, he claimed he needed more plant suggestions for his apartment. Then their conversations evolved to balcony garden designs.
One evening, Evan called Nadira after work.
"Busy?" he asked casually.
"Having dinner. Why?" she replied, mid-chew.
"I just realized—I might need a plant shelf for the balcony. Got any suggestions?"
Nadira chuckled. "You're really getting into this, huh? Don't tell me you've started enjoying gardening?"
"Not quite," Evan laughed. "But if someone's patient enough to teach me, maybe I'll change my mind."
"Hmm… I can show you some rack designs that would fit. I'm swamped this week, but if you're free Saturday afternoon, I can help you pick one."
"Deal. I'll treat you to dinner too."
"Dinner? Since when does buying a plant rack come with a dinner bonus?" Nadira teased.
"Since I'm the one asking," Evan replied lightly.
Unconsciously, their interactions were becoming more personal. Nadira had initially entertained it because of work and Evan's sudden gardening interest. But over time, she realized he always seemed to have a reason to reach out.
One day, as Nadira was checking on the office garden project, Reza approached her.
"You're spending a lot of time with Evan," Reza commented, giving her a knowing look.
Nadira smiled casually. "Why? Jealous, boss?"
Reza laughed. "Not my business. But when someone's trying that hard to get close to you, it might not be just about work."
Nadira only offered a faint smile, but deep down, she knew—Evan was definitely becoming more intentional.
—
GreenScape Officially Wins the Office Garden ProjectIn the third-floor meeting room, the atmosphere was formal but not too tense. Evan sat with Johan and several team members responsible for selecting the garden project vendor. In front of them were three proposals from different vendors, including Nadira's.
Johan opened the discussion with a serious tone. "After considering pricing, additional services, and vendor track records, we've decided on the one most suitable for the project."
Evan glanced at the projector screen, where the vendor comparison chart was displayed. Even though he already knew the result, his heart still beat faster.
Johan continued, "The vendor we've chosen is Nadira's GreenScape. They offered competitive pricing, but stood out with their added services, including plant warranties and an automated irrigation system."
Some team members nodded in agreement while Evan tried to hide his smile. He knew that price-wise, Nadira's proposal wasn't significantly better than the others—but the extra services made all the difference.
"This decision's also been approved by management," Johan added. "So, Evan, please coordinate with the vendor for next steps."
Evan nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll schedule a meeting with GreenScape to finalize the details."
After the meeting ended, Evan stepped out and quickly sent a message to Nadira.
Evan:Congrats! You officially got the office garden project.
Nadira:Seriously?! Wow, thank you! I promise I won't disappoint!
Evan:I believe you. We need to meet to go over the next steps. Tomorrow okay?
Nadira:Sure. Let's meet at Reza's café at 3 PM?
Evan:Sounds good. See you.
Evan put away his phone and exhaled deeply. This wasn't just about the project anymore—it was also a chance to get closer to Nadira. At least for now, he had a strong reason to keep meeting her—professionally, of course.
But deep down, one question still lingered in his mind:
Was Nadira truly interested in him, or was it just because of the project?