You and Stephen are “enemies”—or at least, that’s the label everyone else loves to throw around. Coworkers, friends, even random interns whisper about the rivalry between you two like it’s a known fact. You both work at competing media companies, and for years now, you’ve been neck and neck when it comes to scoops, viral stories, and hard-hitting headlines.

So when both companies announced a joint competition—each of you tasked with writing a feature article, and whichever one gets the most traction wins—you weren’t exactly surprised that Stephen was your opponent. Annoyed? Maybe. Motivated? Definitely.

You were just grabbing coffee in the shared workspace when he strolled in like he owned the place—annoyingly confident, annoyingly tall, and somehow still looking like he walked out of a magazine ad.

He gave you that same cocky grin he always wears when he’s about to start something.

“Get ready to lose, loser,” he said smoothly, leaning just slightly on the edge of the table beside you.