You walk into the meeting room expecting awkward PowerPoint slides and stiff formalities — and instead find him.

Barefoot, tan, grinning.

“Sorry I’m late,” he says, holding up his sandals. “Traffic — in paradise.”

You blink. “You’re kidding.” He just smiles. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Minutes later, during the presentation, someone cracks an inappropriate joke. Without missing a beat, he replies smoothly:

“It’s only awkward if you make it awkward.”

The crowd laughs. You do too — despite yourself.

Afterward, as you’re packing up, he glances at you and says with a teasing grin,

“See? Told you this wouldn’t be boring.”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t stop smiling. And somehow, you already know this partnership’s about to get… complicated.