Rivals At Heart

Ava Blake's heels clicked against the marble lobby of the Lawson & Associates headquarters, the sound sharp and purposeful, like everything else about her. The morning sunlight streamed through the glass facade, casting her shadow long across the floor as she nodded to the greetings of co-workers. She was quite early, and the building was still quiet, holding its breath before the workday began.

Today was supposed to be a big and happy day for her. After years of fighting to be among the top architects, years of being overlooked for top projects just because she was a female architect, Ava had finally secured a bid for the Hammond Museum renovation. Not just any project, but a career-defining project, one that would cement her place among the architectural elite of the city. The one that would prove her mother right for mortgaging their home to send her to architecture school and her critics wrong for dismissing her organic, human-centered designs as "too emotional." The Hammond was her chance to restore a historical treasure while breathing new life into it. To create something that would outlast her.

She stepped into the elevator, balancing her portfolio case against her hip as she pressed the button for the 36th floor. The familiar flutter of nerves tickled her stomach, but she welcomed it. It was normal, the feeling that drove her through all-nighters in high school, through presentations to skeptical clients, through every step of her journey to this moment. Her phone buzzed. A text from Chloe, her assistant. *Urgent meeting in the main conference room. The CEO wants everyone there by 9.* Ava frowned. Tristan Lawson rarely called for arranged meetings but always unplanned ones. The elevator doors slid open to reveal an office in controlled chaos. Colleagues she expected to find at their desks were huddled in small groups, whispering urgently.

"Ava!" Chloe hurried towards her, tablet clutched to her chest, her normally perfect bun coming undone. "Thank God you're here early. They're saying it's about a merger."

"A merger?" Ava's heart skipped a beat. Mergers meant possible replacement, restructuring, and reassigned projects. "With whom?"

Chloe lowered her voice. "Caldwell Design Group."

The portfolio case nearly slipped from Ava's fingers. "You're joking."

Caldwell Design Group was their fiercest competitor, known for sleek, mathematical precision and cold brilliance. Led by legendary architect William Caldwell and, more recently, his son Nathan Caldwell, the man who is very talented in architecture. Nathan Caldwell, the man whose work she'd publicly criticized last year at the Architectural Digest symposium. The man who'd beaten her for the Morrison Tower commission by a single vote. The man whose aesthetic was so diametrically opposed to hers that architecture blogs had turned them into professional nemeses.

"It's just a rumor," Chloe said, without assurance. "maybe it's something else entirely."

"Right." Ava straightened her black blazer. "Let's find out."

The conference room was already half full when they arrived, the usual seating pattern abandoned as people claimed chairs closest to the door either to hear the news first or to make a quick escape afterward; Ava wasn't sure. She slid into a seat near the middle, setting her portfolio on the table. Her phone buzzed again. It was her mother. *Saw the news online. Call me when you can. Proud of you, peach.* What news? The Hammond Commission had been announced last week.

Ava was about to text back when Tristan Lawson, the CEO, entered the room, followed by two men she recognized immediately from industry events and magazine covers. William Caldwell, grey-haired, impeccably dressed, radiating the confidence of someone who'd spent decades shaping city skylines. And beside him, Nathan Caldwell. Ava had seen photos, of course, and they did capture the intensity they carried like an invisible force field.

Nathan Caldwell was a tall able-bodied lad with an athlete's build, with dark hair and sharp cheekbones that could have been carved by one of his own precise designs. He wore a simple black sweater that probably cost more than her monthly rent and no tie, as if boardroom meetings were beneath him. His eyes scanned the room with clinical detachment until they landed on her. A flash of recognition crossed his face. He smirked slightly before his expression returned to professional neutrality. Her cheeks burned. So he knew exactly who she was. Of course he did. She'd made sure of that when she'd stood up after his presentation last year and systematically dismantled his philosophy of prioritizing form over human experience.

"Good morning, everyone," Tristan Lawson began, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I know this is unexpected, but sometimes the best opportunities arrive without warning. I'm pleased to announce that as of midnight last night, Lawson & Associates and Caldwell Design Group have merged to form Lawson & Caldwell Associates." The room erupted in murmurs. Merged. Not acquired. A partnership, then. Ava's fingers tightened around her pen.

"This strategic alliance," Tristan continued over the noise, "combines our strengths in sustainable, community-focused design with Caldwell's innovative structural approaches. Together, we'll be the most comprehensive architectural firm in the Northeast."

William Caldwell stepped forward. His voice was deep and authoritative. "Change can be unsettling, but I assure you, this merger will benefit both our client portfolios and provide each of us with expanded opportunities." He said and took his seat.

"Expanded opportunities, the classic replacement for "prove your worth or find another job." We'll be integrating our teams over the coming weeks." Tristan added. "Most of you will continue your current projects under the new structure, with some strategic reassignments to maximize our combined expertise."

Strategic reassignments? Ava's heart raced. The Hammond. Her Hammond. Would she be replaced? Her hand shot up across the table. "What about our upcoming projects? Will there be reassignment?"

"Some reassignments are unpredictable," Williams answered smoothly, "but we value the talent in both organizations." Williams understood Ava's fears.

Ava glanced at Nathan, who remained silent, his expression undistracted and unbothered as he studied something on his tablet. Not even bothering to pay attention to the career anxiety filling the room. He disgusted her.

"Now," Tristan said, in a very calm tone. "Let's address our ongoing projects. The Westside development will continue under Richard's team. The Lakefront corporate campus remains with Aria's group." He flipped a page in his notes. "The Hammond Museum renovation will be our new firm's big project, co-led by Ava Blake and Nathan Caldwell."

Co-led? The Hammond Museum renovation was supposed to be her masterpiece. Instead, she was stuck co-leading it with a man whose work she had spent years competing with. Her gaze snapped to Nathan, who finally looked up from his tablet. Their eyes locked across the table, and for a burning moment, it was just the two of them in the room. He didn't look surprised. He'd known this was coming. And of course it didn't seem like a problem to him.

"Ms. Blake and Mr. Caldwell represent the best of our respective design philosophies," Tristan continued, ignorant of Ava's internal crisis. "Their collaboration will showcase what this merger truly means for our future."

Collaboration? With Nathan Caldwell? The man would probably replace the museum's historic facade with a glass cube given half a chance. The meeting continued, but Ava barely heard the words. Her project, her career-defining project is now shared with the last person on earth she'd choose to work with.

After what felt like hours, Tristan concluded. "Department heads will receive project documents this morning. Individual meetings will be scheduled throughout the week. That's all for now." He concluded and took his leave.

People rose, noises of nervous chatter filling the room. Ava remained seated, trying to process what had just happened. The Hammond wasn't just a building to her. It was personal. Her mother, newly arrived from Mexico with nothing but determination and a love of art, had found refuge in that museum. She had taught Ava to see beauty in structure long before she knew what architecture was.

"Ms. Blake."

She looked up to find Nathan Caldwell standing over her, one hand in his pocket, studying her with those penetrating eyes accompanied by a warm smile. Up close, she could see they were an unusual shade of gray like storm clouds gathering.

"Mr. Caldwell." She rose, refusing to let him tower over her despite their height difference.

"Congratulations on the merger." He said in a warm manner. His voice was deeper than she expected, with a subtle roughness.

"Thank you." She said with hesitation. This thank you, of course, wasn't from the depths of her heart.

"I understand we'll be working together, so it seems we would have to know each other more."

She gathered her portfolio, clutching it like it might shield her from whatever way. "I don't think it's necessary. Well, in case you don't know, I don't mix pleasure with work. Work to me is work and work alone. She said, trying to keep her cool.

"Pleasure?" He asked, surprised by her response.

She ignored him. "Well, I have studied most of your designs." He said calmly.

A simple statement, impossible to read. "Have you?" She couldn't keep the edge from her voice.

"I recall you once told Architectural Review that organic design elements were nostalgic indulgences at the expense of efficiency'.'" A hint of a smile touched his lips. "I believe you responded by calling my Riverside Tower 'a monument to masculine insecurity masquerading as modernism.'" So he remembered her critique word for word. Interesting.

"Professional differences aside," he continued, "the Hammond is significant. Too significant for personal feelings to interfere."

"I couldn't agree more." She met his gaze steadily. "Which is why I'll be presenting my original vision to the client next week, as scheduled.

"His expression hardened. "Our original visions. The renovation requires structural innovation that honors historical elements while ensuring sustainability. My team has been developing concepts for months."

"Your team?" Her eye widened.

"The Hammond was awarded to Lawson & Associates, and now it's awarded to Lawson and Caldwell. To us." He placed his tablet on the table between them and pulled up a file. "These are the preliminary structural assessments we've done on the Hammond's foundation. There are serious issues your proposal doesn't address."

Ava stared at the screen, at detailed scans she'd never seen before. "How did you get these?" She asked surprisingly.

"We were contracted for a structural assessment six months ago. The board was concerned about the Western foundation."

"And you didn't think to mention this during the merger discussions? That you were already involved with my project?" She asked angrily.

"Your project?" His eyebrow arched. "I was under the impression we were past that."

Tristan entered, relief visible on his face when he saw them talking. "Ah, good! You two are getting acquainted."

"We were just discussing our collaborative approach to the Hammond," Nathan said smoothly.

"Sounds interesting." Tristan beamed.

"This project means everything to our new brand identity. The board expects regular updates from both of you. Together." Tristan said.

Ava forced a smile. "Of course."

"One more thing," Tristan added, his expression growing serious. "Given the high profile of this renovation and the public nature of some of your professional disagreements, the board is particularly interested in seeing true collaboration."

"Meaning?" Ava asked calmly.

"Meaning," William Caldwell interjected, appearing beside his son. "that this project will serve as an evaluation of both your futures with the firm." The implication hung in the air, undisguised.

"To be blunt," Tristan continued, "if you can't work together effectively, we'll be forced to reassign one of you. Possibly off the project entirely."

One of them would be removed if they don't collaborate. That person was certainly not her. And Ava had no doubt who had more job security between the architectural prodigy and herself.

"Is that clear?" William asked, his tone making it less a question and more of a command.

"Sure," Nathan replied.

"Absolutely," Ava echoed.

As Tristan and William walked away, discussing integration timelines, Ava turned back to Nathan, her blood boiling.

"I've worked my entire career for this opportunity," she said quietly, intensity threading every word. "I won't let anyone take it from me, especially not someone who's had every door opened for him since birth."

Something flashed in Nathan's eyes, anger-certainly, but something else too. Something that looked almost like hurt. "You don't know the first thing about me, Ms. Blake." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "But you're about to learn that I've earned every project I've ever received. And I never lose what I set my mind to winning." He collected his tablet and turned to leave, pausing at the door to look back at her over his shoulder.

The morning light caught his profile, throwing half his face into shadow. "I've studied your work for years, Blake," he said, the hint of a challenge in his voice. "Your strengths. Your weaknesses. Your predictable patterns. I know exactly what makes your designs stand out and exactly how to break them apart." His lips curved into something not quite a smile. "May the best architect win."

He vanished through the doorway, leaving Ava alone in the conference room, the weight of everything she stood to lose pressing down on her. The Hammond. Her career. Her chance to create something that mattered. She sank back into her chair, mind racing. If Nathan Caldwell wanted a war, he'd get one. But as she opened her portfolio and stared at her carefully crafted designs, designs that now seemed vulnerable in ways she hadn't considered, a troubling question emerged. Why had he been studying her work for years? And why couldn't she shake the feeling that there was something personal beneath his professional challenge? Her phone buzzed again. Another message from her mother: *Are you okay? Just saw who you'll be working with. Isn't he the one who you have been in competition with for some time?* Ava switched off her phone. She was so exhausted.