𝚒'𝚖 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢, 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚎..𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?

𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐋'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 as an intern at Amor was a whirlwind of excitement and nerves. Fresh out of design school, she was eager to immerse herself in the world of interior design and contribute her creative flair to the projects at hand. However, despite her inherent sunshine character and strong work ethic, Isobel couldn't shake off the nerves that came with being in the presence of her boss.

Victoria, with her poised demeanour and keen eye for design, commanded respect and admiration from everyone at Amor. Isobel found herself in awe of Victoria's expertise and accomplishments in the field, which only added to her nervousness. Yet, she was determined not to let her apprehension hold her back.

From the moment she stepped into the vibrant offices at Amor, Isobel threw herself into her work with enthusiasm and dedication. She eagerly absorbed every piece of advice and feedback Victoria offered, striving to learn and improve with each task she undertook. Whether it was assisting with mood boards, sourcing fabrics, or sketching design concepts, Isobel approached her responsibilities with a sense of diligence and passion.

Despite the walls that were so clearly covering Victoria's true self, Isobel's nervousness around Victoria soon began to chip away; replaced by a growing sense of admiration and respect. She realised that beneath Victoria's reserved exterior lay a wealth of knowledge and insight just waiting to be shared.

While Isobel longed to impress her boss, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being a small fish in a big pond. There were several things that kept Isobel grounded when she felt this way, baking was the number one thing. But sketching was the second, so as she sat at her desk she was engrossed in the designs that have flooded her mind that were now coming to life on paper.

She smiled faintly, staring down at her work. The tips of her fingers ran across the various colours and shading that she created, wondering if she'd ever find the courage to show Victoria her designs.

"Impressive," Victoria's voice approaching Isobel from behind made the intern jump quickly out of her seat with eyes wide. Victoria barely gave off a reaction at Isobel, her face as stoic as always but there was a slight glimmer in her eye as she looks down at the intern's work.

"Really?" Isobel breathed out, almost in shock at her boss's compliment before she sharply clears her throat, "I mean..thank you, Victoria."

"I have a very last minute in person meeting with Domenico and Emilia in two hours," Victoria drawls out, gesturing for Isobel to follow her into her office, "And–"

"Emilia Laurent?" Isobel's eyes widen, "The Emilia Laurent?"

Victoria raised a brow, taking a seat at her desk. She sees Isobel gulp, immediately regretting interrupting Victoria as she spoke but Victoria didn't even flinch about that..more impressed at the young intern knowing the up and coming designer, "You've heard of Emilia?"

"Her work is beautiful," Isobel says eagerly, only this morning reading about the French designer, "The article about her in Vanity Fair called her the designer to watch."

The smallest twitch of a smirk hinted at the corner of Victoria's lips, barely even noticeable before she nods, "Yes well both herself and Domenico have came up with new designs they want to present to myself to possibly use on Vish's renovation upstairs. I've worked with Domenico on various projects and feel like a different collaboration would be refreshing."

"Anyway," Victoria sighed, "I need refreshments ready in conference room two for the meeting. Order from the usual place. Also..I need the phone number resetting again. Or whatever the technical term is."

Isobel nods taking Victoria's personal phone from the table, "Of course. Right away." This was already the second time that Victoria gave Isobel this request in the week she's worked here and it made the intern curious.

The young intern turned on her heel to leave the office until something in her being stopped her, "Victoria?" Her voice was quiet, almost sheepish looking back towards her boss, "I just wanted to thank you again for giving me the opportunity to work for you. It's only been a week and I just..I'm really enjoying myself."

Technically, I had no say in the matter..Victoria thought to herself.

Vishal was the one who hired Isobel, the preppy sunshine intern as a way to get back at his sister for always mocking himself and his assistant, Jen. The thought of having someone as enthusiastic as Isobel as an intern was Victoria's ideal of hell and sometimes it did feel like that, she wasn't going to beat around the bush when it came to that.

Just from looking at them and their own personal aesthetics, it was clear they were opposites. Isobel radiates warmth, enthusiasm, and positivity in every aspect of her being. She approaches life with a vibrant energy that uplifts those around her. Victoria was the complete opposite and is reserved, composed, and often carries an air of formality about her. Victoria's manner is calm and collected, and she rarely displays her emotions openly, a rare few being an exception in that instance.

Isobel smiles softly at Victoria, nodding in her direction before exiting the office and headed towards the elevators. She exhales a heavy breath waiting for the elevator to arrive, mentally kicking herself for not bringing up the original topic she wanted towards Victoria.

The intern soon walked back into the building completely owned by the Callahan family with a proud smile on her face getting everything done Victoria asked in record time. Isobel went deep into thought, her curiosity getting the better of her as she stares down at her boss's phone wondering why she wanted the number being changed for a second time in a week.

Was she in danger? Being threatened? No..too dramatic, Isobel thought to herself.

Isobel stood in the corner of the elevator, so deep in her thoughts, she barely registered the gentle chime signalling the doors imminent closure. Just as the doors began to slide shut, a sudden interruption made Isobel jump out of her thoughts abruptly.

Isobel's body tensed, and she flinched involuntarily as a hand swiftly reached out, preventing the doors from sealing her in solitude. Startled, she looked up to find Ransom Drysdale stepping into the elevator with an unyielding composure. She flashes a faint, polite smile shifting on her feet as the silence overcame the small box of confinement.

His presence was like a sudden chill in the air, sending a shiver down Isobel's spine. There was something unsettling about the way he entered, as if he had appeared out of nowhere, his demeanour as cold as stone.

Ransom glanced at Isobel, his eyes sharp and calculating, "You work for Vish's sister, right?"

"Victoria Callahan. Yes, I do." Isobel replied cautiously, trying to keep her voice steady, "I'm her intern."

The mobster's lips curled into a sly grin, "Ah yes, the wonderful Tori. I can't imagine it's a walk in the park working for her, right?"

Isobel felt a surge of defensiveness rise within her, "Excuse me?"

"I've heard stories about her, you know." The sly grin against his lips only became prominent as his tone turned more menacing, "Heard she's not exactly the easiest person to work for."

"You don't know anything about Victoria," Isobel retorted, her voice gaining strength, "She's a great boss who cares about her employees. Unlike some people I know."

Ransom chuckled darkly, leaning in closer, "Ah, the loyal intern. Sure, she seems like a real sweetheart," he said sarcastically, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes, "Well, you better watch your back with her. You never know what kind of games she might be playing."

Isobel tensed at Ransom's words, her loyalty to Victoria igniting a fire within her, "You don't know anything about her," she shot back, her voice tinged with anger. Isobel's harsh stare immediately dropped realising who she was actually speaking to, she glances away with a sheepish look, "I'm not interested in whatever game you're playing."

Ransom's expression hardened, his gaze narrowing. "Suit yourself," he replied, his tone icy. "But mark my words, little intern. You'll see her true colours soon enough."

The elevator doors opened and Isobel wasted no time in stepping out, leaving Ransom's mocking laughter echoing behind her. She may have been rattled by the encounter, but she was determined not to let anyone tarnish her admiration for Victoria.

The intern kept her head down, brows furrowed as she walked straight to her desk. A few coworkers frowning as they watch the bubbly girl walk by without her usual smile and greeting even if she was only out of the office for no more than an hour..even if she just went to the bathroom she'd greet everyone with a smile walking back in the offices.

—✤—

Victoria found herself in a dilemma as she observed Isobel's unusual behaviour as the intern sets up the conference room for the designer meeting. Isobel's typically bubbly personality had always been a stark contrast to Victoria's more reserved demeanour, but it had never been a cause for concern until now. Seeing Isobel in a bad mood left Victoria feeling conflicted.

On one hand, Victoria felt a sense of responsibility as Isobel's boss to ensure her well-being and productivity in the workplace. However, Victoria also felt drained and hesitant to delve into personal matters that might not directly affect her or the work environment.

Fuck it..Victoria thought to herself before stepping into the conference room.

"Okay, out with it." Victoria huffs dropping a bunch a files onto the desk making Isobel jump straight out of her frustrated thoughts, "Something's bothering you. Spill it."

"Victoria, I–"

"Fuck it, you know what? I don't care." Before Isobel could even utter a word, Victoria interjected, her tone brisk and harsh, "You've only been here a week and I am trusting you to be part of a meeting with two top designers. Whatever personal matters you're dealing with can wait, you leave that shit at the door before you walk in here. Understand?"

Her words were sharp, laced with a sense of urgency and determination. Victoria's impatience overshadowed any empathy she might have had for Isobel's situation, driven solely by her desire to ensure the success of the impending meeting.

Isobel's expression faltered, her attempt to speak halted by Victoria's abrupt interruption. Feeling dismissed and overlooked, she suppressed her feelings and nodded silently, understanding the weight of the situation at hand.

With her head down, Isobel beings to head straight towards the exit of the conference room until she sharply comes to a halt, "You don't remember me at all, do you?"

As the intern turns around, she faces Victoria who's face twists with confusion, "Excuse me?"

"Isobel Usher," Isobel emphasises on her last name, stepping closer, "My parents are Eleanor and Carson Usher.."

There was a silent recognition in Victoria's gaze as she slowly realised the truth. Isobel's shoulders slump as she noticed, "You and Vishal—"

"Yep, got it. I don't know a whole recap on the past, I've got it now." God, she wanted to murder Vishal right now. Victoria's jaw clenched as she turned directly towards the elevators.

Isobel felt a heavy feeling of guilt on her chest for finally speaking up on what she's been wanting to since she started because now it seems like Victoria was more pissed off than ever.

"Victoria," Isobel rushes after her boss who just steps into the elevator, "The meeting—"

"Come find me when they arrive." Victoria's tone was blunt and straight to the point as the elevator doors closed behind her giving her a chance to exhale a heavy breath.

Isobel watched as the elevator doors shut, her cheeks heating with flush as panic sets in. She swallowed harshly, walking back over to her desk fearing that she may have just totally messed up.

As Victoria rode up the elevator to her brother's office, her mind buzzed with a tangled mix of emotions. The elevator's ascent felt agonisingly slow as Victoria grappled with her thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder if Vishal had been aware of Isobel's background when he hired her. It was no secret the Callahan siblings often pushed each other's buttons so wouldn't surprise her completely if he did this on purpose.

The doors slid open with a soft ding, jolting Victoria back to the present. She stepped out into the sleek hallway, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she made her way to Vishal's office.

She glanced over to Jen who was sat by her desk outside of Vishal's office and smiled, "Vish isn't busy, is he? I need to speak to him."

"Oh, actually he's not here." Jen rolled her eyes before looking up from her computer, "He's downstairs in the gym. Acting like some wannabe Muhammed Ali."

My fucking day..Victoria thought to herself, exhaling an irritated breath. She did not have energy to deal with her brother's annoying ass ego he gets when he's boxing.

With a faint nod, Victoria began to walk back towards the elevators until she stopped, sharply turning on her heel, "Daffodil.." She drawled out Jen's little nickname as she raised a brow, "You drink, right?"

Jen scoffed, rolling her eyes with a hint of a smirk, "I work for your brother..of course I drink."

"Good to know." The brunette Callahan mimicked the same smirk before turning back towards the elevators.

Victoria's brisk footsteps echoed through the spacious gym as she made her way towards the boxing ring. She had to refrained from rolling her eyes the further she stepped into the gym and heard Ransom's jarring voice.

There, in the centre of the ring, Vishal was engaged in a spirited sparring session with Ransom. As Victoria approached, she couldn't help but scowl at the sight of Ransom's imposing figure, his muscles rippling with every calculated movement.

"Vish," she announced, her voice cutting through the thud of gloved fists meeting their target.

Vishal paused mid-punch, turning to face his sister with a puzzled expression, "Vic? What is it?" he asked, concern flickering in his eyes as he noticed the urgency etched on her features.

"We need to talk," Victoria insisted, her tone brooking no argument as she gestured for Vishal to step out of the ring, "Now."

Ransom smirked at the fact Victoria barely even looked in his direction, "Guess it's not just your pretty little assistant you take orders from. Huh, Vish?"

"Shut the fuck up," Vishal scolded his friend, nudging him before he sighed, "I'm in the middle of some—"

Victoria rolled her eyes, "Wilson," She muttered as she cleared her throat.

Vishal scoffed as his sister brought up a reference in regard to the Cast Away movie that she has used countless times against him. Vishal exchanged a brief glance with a confused looking Ransom before slipping off his gloves and following Victoria to a quieter corner of the gym.

"I'm getting sick of you bringing that up," Vishal stated in a harsh, hushed tone, "Men can cry at movies for fuck sake."

"Aw, poor baby. Did I embarrass you in front of bribe?" Victoria drawled out in a mockingly sweet tone and fake pet lip as she pinched her brother's cheeks for less than a second before he slaps her hands away.

"You mean Ransom?" Vishal narrowed his stare towards his sister, hands against his hips.

Victoria's face twisted with a look of disgust, "Like I give a fuck what his name is. I need to talk to you about Isobel."

"I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and hope you didn't do this to piss me off even more," Victoria began with a stern tone, "But if you did, Vish, I swear I'll embarrass you even more in front of your wannabe gangster bestie and—"

"Vic, just get on with it!" Vishal snapped quietly, growing impatient at Victoria's empty threats mixed with insults regarding the man only a few meters away from them.

"Isobel's parents." Victoria huffed out with a glare before nudging Vishal, "Seriously!? You hired the daughter of the Ushers? Do you hate me or something?"

"Oh come on," Vishal chuckled slightly, finding his sister's mere explosion as she slowly put the pieces together a little melodramatic, "Vic, it was a million years ago. Look, dad said their kid was looking for a job and had just finished design school so what's the problem?"

"The problem is that her parents hate me! They hate us both because it wasn't just me that they used to yell at over the garden fence."

Eleanor and Carson Usher were neighbours of the Callahan's as Victoria and Vishal grew up. They were close neighbours for a lot of years and the Callahan siblings would even babysit baby Isobel. Until something in Carson Usher changed and he acted cold with the Callahan's with no explanation. However his harshness was mainly directed at Victoria which caused a lot of tension between both families.

"I'm surprised it took you this long to realise," Vishal chuckles, not taking Victoria's annoyance seriously in the slightest.

"Well I've been a bit busy making sure my asshole of a brother's office is up to his standards, moving back here, moving my entire fucking company to a different state and—" Victoria trailed off with a heavy breath. She had too much on her plate right now and the control freak in her was close to completely spiralling.

"Vic," Vishal's tone softened towards his sister, placing his hand against her shoulder, "You've already seen for yourself that Isobel is nothing like her prick of a dad."

Lost in her thoughts, Victoria found herself at a crossroads, torn between her desire to trust Isobel and her lingering doubts about her true motives. She knew she needed to tread carefully, to keep her guard up while navigating the delicate balance between professionalism and personal history.

"Danny, are you god damn insane!?" Ransom's harsh tone brings Victoria out of her thoughts as both siblings look over to the mobster pacing around the boxing ring with an angry look on his face, "No, I don't give a fuck–"

"Is he always that.."

"Yes." Vishal deadpans with unamused expression towards Ransom who has this stone cold, angry front majority of the time and especially when he's taking calls from men that work for him, "Yes, he is."

—✤—

Ransom leaned against the cold metal wall of the elevator, his expression a mix of boredom and mischief. He glanced over at Vishal, who stood beside him, fidgeting with his phone in an attempt to pass the time.

"So Vish," Ransom drawled, breaking the silence, "Your sister didn't seem best pleased earlier. Something wrong?"

Vishal's annoyance flickered across his face before he quickly masked it with a forced smile, "Nah, everything's fine."

Ransom smirked, clearly enjoying getting under Vishal's skin, "You know, she really needs to learn to loosen up a bit. Always so uptight, that one."

"You don't even know her, man. You've seen her what, twice?" Vishal shot Ransom a sharp look, his jaw tightening with frustration, "Watch what you say about her. I mean it." He warned, his tone edged with warning.

Ransom merely chuckled, unfazed by Vishal's warning, "Oh, come on now. Can't a guy make a harmless observation?" He retorted, his smirk widening as he observed Vishal's growing irritation.

There were days that Vishal would question himself on why he was friends with Ransom and today was another one of them, "Don't make me regret doing this for you, dick."

"Do what?" Ransom frowns, at first not knowing what Vishal was getting at until the elevator dinged on floor thirty seven, "Hold on, why are we on this damn floor?"

"You said you wanted to give the hotel a new look." Vishal shrugs, stepping out of the elevator with a smug grin, "Where better to look than Amor?"

"Anywhere." Ransom retorts with displeasure, reluctantly following the elder Callahan sibling onto the floor of Victoria's company.

The mobster hated to admit it, but the offices of Amor were impressive. It had well and truly made its mark back in the Callahan building since Ransom was last here a week ago. The design was modern and open, with minimalist furniture and art pieces scattered throughout the room. Visually appealing without being ostentatious.

Screw her and her impeccable taste..he thought to himself.

It was an inevitable clash that would erupt even just at the mere idea of Ransom and Victoria working together on his hotel. And now, as they walked into the heart of Victoria's domain, that clash seemed imminent. As they approached one of the conference rooms, Ransom caught a glimpse of Victoria through the glass walls.

She was deep in conversation with her intern, her expression focused yet animated as she gestured towards a mood board spread out on the table. Despite himself, Ransom felt a flicker of admiration at her passion and dedication. But beneath that admiration lurked a tide of resentment and frustration. He hated how effortlessly she seemed to command attention, how effortlessly she seemed to excel in her craft.

A small knock against the glass door from Vishal knocks Ransom out of his thoughts. Victoria had her back to the door as Vishal opened it, stepping in with Ransom soon behind him, "You got a sec?"

"Good timing, my meeting just ended and.." Victoria trailed off as she turned with an immediate frown seeing her brother wasn't alone. Her stare narrows between Vishal and Ransom, "What's going on?"

Vishal glances at Ransom beside him who looks irritated to be here and back to Victoria who can tell her brother is up to something making him smirk slightly, "I asked him to come here."

"Bullshit." Ransom scoffs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants, "I had no say in the matter."

"I didn't drag you out of the elevator, did I?" Vishal retorts back without hesitation, glaring over to the mobster, "So, I think you'll find.."

"Not that I don't find it amusing you're both having some lovers squabble in my office," Victoria dragged out in a bored tone, having to refrain herself from forcing the two men out immediately, "Do you mind getting to the point?"

Vishal shrugs casually, stepping further into the room and looking down at the images scattered across the desk, "You know the hotel on the corner of Sixth and West?"

Victoria let out an irritated breath, already knowing exactly where Vishal was going with this. She glances over to Isobel who sat there looking awkward, "Isobel, can you just.."

"Thank you." Isobel breathes out with relief, immediately coming to her feet and walking past the trio. She had no desires to be in a room with three big personalities that would probably end in a blood bath, especially after her elevator talk with Ransom earlier this morning.

With a raised brow, Ransom watches as the intern hurries out, smirking slightly at how sheepish she was, "Do you always make your staff this uncomfortable?"

"I'm sorry, Bribe..did you say something?" Victoria bit back, eyes darkening with annoyance towards him.

Ransom's blood boiled with anger towards her, jaw clenches as he takes a step forward before Vishal reaches his arm out and scoffs, "Alright, alright. I'll get to the point. Ransom has bought that hotel and he needs a company to renovate it. That's where you come in."

"You're kidding?" Victoria laughed mockingly, crossing her arms, "You want me to work with him? No way."

From the second Ransom stepped out of the elevator, he had no desire to have Victoria's company work on his hotel. But the nonchalance in her already infuriating attitude only served to stoke the flames of his irritation. He had half a mind to storm out of her office then and there, to find another designer who would eagerly accept his offer without hesitation.

But beneath that defiance lurked a stubborn streak, a desire to prove a point, if only to himself, "And your reasoning for the quick refusal? You do realise how many designers would kill for the chance to get their hands on something like this?"

"So go find one of them." Victoria's expression remained impassive, but he could see the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. It irked him, fuelled the fire of his resolve. If she thought she could best him with her rejection, she had another thing coming.

"Vic, come on," Vishal sighed, trying to be the keeper of peace between them, "Won't hurt to at least listen before you start insulting him again."

Victoria's annoyance simmered just beneath the surface as she listened to her brother Vishal plead his case. He sat across from her, his earnest expression a stark contrast to her growing frustration.

"Oh my god, my day.." Victoria muttered quietly before sitting down at the table, "What exactly is your vision for the hotel?"

Victoria has actually managed to catch Ransom off guard with her sudden change of tone. He was half expecting her to remain stubborn and tell him no again, not actually ask him about the hotel.

"It's a historical building, so I'd like to keep that a main feature of the design," Ransom began also in a more calm tone as he too takes a seat directly opposite her stone cold expression, "Modern interior that combines classic touches. Something that gives off a powerful meaning, maybe different shades of red."

"No."

Ransom's mouth slacked and clamped shut in a nano second, fathoming the audacity of this woman and how blunt she became so quickly, "No?" He raised a brow leaning forward on the desk, "Did you just say no to me?"

Victoria had to bite her tongue to stop herself from laughing in the face of this already overbearing ego, "With all due respect, Mr Drysdale, I know what I'm doing in this line of work more than you. If it was about which guns to have on display then by all means, I'd welcome your opinion."

"It's my hotel," His tone was straight to the point with a hint of harshness, "So isn't that evidence enough my opinion should matter?"

"Evidently not."

Ransom could feel his blood pressure rising by the second at every bratty response he got back from her. With a scoff he glances down at the work on the desk between them, "Let me guess, you spend a full day printing out pretty little pictures off the internet, stick them on a piece of shitty cardboard and maybe add some glitter then call it a day. I'm close, right?"

Victoria's impassive expression remains as she shrugs, "You're close to me throwing this stapler at your head."

"You two are fucking impossible," Vishal muttered under his breath, sinking further into his seat.

"Well, Victoria," Ransom said, his voice deceptively calm as he comes to his feet, "I suppose if you won't design my hotel, I'll just have to find someone else who will. And when it's finished, I'll make sure you see every last detail."

"I look forward to judging the fuck out of it," Victoria retorted with a smug look on her face that only angered the mob boss even further.

It wasn't just the rejection itself that added to his annoyance, it was the way Victoria seemed to revel in it, her disdain evident in the curve of her lips and the cool glint in her eyes. It was as if she took pleasure in thwarting his plans, relishing the opportunity to assert her dominance over him once again.

Any argumentative response from Ransom was stopped as his phone began to ring. Glancing down at the name, he knew it would be an important call so with one last glare towards the smug looking Callahan, he turned to leave and answered the call, "Monty."

It took a few seconds for Vishal to actually compute what the fuck just happened in front of him. These two have barely met and yet their personalities were so explosive, they clash immediately. He glances at Victoria with an unimpressed glare, "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing!?" Victoria repeated back to her brother in a much harsher tone, "Why the fuck did this idea even cross your stupid ass mind? Has he hit you too many times in your pathetic little boxing rounds?"

"This would be good for your business, no?" Vishal challenged her, watching as she came to her feet and gathering the scattered mood board for his own office, "It could be Amor's way of a comeback in Boston."

"My company doesn't need a comeback." Victoria bites back, glaring down at Vishal. Today had already been enough for Victoria to completely snap and this was her tipping point, "And working with the mob? I'm not an idiot and I would like to think you'd understand my reasonings and it's not just because of that asshole's persona."

Vishal sighed heavily, guilt coming into play from Victoria's words. He knew the exact reason why Victoria wouldn't want to involve herself in the criminal underworld, even something as tame as renovating a hotel owned by a mob boss.

With pleading eyes, Vishal stands about to try and reason with his sister but she beats him to it, glaring over to him, "It's not happening."

—✤—

i feel like the story is finally starting to begin now, ahhhhh

in case you missed it, i've posted a second casting part so go take a look at that. two names that have been mentioned in this chapter are on there and the rest will be making their appearances soooooon..