Rebirth: Love me Again

[EVE]

I took some time before class started to catch up with my team for updates on my business and investments.

It was a quick meeting, but one I couldn't skip. Running a business portfolio while juggling everything else in my life wasn't easy, but I'd built a team I could rely on.

First up was Michael, my go-to guy for all things tech. We met at a quiet café near campus—a perfect blend of professionalism and comfort. He was already waiting, typing furiously on his laptop when I arrived.

"Michael, do you ever stop working?" I teased as I slid into the seat across from him.

He looked up with a grin. "I wouldn't have to if a certain someone actually did her job instead of dumping all the work on me."

I chuckled. "Fair point. So, what's the latest with NanotechLyf? Please tell me we're not about to blow billions of dollars on some fancy microchips that won't even work."

"Ah, Eve, your faith in humanity is touching," Michael said with a mock sigh. "But actually, things are going great. The team has made significant progress on the nano-capsule project. Remember the one we discussed a couple of months ago? The capsule that can deliver medicine to specific cells?"

I nodded, intrigued. "The one that was supposed to make targeted drug delivery a reality. Is it working?"

"Not just working—it's exceeding expectations," Michael said, his voice rising with excitement. "The trials showed a 90% accuracy rate in targeting affected cells, and the side effects are significantly lower than traditional treatments."

"90%? That's incredible! Does that mean we're ready to move to the next phase?" I asked, leaning forward.
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Michael shrugged, but his smile gave away his pride. "We're not there yet, but we're close. We're ironing out a few kinks, mostly related to scaling production. You know, the boring logistical stuff."

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "Boring to you, maybe. To me, it sounds like money in the making. Keep me updated on that. I want to know the moment we hit the next milestone."

Michael gave a mock salute. "You got it, boss."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Okay, enough business. What else is new? You look a little too cheerful for someone buried in nanotechnology. Got a secret I should know about?"

Michael smirked. "Maybe I'm just enjoying life. Speaking of which, how was your little getaway to Germany? Did you finally take a break, or were you micromanaging your hotel stay?"

I rolled my eyes. "It was a business trip, thank you very much. But I did manage to sneak in some fun. You'd be proud—I didn't open my laptop once during dinner."

Michael gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Stop. Eve Rosette wanting to work during a meal? Are you feeling okay? Do we need to call a doctor?"

I threw a sugar packet at him, laughing. "Shut up. I can be busy too, you know. I even did some touristy stuff—visited a castle, ate way too much schnitzel, and bought a ridiculous number of souvenirs. You're lucky I didn't bring you back a cuckoo clock."

"Missed opportunity," he said with a grin. "So, no wild adventures? No secret German prince sweeping you off your feet?"

I snorted. "Please. The only thing sweeping me off my feet was the cobblestone streets. Those things are an ankle hazard."

Michael laughed, shaking his head. "Classic. Well, I'm glad you had fun. You deserve it. Just don't forget your work okay? Don't be so lazy all the time."

I groaned, leaning back in my chair. "Oh, come on, Michael. Don't start. I just got back! Can't I ease into things without being hounded by spreadsheets and deadlines?"

He smirked, crossing his arms. "Easing in? Eve, you've been easing into work your entire life. At this rate, you're going to need a whole year to 'adjust' every time you take a week off."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my grin. "You sound like a mom."

"Good," he shot back. "Maybe someone needs to parent you into actually doing your job."

I leaned forward, giving him a faux-serious look. "You realize I pay you, right? Like, I could technically fire you for this level of sass."

Michael raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Yeah, but you won't. Who else is going to keep your empire from crumbling while you gallivant around Europe, pretending emails don't exist?"

"Gallivant?" I repeated, laughing. "Is that your word of the day, professor?"

He chuckled, shrugging. "I've got to keep my vocabulary sharp for all those escape room puzzles I keep solving in my free time. Speaking of which, when was the last time you challenged your brain with something more complex than choosing what to order for lunch?"

I gasped dramatically. "Excuse me! I'll have you know I made very important decisions in Germany. Like . . . choosing between bratwurst or schnitzel. It was life-changing."

Michael snorted. "Sure, sure. Meanwhile, I've been making actual life-changing decisions, like finalizing the nano-tech prototype you've been avoiding for weeks."

"Ugh, I knew you'd bring that up," I muttered, sinking into my seat. "I'm not good with technology and all that sci-fi tech."

"Of course I did!" he said, his grin widening. "You can't run forever, Eve. This is your project. You need to show up. I'm good, but I can't be you. You're the owner after all."

I sighed, letting my head fall back dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'll dive into it . . . tomorrow."

Michael groaned. "Tomorrow? Eve!"

"What?" I said, laughing. "It's not like the prototype is going anywhere. Besides, you're the genius here. You don't need me breathing down your neck, right?"

He gave me a long, unimpressed look. "You know what? I take it back. You don't need me for therapy; you need an intervention. Maybe I'll organize one after I finish your work."

I waved him off playfully. "You're such a drama queen."

He smirked. "And you're such a slacker. But you're lucky you're charming, or I'd have quit ages ago."

"Noted," I said, standing up and stretching. "And seriously, Michael, thanks for keeping things running. I know I give you a hard time, but you're the best."

He grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, yeah. Just remember that the next time you're tempted to skip another meeting."

I laughed, grabbing my bag. "I'll think about it."

As I turned to leave, Michael called out, "Hey, Eve?"

"Yeah?" I looked back.

"Next time you jet off somewhere, bring me back something cool, like . . . a giant beer mug or something. I could use it to hold all the coffee I need to deal with you."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Deal. But only if you promise to keep being the genius who makes me good money."

Michael gave me a thumbs-up, his grin as sharp as ever. "You've got yourself a deal, boss. Now go do some actual work."

I waved him off with a grin, leaving the café with a mix of guilt and amusement. Maybe tomorrow, I really would get back to work.

Maybe.