Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Nani looked up from this laptop when Sky placed a cup on his desk. Sky, ever energized with that puppy dog face and wide grin smile plastered on his face, looked concerned at Nani. Nani didn’t know how Sky did it. He always seemed to have a smile on his bright face. Nothing ever got to him and he had such an upbeat personality. Not that Nani sulked all the time, but his personality was more demure and reserved. Sometimes he wished he could be a bit more like Sky, but he wasn’t sure if he could. It had only been a few days into their months long project between the Marketing and Sales department for a new product releasing with their tech company, and he wasn’t sure how their time was going to be together.
About two weeks ago, their general manager, Goldie, announced a major product launch coming in half a year. Nani and the others had known their new product was in production and that they would eventually be working on the marketing campaign for it, but they hadn’t realize how much the company was planning to invest in this particular product. Goldie had not only gathered the marketing department, but also the sales team, and a few key members of other departments as well. Nani looked around the room of about 30 and saw some faces he generally only saw in passing or at company events.
He didn’t enjoy big groups and saw himself as a bit of an introvert within the company. He has been at the company for about four years and started off with some smaller projects and recently been promoted. He was friendly and communicated well with his team, but he didn’t outwardly engage with them much outside of work or in personal matters. He felt there should be a bit of a divide between professional and personal life. He never really thought about what his coworkers thought of him because it wouldn’t have changed his demeanor. Nani fiddled with the cuff of his shirt, anticipating what the announcement Goldie would have. There had to be a reason that half of the company teams were there.
“As you all know, we have been working so hard on this new product. Maybe what you didn’t anticipate was how important this product would be for our company. The CEO has let me know that we really need to come together to help launch and promote this product.” Everyone looked around at each other, not saying much. Of course they knew this project would be important. But they couldn’t understand the group meeting and the suspense that was building up in the room. “Well, we are running a major campaign in the coming months and we have decided to really put our best into this launch and the product. In doing so we are creating a whole team fully devoted to this campaign launch. We are calling it Project Red Thread.” Everyone looked at Goldie waiting for what she would say next.
Goldie scanned the room and with a smile on her face, looked directly at Nani. “Nani! Can you please stand?” She said with such enthusiasm. Nani looked like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes asking Goldie, are you sure me? Goldie motioned with her hand for Nani to stand. He did so and gave a wai to her and the rest of the room.
“As some of you know, Nani was recently promoted to Junior Head of Marketing, and he has been chosen to spearhead Project Red Thread.” The announcement caught Nani off guard. No one had talked to him about this. He managed a light smile and nod to the room. He quickly found his supervisor Leo, but Leo gave him a thumbs up and excited smile. He felt a slight betrayal by Leo. Leo hadn’t mentioned anything to him about it in the last few days. And to think that he felt close-ish to Leo as well.
“I’m sure you are a little surprise Nani. But we, the managers and I have talked about who would be great at heading the team for this project and your name obviously came up. Your department supervisors will be too busy with the regular functions of their duties to take on team leads for this project so we have decided to give some fresh faces the chance to shine! This role will give you more responsibility and benefits. We can’t wait to see what you do.” Nani sheepishly smile and slowly lowered himself back down to his seat.
“Wait, wait. Please remain standing Nani. You will be co-lead with someone else.” Now Nani was interested. Who else would he have to share the task of heading the team with? Goldie had a mischievous smile on her face as she looked around the room and everyone wondered who it could be.
“Who else could lead our company’s major campaign?!” Goldie asked excitedly. “Sky! Please stand up.” Everyone gave a loud round of applause. Sky, on the other side of the room stood up, nodded, and wai with a bashful smile. He looked at Nani and gave a soft nod and Nani returned it.
“Mr. Sky here was one of the top 3 salesperson! We just know that you, Sky and Nani will make an incredible team and create a successful campaign launch. We have no doubts about it!” Everyone clapped again.
Inside Nani felt his stomach twisting in knots. Sky felt like the total opposite from him. They were two sides of the same coin. It wasn’t that Nani didn’t like Sky, he was worried he wouldn’t be able to work efficiently with him because their personality and style were a bit different. Sky was the company’s new golden boy. He was snatched from a Japanese company that was relocating back to Japan about two years ago. Sky seemed to have been very liked by the company as a whole and gave off a warm aura. They had crossed paths and been in meetings together before, but nothing major. He didn’t know Sky that well, but they were friendly enough. Of course they have talked here and there for other work things or at events, but since their departments had been on different floors of the building and Sky being more clients based, they never interacted long. What he did know was that Sky had a very engaging way of talking to people and many people felt comfortable around him. Nani was more analytical and research focus, while Sky was more passionate and charisma driven. He wondered how their work styles would match for this project and could they really produce what the company was hoping for?
“Okay, let’s round out the team though! Mark, Bonnie, Tu, and Est, you will also be part of Project Red Thread as well!” They were all smiles and wai at Goldie as Nani and Sky decided that it was acceptable to sit down at the moment. “So let’s talk about the project and how each department will contribute to it.”
The next hour, Goldie along with Leo from Marketing and Davika from Sales talked to the room about their vision for Project Red Thread, and what the goals were. Nani tried to take it in, but he stole glances at Sky and the rest of his new team members. He only really knew Tu well who was also in Marketing. Bonnie was from Sales, while Mark and Est were from IT and Operations.
After the meeting was over, Goldie dismissed them for lunch. Nani didn’t particularly want to talk to anyone so he tried to make an elegant dash for the door.
“Nani,” he heard someone call out from behind. He looked back and of course it was Sky with those puppy dog eyes and a grin on his face. He sighed to himself quietly.
“Hi Sky,” he tried to sound polite and open.
“Nani, I’m so excited for us to work on this project together. What a great team we have to.” He was all smiles and Nani couldn’t help, but be swept up in his contagious warmth. Does he always give off this energy? Nani wondered.
“Me too,” he said honestly.
“This will be our first major project together. I look forward to working with you.” Sky said with that signature smile on his face.