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The sun was out, the trains were on time. For a Tuesday morning, the city seemed to be in a cooperative mood.

Ines adjusted her bag on her shoulder, gripping the strap a little tighter than usual. She had been working at Communication with Impact (CWI) for a year now. But today? Today was a big deal. It was her first solo project—a safety communications initiative for BQA.

She should have felt ready. She’d prepared for every possible scenario, question, and curveball. But that small voice in her head still wouldn’t shut up.

Standing in front of BQA’s polished glass doors, Ines caught her reflection. She looked… put together. Professional. Like someone who knew what she was doing. She took a breath, smoothed her jacket, and whispered, “Let’s do this.” And with that, she walked inside.

The entry hall was modern and inviting. Glass displays lined the walls, each one spotlighting some of their products. BQA clearly knew what they were good at and wanted to show it off, Ines thought, as her shoes clicked on the floor.

At the reception desk, her visitor’s badge was already waiting. “The meeting room is just down the hall,” the receptionist said with a friendly smile.

“Thanks,” Ines replied, brushing her hair out of her face.

The meeting room was exactly how Noor had described it on their last call. No rigid table setup, no stale corporate vibes—just an open, flexible space. Flip charts in the corners. A massive white wall practically begging for Post-its.

“Perfect,” Ines murmured to herself as she stepped inside.

The two people she expected were already there. Noor, who was responsible for safety at BQA, sat at a table, flipping through her notebook. Rows of neatly written bullet points filled the pages. She’s so prepared, Ines thought, knowing her notes sat in a chaotic folder, papers slightly crumpled at the edges.

Across the room, Matteo was… different. He sat back in his chair, totally relaxed, with one arm draped over the back of the chair next to him. In his other hand, he was writing or was it doodling something on a scrap of paper.

He looked like the type of person who never stressed. Easygoing, casual, maybe a little too casual. It was reassuring in a way—but also, it made Ines a little uncomfortable.

“Good morning,” Ines said, greeting them both.

It was their first time meeting face-to-face after weeks of emails and video calls. Both got up and walked over to welcome her.

Before Ines could sit down, the door opened, and Karsten, BQA’s COO, walked in.

Karsten had presence. He wasn’t wearing a tie—just a crisp, open-collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked like someone who didn’t waste time on things that didn’t matter.

“You must be Ines,” he said, striding toward her with a confident smile and an outstretched hand.

“That’s me,” Ines replied, shaking his hand.

“Welcome to BQA. I’ve heard great things about CWI,” he said.

“Thank you. Happy to be here,” Ines said, doing her best to sound calm and collected. Why was he here? Noor didn’t mention he would join?

Karsten turned to Noor and Matteo, giving them a quick nod. “Thanks for letting me crash your kick-off, Noor. I’ve only got about thirty minutes, but I wanted to stop by. This project is important.”

“We’re glad you found the time,” Noor said with a smile.

Karsten didn’t waste time. “Alright, here’s the situation,” he said, leaning forward slightly.

“We’ve had two lost-time accidents recently. Both because employees were glued to their phones while walking. In one case, someone walked straight in front of a forklift.” He shook his head. “The driver barely managed to stop. It was just a minor injury, but it could’ve been so much worse.”

He glanced at Noor, who nodded silently, her expression serious.

“This isn’t just a statistic,” Karsten continued. “It’s a real issue. Just yesterday, someone nearly ran into me on the stairs because they were scrolling. It’s everywhere, and we have to address it.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze steady. “That’s why I’m here. To emphasize how critical this project is.”

He leaned back slightly, his tone softening. “Noor and Matteo suggested bringing in CWI. I think it’s the right move. Our last campaign…” He gave Matteo a small, knowing smile. “Let’s just say it didn’t stick.”

Matteo leaned forward, suddenly more serious. “Exactly. Our last campaign didn’t land at all. This time, we need to try something bold. Something that sticks. Something people can’t ignore.”

Ines nodded, this is what I signed up for, she reminded herself.

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