It had been two hours already since the meeting had commenced which also meant two hours of drinking Rakija.
Zara was already hungover from last time and her head had started throbbing again. Thankfully she had some Desprin with her. She had a whole box of it shipped from India. She took out a tablet and put it in half glass of water. The medicine quickly dissolved with a fuzz which distracted Leo who looked at her glass while listening to Ms Sudar and Aaji.
'Lots to do,' muttered Zara and lots to find out.
'Hmm, you said something Zara?' asked Miss Sudar looking at her.
'Oh well. Nothing I was just thinking about utilizing the center space for the NFT. We can put in a digital platform and can chose a selected time to showcase the NFT,' she replied.
'Also I will get the Light Ops to start the work.'
'Just an idea, though,' she said again going back to drinking her glass of water with Disprin.
'Maybe we can,' said Ash.
'I know someone I can call.'
' Well, we shall let you know soon once we draft a plan for the space,' interrupted Ivana.
It seemed she wanted to draw a line when it came to others interfering in her part of the business.
The dragon lady finally showed her friendly claws.
' Off course! it will be your undertaking in deciding how to place the event. But it is our interest to make sure that our client remains satisfied with the whiteboard he gets to showcase in,' said Leo giving an eased look at Kanji.
' Oh you mean me? ' said a confused Kanji pointing his fingers at himself.
'Offcouse we meant you, you Idiot,' retorted Ash, giving him a mean stare.
Zara had never seen Ash look so irritated before.
Her mind was calculating and she was thinking where she would start from and that was when her thoughts got interrupted when she found Leo picking up her glass of Desprin.
First he smelled it and then drank the last sip which she had left.
She expected him to make a face but she saw no change in his expression. He simply kept ignoring her while listening to Ash and Kanji bicker like kids.
What a weirdo she thought and yet she was falling hard for him.
' Al right, Shut up you two, ' said Miss Ivana in an even tone and Ash's face turned red.
'Let's adjourn today's meeting with a special plum Rakija from Serbia, Sljevo. So we can commence with our plans with joy and splendour.'
'Yay, ' said Kanji as he got up excitedly from his seat.
'I assure Mr. Colton that your clients work is in good hands. We have been showcasing for the past seven years and this year we have expanded our team and added more capable new recruits,' said Ivana while she held a shot of Rakija in her hand with her bright red nails covering the crystal.
'Well then let's call it a day with one.'
'Juville,' she said as they all clinked their glasses.
Zara kept staring at her glass but did not pick it up.
She looked over and saw only Kanji and Miss. Ivana drinking.
She looked over at Leo who finally turned to look at her. He was about to say something when she heard Ivana call her again.
'Zara meet me in the office later and Tija please make a separate what's app group including our new business associates ' she said handing her phone to Tija.
'What shall I name it Miss?' asked Tija rather innocent ly.
'Something memorable , let me see ,' and just like that Miss. Ivana's thoughts went back to her own world and that was when Ash got up.
'It seems the meeting is over for today, I have to find a new office and contact our staff in London.'
'We will surely require more hands on this project if we need to overthink a name for a mere what's app group.'
'I will take my leave,' she said looking at Leo while she gathered her bag and tablet.
'And Mr Dias you need to sign some paper work so please come with me,' she said again.
'Oh sure,' replied Kanji as he got up.
'Anything for you ,' he said happily, though he did received another hard stare.
'Please excuse me Ivana, Zara,' said Ash.
She called Miss Sudar by her name.
Kanji too got up walked over towards Zara and gave her his salutations with a light kiss on the back of her hand which made her flush a little.
' I will see you again, let's plan an outing. '
'Yes, I would like to get an insight into your vision regarding the showcase. It will make me understand your work even better,' said Zara.
' I heard that you have been staying here for a while and I would love it if you would show me old town,' said Kanji smilingly.
'Yeah, sure.' Zara could not say no, she did not want to get on his wrong side as he was her client who had forgiven her for puking over him.
They quickly exchanged their phone numbers,
' I will call you,' he told her and then was gone with Ash who walked as if pinning nails on the ground. Each clink of her heels made an angry sound.
After they were gone, she looked at Leo and then Miss Sudar. Both were quiet and then she realized they wanted to speak alone.
She quickly got up, ' Well, I will wait for you in your office, ' she said looking at her boss.
She was getting her bag and that was when Leo held out her arm a little tightly and said, ' Please meet me later after you finish up.'
She looked at him and and he said nothing else and then she looked at Miss Sudar who looked at them both expectantly. The woman was a sucker for gossip.
'Um sure,' she said looking a little confused. She felt some strange tension building in the room and she wanted to flee.
Leo suddenly let go of her arm, a bit too suddenly.
' Freak ' she muttered and didn't realize she was a little loud and found him looking at her and then he tightened his jaw.
Miss. Ivana stifled a giggle.
She did not think she could say anything else and so she decided on her first plan of action, which was to scram off. And that was exactly what she did.