I exited the conference room, closely trailing Mr. Lowell, Coco, and Susan. Just as I was about to make my grand exit, a large, firm hand clamped onto my shoulder, halting me in my tracks. Its touch was both commanding and warm, sending shivers down my spine. "Wait, your presentation was incredible," a playful voice chimed in from behind. I paused, slowly turning to face the person who had detained me.
And there he stood, locking eyes with me, a mischievous twinkle shining in his baby blue orbs. His slightly longer, curly hair added a youthful and playful charm to his overall appearance, setting him apart from the stern Mr. Lowell. "I'm Rawson Lowell, but you can call me Rawson. I'd love to hear more about your plans, and perhaps I can lend a hand if you allow me," he said, his voice dripping with flirtation. Mr. Lowell shot us a sharp glance throughout the whole interaction.
Guilt washed over me once again, although deep down, I knew it wasn't my fault. However, Mr. Lowell's icy stare managed to make me feel otherwise. On the other hand, Rawson appeared unfazed by Mr. Lowell's reaction, as if he neither noticed nor cared. As Mr. Lowell approached us, I was taken aback when he spoke, a bright smile gracing his face. "Brother, it's wonderful to see your enthusiasm for our projects. Our father dropped by my office this morning and suggested I seek your assistance with some internal matters of the company. I want to take you up on his offer today." Rawson rolled his eyes and, without a word of objection but a hint of discontent, coolly responded, "Sure, you can count on me." Mr. Lowell then arranged things, turning his attention to Coco. "Coco, please keep Lina updated while I wrap up the project with Ms. Wilson."
We reached Mr. Lowell's office, with Coco retreating to her desk a few meters from his door. Susan and I followed Mr. Lowell to his desk, where he gestured for us to take a seat in the plush black leather armchairs facing him. "I was genuinely impressed by your ideas for the project, and your presentation took me by surprise. Aside from a few minor adjustments, it was what I had envisioned," Mr. Lowell began, attempting to shower us with praise for our hard work. As he turned his attention to Susan, I finally calmed my nerves and looked closer at him. Meeting his gaze, I felt a strange warmth emanating from him. His blue suit seemed less formal, more inviting and approachable. His neatly styled hair added to his charm, save for a rebellious strand that dared to rest on his forehead. Standing tall, I glimpsed his well-built and muscular frame beneath his suit.
Just as I was about to focus back on his words, he continued, "However, there are some project details and the upcoming museum inauguration that require further insights. Unfortunately, I believe this will take a few more hours. It would be a waste of time to keep both of you here, so Susan, being the project lead and most knowledgeable about the details, should stay." I couldn't help but notice a crease forming on Susan's forehead, perhaps caused by a bead of sweat or my overactive imagination. While I kept Susan informed, having been involved in this project from day one, she needed to learn more about the intricate details of handling this conversation.
Seeing Susan shift uneasily in her chair gave rise to a bubbling satisfaction within me that I quickly suppressed since my sense of duty outweighed any personal satisfaction. After all, I poured my heart and soul into this project and wanted everything to run smoothly. Furthermore, if Susan's incompetence were to jeopardize her job, mine would also likely be at stake. My mind raced, already formulating a plan to tackle this predicament, when I noticed the furrow deepening on Susan's forehead. Suddenly, her voice trembled as she said, "That won't be necessary... I have complete faith in Ms. Wilson's abilities. Since I have some crucial tasks to attend to for the project, I would prefer it if you worked with her instead." Her plea lacked conviction, sounding more desperate than persuasive to my ears.
First, reluctance tugged at Mr. Lowell's face as he sighed heavily before agreeing, then it was replaced by a pleasant smirk, "Well, if that's the case, there's nothing we can do about it." He rose slowly from his chair and added, "Allow me to escort you to the door." Susan attempted to conceal her relief with an unnecessary comment, "Lina, make sure to give it your all while working with Mr. Lowell. You know how crucial this project is for our company and Wolfsville. And make sure to come back to the company when..." Mr. Lowell abruptly cut off Susan, who interjected, "Unfortunately, that won't be possible. Our appointment will likely consume most of today. I still intend to swing by the museum and park to oversee the progress and..." "Then I'll see you tomorrow, Lina," Susan calmly said as she exited the room.
As I closed the door behind me, the doorknob still clutched in my hand. I found her sitting before my desk. I'd achieved my objective of removing my brother and Susan from the equation, leaving us alone. But what exactly was I hoping for in this situation? As my heart raced and I nervously clenched my hands, I was uncertain about my own desires. I walked back to my chair and settled into it, trying to maintain my composure despite the whirlwind of emotions. "So, where should we begin, Ms. Wilson?" I inquired, trying to appear cool and collected, even though I didn't know how to proceed. Deep down, I felt insecure and nervous, as this was all new territory for me. I didn't even know what I truly wanted. Ms. Wilson placed her bag on her lap and rummaged through it, retrieving a notepad and pen. "Why don't we start by gathering all the topics we need to discuss or tasks we need to accomplish? You mentioned visiting the locations for the inauguration party?" she suggested, jotting down notes on her pad.
I couldn't help but be impressed by her professionalism, yet simultaneously, I felt disappointed. "Yes, that's a good idea. I'd like to know more about the details, such as the guest list, the menu, and the event schedule. Additionally, I'd like to hear more about your research regarding the werewolves in..." "Buzz. Buzz," her bag emitted a buzzing sound, interrupting me. She startled, her cheeks flushing, and hastily exclaimed, "I'm so sorry!" "Buzz. Buzz," her bag buzzed again. Swiftly, she retrieved her buzzing phone from a small pouch in her purse. "I'll quickly silence it," she explained. "No need. Go ahead and answer. Take your time," I interjected, buying myself a moment to contemplate my next move. She was lost in her phone, fingers racing across the screen. My eyes wandered to the antique clock perched on my mahogany desk - lunchtime had snuck up on us. She nervously tried to explain the nature of the messages, "My friends are asking about how the presentation went. They know how important it was."
While she continued typing, I glanced at the clock on my desk and realized it was almost lunchtime. As soon as she finished responding, I proposed, "It's lunchtime already. How about having lunch together?" Her expression shifted into a frown, and I saw her searching for a polite way to decline my offer. To preempt her, I quickly added, "I wanted to sample the menu for the upcoming event anyway, and we can discuss the pending matters over lunch." "You're right. The restaurant responsible for catering isn't far from the museum. We can even walk there afterward. It'll also give us a chance to check on the progress of the catering arrangements," she responded absentmindedly, her eyes reflecting a distant gaze lost in thought. She was already immersed in her work, and I found myself entangled in my thoughts. Why doesn't she throw herself at me like many other women I reject? All I want is her unwavering attention while all she thinks about is work. Involuntarily, I released a deep sigh, releasing my dissatisfaction with the situation, and forced a smirk, confronting her directly. Rising from my seat, I declared, "Let's go."