Jeremiah's pov
"I'm surrounded by incompetence! Who compiled this disastrous report? I demand to know who's responsible for this travesty!" I slam my fist on the desk, my anger boiling over. The monthly report lies before me, a mess of sloppy analysis and half-baked recommendations. My blood pressure rises as I scan the pages, my mind racing with frustration. How could they be so reckless? So lazy? I take a deep breath, attempting to calm myself, but it's futile. I've worked tirelessly to elevate this organization, and this is the thanks I get.
I rise from my chair, still fuming, and head to the shower. A quick refresh, and I dress in office attire, grateful for the distraction of meetings with shareholders and clients. Aside from calling an impromptu meeting to address the incompetence, I have nothing else planned. "Good morning, sir," my driver greets me. I retort with a curt "Good morning," despite the gloom.
After an hour and thirty minutes, we arrive at the office. I take the private elevator to my floor, craving coffee. That's when I see her – Laura, looking stunning as ever. Her beauty is captivating, and I'm drawn to her, despite her multiple personalities and our complicated past. I push aside my thoughts, focusing on the task at hand.
"A good morning to you, Miss Laura," I say, trying to sound composed. She seems lost in thought, staring at me. I'm taken aback by her gaze. "I'm so sorry, good morning, sir," she replies, breaking the spell. I glance at her again, unable to help myself.
"Laura, we have a busy day ahead. Get my coffee, and we'll discuss some of the meetings," I instruct her. She responds promptly, "Yes, sir." I try to maintain a professional demeanor, but I sense she finds my tone too formal, too emotionless. Our past encounter lingers, making it challenging to keep things professional.
With that thought, I stride into my office, ready to tackle the day's challenges.
As I scrutinized the report again, my anger intensified. What were these staff members thinking? I struggled to concentrate, searching for a single redeeming quality beyond the financial report, but it was all subpar. That would change after the meeting, though.
A knock on the door broke my concentration. "Come in," I barked, and Laura entered. "Drop the coffee, princess," I said, my tone softening for a moment as I gazed at her. She carefully set the coffee down, avoiding any spillage. "Sit down, Miss Cole," I instructed, and she complied, her eyes fixed on me.
I took a sip of the coffee, impressed despite myself. "You made it well," I remarked, and she nodded, a hint of a smile on her face. But then she coughed and stuttered, "Sir, you called me in to talk about meetings, sir. What about it?" I stared at her, my momentary calm slipping away.
"Miss Cole, I remember why I invited you to my office," I said, smirking. My face turned serious immediately. "I've already met with investors and clients online, so cancel the meetings on my schedule." My tone turned stern, and I struggled to keep it in check. "We have an impromptu meeting with all staff after lunch. I won't tolerate slacking. This company rose to the top through hard work, and I need efficient staff to maintain that."
Laura's eyes widened, but she simply replied, "Yes, sir." I expected more, but she just stared into space. "Miss Cole, how many times do I tell you I don't tolerate spacing out?" I said, trying to sound casual, but she jumped, apologizing profusely. I saw a flash of hurt in her eyes before she covered it up.
"Send out messages for the meeting," I instructed, feeling a pang of guilt. "Are we done?" she stuttered, obviously shaken. I nodded, and she left.
But as the minutes ticked by, I couldn't shake off the feeling of remorse. I tried to deny it, but deep down, I knew Laura was more than just a staff member to me. I had been too harsh, too bossy, and too emotionless. I knew I needed to apologize, to make things right. The thought lingered, refusing to be dismissed.
I slammed my fist on the intercom, frustration coursing through my veins. Why wasn't Laura answering? I stormed into the inner room, my eyes scanning the CCTV cam. She wasn't there. A spark of worry ignited, but I quickly extinguished it, reminding myself it was lunch break. Maybe she was grabbing something to eat.
But then I saw her. Laughing with Chris. My head of finance manager. Jealousy seared through me like a hot blade. I tried to convince myself it wasn't possessiveness, but I couldn't shake the feeling.
I called the reception, my voice low and even. "Good afternoon, sir." "Good afternoon." I struggled to contain my anger. "My secretary should be in the office canteen. Tell her to order me something. Anything. And bring it to my office. Now."
Five minutes later, a knock on the door. Laura entered, her eyes wide with apprehension. "Sit down, princess," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. She hesitated, then sat on the couch, her eyes locked on mine.
"Sir, you told me to get you food. Can I place it down?" she stammered. I glared at her, my mind racing with thoughts of her and Chris together. "Sit down and eat," I growled, my eyes burning with intensity.
She stuffed large fries in her mouth, and I couldn't help but laugh, a low, husky sound. "Laura, you're a messy eater," I teased, my voice dripping with seduction. Her face flushed, and she apologized profusely, her eyes wide with embarrassment.
I towered over her, my gaze softening. "Laura, don't apologize for being yourself." She smelled like vanilla, and it took every last bit of me to keep it professional. Her face was inches from mine, and I could feel the tension between us like a live wire.
"It's 3:30 already," she blurted out, breaking the spell. I checked my time, and indeed, it was. "Let's get going," I said, my eyes still locked on hers.
We took the private elevator down to the conference hall, the tension between us palpable. I led the way, my heart racing with anticipation.
We entered, and everybody stood up to acknowledge me. It wasn't really necessary, though, because I'm about to relieve them of their duties. I sat down, and the meeting started. "Laura, sit down. No way you'd be standing throughout the meeting." She sat down.
"Let's get this meeting started," I said very confidently. "Head of Finance, I saw your report, and I must commend you're doing a great job." I began. "It has come to my notice that most of you are lagging behind, and you are all heads of one department or the other in this large organization. So, I have to relieve some of you of your duties." I announced.
I called the head of the marketing team, Mark, to start his presentation. However, when he started his presentation, things went completely off track. He ended up showing the wrong data, using incorrect visuals, and missing the main goals of the marketing efforts. This unexpected turn of events created chaos in the meeting room. I checked the report and saw that our audience dropped by 30 percent, no brand ambassadors aside from Chris, my best friend. There's no way I'm not firing this incompetent fool, I said to myself.
I heard an awkward cough and looked up to see Laura coughing. Something crossed my mind because I remembered while reading Laura's submit that she majored in marketing, and I'm sure she can at least do a presentation. "Laura, do you have anything to say opposing Mark?" I said, smirking. My eyes stared directly into hers.
She took a calculated step, walking to the slide projector, taking a deep sigh, and started beginning the presentation with a confident smile. Her voice was clear and persuasive. With each word, she paints a vivid picture of how to advertise the company's business, using a mix of creativity and strategic thinking. Her passion for marketing shines through. I was jaw-dropped but couldn't say it out loud. I was super proud, and I knew that moment she would be the head of my marketing department. This girl just amuses me every time.
She finished her presentation, and I heard a round of applause from literally everybody in the room. I was impressed, my piercing gaze boring into her as she stepped back to my seat. The meeting continued, and I took in some more presentations. The bad ones will definitely be sacked; I will see to that tomorrow. At 4:30, I dismissed the meeting, and they all dispersed, including Laura. I stayed back; I had something to do in the meeting room.