Jacqueline sat at the head of the conference table, her notes neatly arranged in front of her. She'd spent the morning preparing for this meeting, going over Aaron's proposal and making sure she was ready to discuss it professionally. But as the minutes ticked by and Aaron still hadn't arrived, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of nerves.
What if he doesn't show up? What if he changed his mind? she thought, tapping her pen against the table. But before she could spiral further, the door opened, and Aaron stepped inside.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, his voice smooth and apologetic. "Traffic was a nightmare."
Jacqueline stood, forcing a polite smile even though her heart was racing. "No problem. Thanks for coming."
Aaron set his laptop bag on the table and took a seat across from her, his dark eyes meeting hers. "Thanks for making the time. I know you're busy, especially with everything going on."
Jacqueline nodded, trying to ignore the way her stomach fluttered when he smiled. "Of course. I'm always happy to hear new ideas. So, what do you have for me?"
Aaron opened his laptop and pulled up a presentation, his movements confident and precise. "I've been thinking a lot about how we can elevate the Bendilani brand, especially in the digital space. Right now, we're strong in traditional marketing, but we're missing out on a huge opportunity to connect with younger audiences."
Jacqueline leaned forward, her interest piqued despite her nerves. "Go on."
Aaron launched into his presentation, his passion for the subject evident in every word. He talked about social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, and interactive content that could bring the brand to life in new and exciting ways. Jacqueline found herself nodding along, impressed by his creativity and vision.
"This is really impressive," she said when he finished. "You've clearly put a lot of thought into this."
Aaron smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Thanks. I believe in this company, and I think we have the potential to do something truly special."
Jacqueline felt her cheeks heat up, and she quickly looked down at her notes. "I agree. And I think your ideas could be a game-changer for us. Let's start with the social media campaign and see how it goes."
Aaron nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Sounds like a plan. I'll put together a detailed proposal and get it to you by the end of the week."
"Perfect," Jacqueline said, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I'm looking forward to seeing it."
For a moment, they just sat there, the air between them charged with something unspoken. Then Aaron closed his laptop and stood, extending his hand. "Thanks for the opportunity, Jacqueline. I'm really excited to work on this."
Jacqueline stood as well, shaking his hand. His grip was firm but not overpowering, and she couldn't help but notice how warm his hand felt against hers. "Likewise, Aaron. I think this is the start of something great."
As Aaron gathered his things and headed for the door, Jacqueline couldn't help but watch him go, her mind racing. There was something about him—something magnetic—that she couldn't quite shake.
---
After the Meeting
Jacqueline was still sitting at the conference table, her notes spread out in front of her, when Emily walked in. She took one look at Jacqueline's flushed cheeks and grinned.
"So, how did it go?" Emily asked, her tone teasing.
"It went fine," Jacqueline said, her voice a little too casual. "He had some great ideas. We're moving forward with the social media campaign."
"Uh-huh," Emily said, her grin widening. "And how did he go?"
Jacqueline shot her a look, but there was no real annoyance in it. "Emily, it's not like that. It was a professional meeting."
"Sure it was," Emily said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "That's why you're sitting here looking like you just won the lottery."
Jacqueline sighed, shaking her head as she turned back to her notes. But as she tried to focus on the task at hand, her mind kept drifting back to Aaron's smile and the way his hand had felt in hers.
---
The Investigation
Over the next few hours, Anushka worked tirelessly, her eyes glued to the screen as she traced the call. Mark stayed by her side, his presence a steady anchor as they navigated the digital labyrinth together.
"I think I've got something," Anushka said finally, her voice tinged with excitement. "The call originated from a location just outside the city. It's a private estate—looks like it's owned by a shell company."
Mark leaned over her shoulder, his eyes scanning the screen. "Can we get a name?"
Anushka shook her head. "Not yet. The company's registered under a bunch of aliases, but I'm working on it. Give me a little more time."
Mark nodded, his jaw tightening. "Good work, Ruhi. This could be the break we need."
Anushka glanced up at him, her expression serious. "Mark, if we're going to do this, we need to be prepared. Whoever's behind this… they're not going to go down without a fight."
Mark met her gaze, his eyes filled with determination. "I know. But we can't let that stop us. My mom deserves justice. And if that means taking on whoever's behind this, then so be it."
Anushka nodded, her resolve matching his. "Then let's do it. Together."
As the day turned into evening, Mark and Anushka continued to work, their focus unwavering. They mapped out a plan, covering every possible angle and preparing for every contingency. But even as they worked, the weight of what they were up against loomed over them.
"We'll need to be careful," Mark said as they reviewed their plan. "If we're going to confront Otim, we need to do it in a way that doesn't tip off the other guy."
Anushka nodded, her mind racing. "What if we set up a meeting with Otim? Something official, so he doesn't suspect anything. We can use the company as cover."
Mark considered this, his expression thoughtful. "That could work. But we'll need to be careful. If he gets spooked, he could bolt."
"Then we'll make sure he doesn't," Anushka said, her tone firm. "We'll have everything in place before we make our move."
Mark nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "You're amazing, you know that?"
Anushka felt her cheeks heat up, and she quickly looked away. "I'm just doing my job."
"No," Mark said, his voice soft but sincere. "You're doing more than that. And I'm grateful. Let's call it a night. We'll pick this up tomorrow."
Anushka nodded, shutting down her computers and gathering her things. As they left the office together, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. They were closer than ever to uncovering the truth about Mom's death. And no matter what it took, they weren't going to stop until they had answers.