Ryan Turner was jolted awake by the persistent ringing of his phone. Groaning, he reached for it on his nightstand, squinting at the screen. It was his mother.
"Good morning, Mom," he answered, his voice thick with sleep.
"Good morning, Ryan. I hope I'm not waking you too early," his mother's cheerful voice chirped through the phone. "I wanted to invite you over for breakfast. We haven't seen you in a while, and I made your favorite—blueberry pancakes."
Ryan sighed, knowing there was likely more to this invitation than just breakfast. His mother rarely called him over without an ulterior motive. "Alright, Mom. I'll be there soon."
After hanging up, Ryan got out of bed and headed to the shower. As the hot water cascaded over him, he couldn't shake the feeling that today's breakfast would come with some sort of agenda. His mother was always trying to set him up with someone or nudge him toward some family expectation.
Dressed in casual yet presentable attire, he grabbed his keys and left his house, the early Sunday morning sun casting long shadows on the city streets. The drive to his parents' house was familiar, the route almost ingrained in his memory.
Pulling up to the elegant house, Ryan parked and walked to the front door, taking a deep breath before entering. The smell of pancakes greeted him as he stepped inside, a nostalgic aroma that always reminded him of childhood mornings.
"Ryan! There you are," his mother exclaimed, rushing to greet him with a hug. "Come on in, breakfast is almost ready."
Ryan followed her to the dining room, but stopped in his tracks when he saw a pretty girl talking with his mother. She had long, wavy brown hair and wore a simple, flattering dress. As soon as she saw him, she blushed and looked down, clearly shy.
Great heavens, he thought, mentally bracing himself.
"Ryan, this is Lisa," his mother said, her tone overly cheerful. "She's the daughter of our new neighbors, the Millers. I thought it would be nice for you two to meet."
Ryan forced a polite smile, extending his hand to Lisa. "Nice to meet you, Lisa."
She took his hand, her touch light and tentative. "Nice to meet you too, Ryan."
As they sat down to breakfast, Ryan couldn't help but feel a bit irritated. His mother's matchmaking efforts were starting to get on his nerves. He appreciated her intentions, but he wished she would trust him to handle his own personal life.
"So, Ryan," his mother began, her eyes sparkling with unspoken plans, "Lisa is studying marketing at university. I thought you two would have a lot in common."
"Really?" Ryan said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "That's interesting."
My son here own XX Marketing company, Ryan's mom said and Lisa was surprised.
Really..,I know so much about that marketing firm,I hope one day to work there,She started.
Lisa nodded, her shyness slowly giving way to curiosity. "Yes, I'm actually very interested in digital marketing. It's such a dynamic field."
As they talked, Ryan found himself answering Lisa's questions about his work at XX Marketing. She seemed genuinely interested, and he did his best to engage in the conversation, though his mind kept drifting back to Emma. He was looking forward to her starting at the company tomorrow.
She probably didn't know he was the CEO,after getting information from the marketing team that she was approved,he was patiently waiting till Monday to see her again.
After breakfast, his mother pulled him aside. "So, what do you think of Lisa?"
"Mom," Ryan sighed, "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I can handle my own dating life."
She patted his arm, her expression softening. "I just want you to be happy, Ryan. You work so hard, and you deserve someone special."
"I know, Mom. But I'll find that person in my own time," he replied gently.
After spending the day at his family house and enduring his mother's matchmaking efforts, Ryan returned home with a sense of relief. He settled in front of his laptop, immersing himself in work. There were a few last-minute tasks to finalize with a client working with XX Marketing, and he wanted everything to be perfect.
As the night wore on, Ryan reviewed Emma's onboarding materials and double-checked her workstation setup. Satisfied with his progress, he shut down his laptop and headed to bed, feeling a mix of anticipation and excitement for the next day.
The next morning, Ryan woke up with a sense of purpose. He showered, shaved, and took his time selecting his outfit, wanting to strike the right balance between professional and approachable. He opted for a crisp white shirt, navy blue suit, and a subtle patterned tie. As he adjusted his tie in the mirror, he couldn't help but feel a certain way,He couldn't explain what it was.
Meanwhile, in her apartment across town, Emma was having a similar morning. The sunlight streamed through her window as she woke up, the nerves and excitement of her first day at XX Marketing bubbling inside her. She showered and carefully selected the outfit she and Ana had picked out the previous day—a tailored navy blue dress paired with a smart blazer and elegant heels. She wanted to make a strong first impression and feel confident in her new role.
Ana knocked on her door as she was getting dressed. "You ready for your big day?" she asked, poking her head into the room with a bright smile.
Emma nodded, smoothing down her dress. "I think so. I'm excited and a little nervous, but I know this is a great opportunity."
Ana gave her a thumbs up. "You're going to do great. Just be yourself, and you'll impress them all."
Emma took a deep breath and grabbed her bag. "Thanks, Ana. I better get going. Wish me luck!"
"Good luck!" Ana called after her, as Emma headed out the door.
The commute to XX Marketing was a blur of anticipation and nerves. Emma arrived at the sleek office building, feeling a mix of awe and determination. She checked in at the front desk and was guided to the elevator, which whisked her up to the marketing department's floor.