Jace
Craning my neck from side to side I let out a big sigh. I save the finished document on my computer and stretch my hands to loosen the tension. I skipped lunch today to finish the layout of our new marketing strategy that has to be presented next week. I was lagging on this for a while due to some other commitments but finally finished it today. I go ahead and mail the document to my team for preparing the detailed presentation.
My stomach growls and I feel the hunger creeping onto me as if my body finally realized that it's time to eat. I glance at the clock and see that its almost time for my evening coffee. My heart naturally quickens at the thought of going to 'Rendezvous' and meeting a certain someone. Is it going too far to hope that I keep bumping into Gianna every time I go there. Yesterday, seeing her again was genuinely a surprise. Although, the thought of her consumed me for quite some time but I never expected to see her again, let alone sit and have a conversation.
I took it as a sign; it had to mean something right? She didn't seem to dislike me either, in fact was really enjoying my company. I tried to flirt with her, I swear I did, but internally I had a turmoil of nerves screaming at me to not embarrass myself. I have never been like this; I have always waited until I made a move but Gianna has somehow shaken all my rational methods. I felt like I was running out of time, it felt like my one and only chance.
I couldn't do much though. Although I made her smile but I couldn't convey how much I want to keep talking to her, how much she intrigues me, how I can sense her kindness through her words, how I think she is breathtakingly beautiful, how seeing her smile automatically makes me smile, and most importantly how I can't seem to get her off my mind.
I can only hope she shows up again, and hope that one of the reasons she shows up is me. I can tell she was holding back while talking to me but it didn't seem out of distaste. The way she would say something flirty and avoid looking at my reaction, spoke volumes about how she was unsure of what I felt about her. And I hate that; I want her to know how disorientated she makes me when I talk to her. I wish I could convey all this to her confidently and without the fear of messing up.
A knock on the door interrupts the silence of the room. "Come in." My assistant Claire steps into the room.
"Sir, we have an intermediate board meeting called right now." She informs.
I frown at the mention of an unscheduled board meeting. It happens very rarely and it must be something important. I nod at her, "Sure. Thank you."
With a smile, she retrieves back to her desk outside. I sigh and tiredly get up from my chair, dreading what's about to happen. I shut down the computer and put together all my scattered belongings, before walking towards the door. I walk down the lobby towards the conference hall, which is located just beside Silas's cabin.
On reaching the room, I meet with Silas and a few other committee members already murmuring around the table. Silas notices me and excuses himself before walking towards me, "Hey, did not see you at lunch?"
I blow out a breath, "Yeah, had to finish up some things. Anyway, what's this about?"
He winces, "Well, it clearly is not good. The last month has-", he stops mid-sentence, looking over my shoulder, "Dad is here, you'll have to hear it from him."
Dad along with two of his associates, go to their seats. The rest of us take our seats and wait for him to speak. The office staff comes in to take everyone's beverage preference. My eyes glance at the wall clock and realize that it's that time of my day where I get ready to walk to 'Rendezvous'. The guy grabs my attention and I simply shake my head, in the hope that I'll get to go to the café. Silas frowns and raises his eyebrows in question. He knows I never refuse coffee at this hour of the day, and it surely surprised him. I shrug trying to act nonchalant, which makes him give me deeper frown.
Dad stands up from his seat and leans his elbows on the back of his chair, "I don't know where to start but know that I'm not delighted to be hosting this meeting." He sighs, "Two months back, we were experiencing decline in our demand in the west and we were expecting it to improve but clearly it hasn't. This weekend, for the first time in decades, we will have 20 % vacancy in our hotels. And the worst part is our competition is surpassing us."
Everyone silently stare at him as he continues, "This is unexpected and unacceptable. And we need immediate improvement in this, no wasting of time. Silas."
Silas nods and stands up as well, "We went through some stats and it has come to light that, the west has a lot of up and changing trends that we have failed to follow. So, we need extreme remodeling of aspects like infrastructure, amenities and even our hospitality." He looks around at everyone, "We have another meeting scheduled this Saturday. We will be discussing the further proceedings and formulating a temporary team for the same. Any suggestions or questions?"
We have a couple of people speaking after that and soon the meeting is over. Silas leads me to his cabin and leans against his desk, "I will need to speak to you and your team tomorrow, we have to discuss new strategies."
"Alright, let them know the timing through Claire." I take a peek at my watch, "Cool, I'll have to go. Talk to you later."
I turn around to walk away but am interrupting by him, "You seem to be in quite a rush."
I look back at him and try to appear casual, "No, just going to go grab a coffee."
I immediately regret saying that when his smirks, "It must be a special coffee, as you refuse to give up on it even when the coffee was walking right towards you."
"Um..No, I mean-um, the coffee is delicious." I utter in a hurry.
His smirk turns into one of amusement, "First of all, you never stammer and secondly, you are an awful liar Jace."
I chuckle uncomfortably, "I do not understand whatever you are talking about."
He rolls his eyes and states seriously, "Look I'm not going to force myself into your life but just know that even though we have grown to be 31 and 26, I'm still that four year old boy who held you for the first time and swore to be the best brother. I know you don't need me, but you could always talk to me about anything, even the silliest thing."
I smile earnestly at his honesty and reminisce the time where I couldn't keep one thing to myself. I used to share the smallest of things to him, but adulthood has its own consequences. Even with Cayden, I was more close, maybe because of the lesser age gap, although all three of us love each other the same.
I finally decide to be that teenage boy again who took advice from his adult brother, "So, it is kind of silly. I think…. I have a slight, like very slight crush- no, interest in someone, romantically."
His small smile is full of confusion, "And why are you acting like, this has never happened before?"
I sigh, "Because it has never been this quick. I have taken my time, and never felt like I was running out of it but now I cannot think straight once I am near her."
"I mean I cannot relate but I don't get why that is a bad thing?" he asks with amusement lacing his voice.
"It has been only two days! It doesn't seem right." I exclaim exasperated.
"That doesn't matter if it feels right. Aren't you the one who always says, not everything needs to be in order, sometimes it is disoriented and that is okay." He smiles and continues, "And if she has you like this, I bet its different."
I swallow and bite my lip, "I'm really into her, Silas. And I want her to feel the same way; so bad."
"Maybe she does." His confident smirk returns, "Only one way to find out."
I chuckle and smile back, knowing exactly what he wants me to do. I think I need to go with my instincts and not overthink. Hopefully, I see her at least one more time for that to happen. This meeting will either be our last, or start something completely different.