I sat in the office and even the killer headache gotten from the hangover could not hide my good mood.
I thought back to the man I had met last night. It's not everyday I meet someone who fits my aesthetics perfectly.
He was still sleeping when I left. I hope he doesn't take me for a scumbag. Although I did leave my number. I shook my head and sighed.
Someone knocked on my door and then walked in. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. What's the use of knocking if you won't even wait for my reply? I pushed down my annoyance and looked up
"What's the matter Andrew?"
"Mr Sébastien Moreau from fleur de nuit is here. Do you want to see him now?"
"Yes of course what are you waiting for?"
He walked out again and shortly after a young man in a dark well fitting suit walked in. He paused slightly as he looked at me but then continued walking as though it were nothing. He nodded to me in greeting.
"Mr Jillian, nice to meet you"
I gathered my wits and put on my best professional smile
"A pleasure Mr Sébastien. Please have a seat"
As Sébastien sat down, I couldn't help but notice the way he moved with confidence and poise. His eyes seemed to scan the room, taking in every detail before focusing on me again.
"I must say, Mr. Jillian, your office is quite... eclectic," he said, his voice smooth and charming.
I chuckled, feeling a sense of pride in my workspace. "I like to think of it as a reflection of my personality, Mr. Sébastien. Please, call me Jillian."
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And I am Sébastien, then. I must admit, I'm intrigued by your... aesthetic."
I raised an eyebrow, sensing a hint of playfulness in his tone. "And what do you think of it, Sébastien?"
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "I think it's... captivating. Much like the man I met last night."
My heart skipped a beat as I realized who he might be referring to. "Oh? And who might that be?"
Sébastien's smile grew, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think you know exactly who I'm talking about, Jillian. After all, you did leave your number."
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized my mistake. But Sébastien's next words brought me back to the business at hand.
"Although I would like to sit here and talk about the glorious wonders of human copulation, I have other more pressing matters to attend to. You may be aware of this already but I'm here to discuss a potential business partnership between Fleur de Nuit and your company."
I nodded my head in acknowledgement and he continued
Fleur de Nuit is looking to expand our operations in Europe, and we believe your company can help us achieve that goal."
I leaned forward, intrigued. "Go on."
"We're interested in establishing a new branch in Europe, and we're looking for a partner to help us navigate the local market and provide logistical support," Sébastien explained, pulling out a folder filled with documents and slides.
I scanned the materials, impressed by the thoroughness of Fleur de Nuit's research. "I see you've done your homework. What makes you think our companies would be a good fit?"
Sébastien leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "We've been following your company's growth and success in Europe, and we believe our values and target markets align. We're looking for a partner who shares our passion for quality and innovation, and we think your company could be that partner."
I nodded, intrigued by the prospect of working with a renowned fragrance company like Fleur de Nuit. "I'm interested in hearing more. What kind of partnership are you proposing?"
Sébastien smiled, pulling out a contract. "We're open to discussing various options, but we're thinking of a joint venture or strategic partnership. We believe together, we can create something truly special in the European market."
I took the contract, scanning the pages as Sébastien outlined the key points. It was clear that Fleur de Nuit had put a lot of thought into this proposal, and I was excited to explore the possibilities.
As I finished scanning the contract, I looked up at Sébastien, who was watching me with a calm expression.
"It's a solid proposal," I said, nodding. "But I have to discuss it with my team and our lawyers. Can you give me a few days to review and negotiate the terms?"
Sébastien nodded. "Of course, Jillian. We're willing to work with you to find a mutually beneficial agreement. I'll leave you the contract and some additional information. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out."
I stood up, and Sébastien followed suit. We shook hands, and I walked him to the door.
"I'll be in touch soon," I said, as he left.
As the door closed, I let out a breath and turned to Andrew, who was waiting patiently in the hallway.
"What do you think?" I asked him.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "I think it's a great opportunity, but we need to be careful. Fleur de Nuit is a big player in the fragrance industry. We don't want to get tied down with unfavorable terms."
I nodded in agreement. "I'll get our lawyers on it right away. Let's also do some more research on Fleur de Nuit and their business practices."
Andrew nodded and headed off to start the research, while I sat back down at my desk to review the contract again.
Even if I liked him, I wouldn't compromise my business ethics and I don't think he would want me to either. I froze. Like him? No. I shook my head. It's probably just because he's the first person I've ever been with. But I don't mind going further in our non-realationship. I twirled the business card in my hands and traced over the words.
Sébastien Moreau . I copied the phone number into my address book and dropped my phone. When this is over, I might consider asking him out for dinner.