The next morning I decided I would get coffee at Cool Beans down in the cafeteria of GTI, I was not about to take the risk of running into Brothers Sinclair at the bistro, I got my coffee and a bagel and went back to my office to eat and drink in peace. While I waited for my impending doom I made it through half my coffee when there was a knock at my door and in walked Francis.
"Are you ready to go?" she said.
I just looked at her her phone for a moment before tears started to well up in my eyes and she just reached her arms out and said: Oh sweety. As she hugged me.
"It will be okay honey, just keep your head down, take notes, don't speak unless spoken to. And it will all be okay" She smiled at me trying to comfort me.
Francis told me to follow her so I complied. We walked to the elevator and started up to the floor where the board meeting would take place. I could feel my heart pounding. My palms getting sweaty as we got closer and closer to the boardroom. The second I walked in I knew he was there. I don't know how I knew but I did, I could smell him which would have been distracting had I not been so f*ck*ng p*ss*d at him for doing this to me. I looked around the room and I could see most of the table full at this point. Leo Sinclair's hazel eyes staring at me as he sat to the right of Cletus Arthur who was at the head of the table. Francis pointed the chair next to Leo and without hesitation I sat and pulled out a notepad and a pen. I waited for the meeting to start but I kept my head down to not be noticed. I could feel his intense burning gaze upon me and throughout the meeting it rarely faltered. I kept taking notes, listening and learning as much as I could, when all of a sudden I heard my name and it pulled me out of my own little comfort zone. I looked up to see Leo staring at me with his brows raised.
"Im sorry what?" I asked
"I said, Lilly, do you have an opinion about the project and what was said?" Leo said with his eyes narrowed in at me making me the center of the room D*mn him!
"Uh.. Yeah, I suppose I do" I took a deep breathe and looked at the plans on the table for a second as I stood and looked around the room before pointing out a few flaws I had noticed that may cause future issues, they weren't big flaws but it was enough to show that I was meticulous to detail and to get the focus off of me and back on the project as they discussed ways to remedy the faults. I sat back down next to Leo who leaned back letting his arm touch mine. I felt butterflies in my stomach but at this point I also felt like I was about to vomit. I yanked my arm away and knocked over Leo's glass of water which came crashing down on the table full of papers and plans. It thankfully wasn't full so it didnt get too much wet but it was enough to get me fired most likely.
I jumped up and practically yelled: I'm so sorry. I started picking up the papers and shaking them off one by one as Cletus gave me the death stare as he practically growled: Sit Now! He mumbled Incompetence! Under his breath before he called his secretary to bring something for the mess but everyone heard it and I was mortified. I sat and looked over at Leo, whose face was now flushed with what looked like anger which was perplexing because he was the reason I was here and I embarrassed myself and GTI not him.
I felt sick and my hands started to shake, my chest was tight and my heart just ached. I've worked so hard and for what? For it all to end like this? My head was spinning with uncontrollable thoughts and I was biting my bottom lip to keep me from crying and just as tears started to well up Leo reached over under the table and grabbed my hand. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and felt like I could breath for the first time since stepping into the room. My heart rate started to slow and even though I had every reason to hate him at this moment, I needed him. I needed his strength to get me through this meeting and then I could hate him. I squeezed his hand and he rubbed the top of my hand with his thumb to tell me it would be okay. I looked up at him and his expression hadn't changed his eyes although beautiful were as cold as ever, as if his hand was separate from his body. I looked back down trying to understand the meaning behind his actions but was at a loss.
Cletus called the meeting but asked me to stay and Leo stayed as well. The second everyone had left and the door was closed. Cletus said: What the f*ck was that?
I looked at him, not even knowing what to say, as Leo was still holding my hand, I squeezed tight to his hand as I responded: Sir I am so sorry. It was just an accident and it will never happen again. I really wasn't ready for this meeting I told you that it wasn't a good idea, not that I blame you, I know it was completely my fault, I'm just sorry.
He just looked at me angry but then his frown started to relax knowing he promised he wouldn't fire me, he started to calm down. Just when I thought everything was going to be okay, Mr. Leo Sinclair opened his big fat mouth and said: Well I don't think it's acceptable at all. In fact I think you should fire her right now.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This man not only put me in this position, then acted like he cared about me to the point of holding my hand and comforting me, and now wants to get me fired and hes still holding my hand? I don't understand what I ever did to him to make him hate me so much. I started to pull my hand away and he squeezed tighter, I pinched the top of his hand between my fingernails, and he winced and let go. I pushed his hand away from me underneath the table stood and looked at Cletus directly in the eyes and said: Sir you said you weren't a monster and you promised that you would't fire me.
He looked at Leo and said: It is true, I did promise that I wouldn't fire her.
Leo looked back at him and said: You know what I promised you if we lost the project. Well nothing bad happened in the meeting besides some wet papers, the project is still on, so I will keep MY promise if you terminate her employment right now.
Cletus looked at him, then back at me, back to him, and all he said was: Deal.
My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open, I couldn't believe my ears. I took two steps back, looked at both of them disgusted and said: Fine! I headed to the elevator and hit the 5th floor. Once Iwas back in my office I started packing my things. As I went to leave I stepped into the elevator and saw Leo running toward me: Wait! He shouted but I hit the button to close the door and he didn't make it in time. I started to descend to the lobby floor walking out of the building, tears staining my face. As I got closer to my car I started to sob. I stopped right at my car door, my hands losing their strength as the box full of my belongings fell to the floor next to me. I started to feel sick and lightheaded just as my vision started to fade and everything went black.