"Intern! I don't think I'll be able to join the meeting with Next B group. Luckily, the manager is a friend of mine, so he will take care of it. Just go ahead and retrieve our blueprint. No need to say anything or try to impress – just focus on getting the documents. I have an appointment with Director Chase at noon." Elsie said with a nonchalant tone. After having excused herself, Elsie took her purse and left. Her hips swayed as she walked toward the elevator that was meant for company executives.
Eliza paled. Without speaking another word, she grabbed her purse and made her way to the elevator as well.
"Eliza! Look at this—the heir to the Next B group fortune has returned to the country, and he's officially taking over the Next B Group!" Sasha announced as she placed the tabloid in front of Eliza.
Next B Group is a leading company operating a large-scale business, primarily focused on furniture design, accessories, home building architecture, and financing for substantial furniture projects. With a prominent presence in the industry, they occupy a significant position in the country's business landscape.
"Oh, good for him," Eliza sighed, her voice laced with indifference.
Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Why do you look so pale? Did Elsie send you on some errand?"
Eliza frowned. "Yeah, I have a meeting with the Next B group."
Saaha eyes widened with curiosity. "Next B group? Did we land the project?"
Eliza sighed, "Not yet."
Sasha raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with skepticism. "So, you're going alone?"
"Yes. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to handle the NextB group meeting on top of everything else. I'm just an intern! It's getting really stressful dealing with all these demands. I feel like everyone around me has unrealistic expectations."
Sasha nodded in solidarity. "You're not the only one facing this situation."
Eliza hailed a cab and headed to the Next B group building. As she stepped out of the taxi and gazed up at the imposing structure, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed the number Elsie had given her. As she ended the call, her eyes wandered to a nearby Mulsanne. In the dimly lit backseat, a man sat shrouded in shadow. Eliza could make out only his dark silhouette, which seemed to radiate an aura of cool elegance.
The man, sensing her gaze, opened his eyes. But Eliza had already slipped into the building.
------
Eliza waited for fifteen minutes before Project Manager Logan arrived. They exchanged greetings, and Logan guided her to the meeting location. Eliza followed him, her footsteps cautious and quiet.
As they approached the lounge, Logan halted and turned to her with a warm smile. "Miss Tanner, if you encounter any difficulties with this project, please don't hesitate to reach out to me."
Eliza blinked, taken aback by his words. She had expected a meeting with him, not a parting message. She was only there as a substitute, after all.
Logan noticed her confusion and his demeanor shifted. With a formal gesture, he opened the door to the lounge and ushered her in. Eliza entered, still perplexed.
As she heard the door close behind her, she turned to see that Logan had not followed her in. She was alone.
"Take a seat," a deep, articulate voice commanded from the far end of the room. The sound was reminiscent of the last string on a cello, its resonance echoing through the space.
Eliza turned, startled. She hadn't noticed him when she entered, but now her gaze fell upon Dexter, seated alone on a plush, branded sofa. The cozy setup seemed to contrast with the formal atmosphere she had expected.
What were the chances of running into him again? And then it hit her – he was the CEO. A realization struck her, and for a moment, she felt disoriented.
Dexter's prompt brought her back to her senses. "Thank you," Eliza replied, composing herself with a polite smile. She pulled out the chair across from him, her anxiety growing as she scanned the files on his desk.
Having someone by her side would have made this encounter less daunting. Fortunately, she had studied the project, but facing Dexter alone was inexplicably intimidating.
There was an unnerving intensity behind his eyes, as if he could see right through her. Eliza felt an overwhelming urge to bare her soul before him, a sensation that left her breathless.
"Sir, may I introduce myself? I'm Eliza Tanner, an intern with Team A in the Design Department at KkB. I've been working under the supervision of the procurement team for the Bay Project, and I've brought the initial blueprint for your review." Eliza slid the draft across the table to him.
Dexter scrutinized the drawing, his expression inscrutable. The silence that followed was oppressive, leaving Eliza wondering what thoughts were hidden behind his enigmatic gaze.
Finally, he pushed the drawing to one side of the table and tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in assessment. The sharp lines of his jawline seemed even more chiseled from that angle, lending him an air of regality.
"Miss Tanner," he said, his deep voice low and smooth, "Do you have a boyfriend?"