Awa Carpenter sat in the sleek reception area of Tina's company, the hum of low conversations and the faint tapping of keyboards surrounding her. The building was just as impressive as Tina had described—high ceilings, modern décor, and an air of professionalism that made Awa feel like she was about to step into something big. The stakes were high today. This wasn't just a casual meeting—this was the meeting that could save her radio show from financial collapse.
She glanced at the folder of information she had meticulously prepared, her fingers drumming lightly on its glossy cover. Inside was everything they needed to make a solid case: audience demographics, listener engagement stats, case studies showing how their show had boosted previous sponsors' visibility. Awa had spent hours compiling the data, and now all that was left was to present it convincingly. But knowing how corporate sponsorship deals worked, that was easier said than done.
Her co-host, Keira, sat beside her, absently scrolling through her phone while occasionally flashing a flirty smile at anyone who passed by. The bubbly energy Keira brought to the show was also present in her everyday life. She exuded confidence, the kind that made Awa both grateful and envious at times.
"Girl, relax," Keira said, noticing Awa's fidgeting. "We've got this. Besides, if we don't land this sponsorship, I'll just start selling my body to the highest bidder."
Awa chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, I don't think that's necessary just yet."
Keira shrugged with an exaggerated sigh. "You say that now, but my OnlyFans career is already planned out. What about you, though? Feeling good about the presentation?"
"I am," Awa said with a nod. "We've got solid numbers, and Tina's already told me she'll be in there to help. She can't show too much bias, but she'll give us a nudge in the right direction."
Keira grinned. "Tina, the corporate goddess. I swear, your family hit the jackpot in both brains and looks." Tilting her head she added, "Maybe I should ask your sister out."
Awa shot her a smirk. "You'd have to fight off half of her company. She's always talking about how every guy in here flirts with her."
"And how many of them succeed?"
"None so far. She has high standards, thank God."
Mark, their boss, stood up from his seat and stretched. "Ladies, I'm going to hit the restroom. Be back in a few."
Awa nodded, giving him a brief smile before turning her attention to her phone. A message from Stanley popped up, and she felt that familiar flutter of excitement when she saw his name.
Stanley: Hey, love. Good news—I'll be back tomorrow. Miss you like crazy. Can't wait to see you.
Awa smiled, her fingers quickly flying over the screen as she typed a response.
Awa: I miss you too. Can't wait for you to be back. Good luck with your last day!
As she hit send, Keira leaned over, trying to catch a glimpse of her screen. "What's Mr. Nonprofit up to?"
Awa playfully pushed her back. "Just letting me know he'll be back tomorrow. He misses me."
Keira gave her a mock swoon. "Awww, so cute! If he wasn't such a decent guy, I'd be throwing myself at him. You know that, right?"
"I know. But you'll have to settle for someone else." Awa grinned, feeling a sense of comfort at the playful banter.
As they laughed, a shadow fell over the chairs, and a voice interrupted their conversation.
"Is this seat taken?"
Awa looked up to see a good-looking man standing in front of her, dressed in a sharp suit, his hair tousled in that effortlessly charming way. He was around her age, maybe a few years younger, and there was a glint of mischief in his dark eyes. He sat down before she could answer, flashing a grin at both her and Keira.
"I'm Kelsey," he said smoothly, his voice warm and confident.
Awa raised an eyebrow, glancing at Keira who was already eyeing Kelsey with interest. "Awa," she replied curtly, not quite in the mood for random introductions. She had enough to worry about today.
"Kelsey," Keira repeated with a raised eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "Nice to meet you. Are you here for a meeting?"
"Sort of," Kelsey said with a smirk. "I'm usually around the office for various reasons. What about you two? Business or pleasure?"
"Business," Awa answered, keeping her tone polite but distant. She didn't know who this guy was, and honestly, her mind was too focused on the upcoming meeting to engage in casual flirting.
Keira, however, didn't seem to mind. "Business can always turn into pleasure, though," she said, tossing him a playful wink.
Awa rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. Keira really could flirt with a brick wall.
Kelsey chuckled, his eyes now lingering on Awa. "So, Awa, what brings you here? You look like you're waiting for something exciting."
Awa met his gaze, feeling a slight unease creep in. He was charming—too charming. "We have a meeting with the company. Sponsorship stuff," she said shortly, not wanting to give away too much. She could already sense where this conversation was heading.
Kelsey leaned back, looking her up and down with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I see. Well, I'll be sure to find a way to connect with you later. Maybe we can talk about some… other opportunities."
Awa's eyebrows shot up, catching the not-so-subtle insinuation. "Thanks, but I'm actually in a relationship," she said, her tone firm but still polite.
He smiled wider, clearly not deterred. "That's cool. But, you know, work and pleasure don't always have to mix, right? I'm sure we'll cross paths again."
Keira's eyes were darting between them with amusement, but Awa's patience was wearing thin. "No, thanks," she said again, this time more pointedly.
Kelsey gave a low whistle, standing up and straightening his suit jacket. "Well, I'm sure we'll run into each other again, Awa. Till then." He shot her one last grin before walking away, his confidence radiating as he sauntered out of the reception area.
Keira let out a low laugh. "Damn, he's persistent. I'm surprised you didn't give him a piece of your mind."
"I was about to," Awa muttered, shaking her head. "I don't have time for this today."
Mark returned from the restroom just as the receptionist called their names. "Ms. Carpenter? Mr. Simmons? The panel is ready for you now."
Awa quickly gathered her things, standing up and smoothing her skirt. "Let's do this," she said with a determined nod to Keira and Mark.
The meeting room was spacious, the walls lined with modern art, and a long table dominated the center of the room. Awa felt a slight flutter of nerves as they walked in. Seated around the table were four members of the company's panel, including Tina, who shot Awa a discreet wink as they entered. Awa gave her sister a grateful smile, feeling a little more at ease knowing Tina was there.
"Good morning, everyone," Mark began, taking the lead as they all took their seats. "We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us today. We're here to discuss a potential sponsorship partnership with your company, and we're excited to show you what we can offer."
Awa and Keira nodded in agreement, and then Awa opened her folder, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline that came with presentations. She had done this plenty of times before, and she was confident in what they were bringing to the table.
The meeting progressed smoothly at first. Awa and Keira laid out the benefits of partnering with their radio show—expanding the company's reach, tapping into new demographics, and boosting brand visibility. Tina chimed in with her insights on the company's target markets, adding weight to their arguments, and Awa noticed that three out of the four panel members were nodding along, clearly interested.
Then, the fourth member of the panel, an older man with a stern expression, leaned forward. His brow furrowed as he steepled his fingers. "I appreciate the presentation," he said, his voice calm but firm. "However, I don't believe traditional radio sponsorship is the way forward. We've been focusing heavily on social media marketing as it tends to deliver better results, especially with younger demographics."
Awa felt the atmosphere in the room shift slightly. She knew this was coming—social media marketing was the big thing these days. But radio still had a strong pull, especially with the right audience.
"With all due respect," Awa said, her voice calm but strong, "our show reaches a significant audience across multiple age groups. Radio listeners are engaged, and studies show they trust the brands they hear about through their favorite programs. We have a loyal following, and I believe we can provide a return on your investment that aligns with your goals."
Tina added quickly, "And don't forget, radio also reaches people in transit—commuters, drivers, people who aren't always on their phones. You can't ignore the power of that audience, especially if you're targeting professionals."
The older man didn't look convinced, and Awa felt her pulse quicken. This wasn't going as smoothly as she'd hoped.
Mark jumped in, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "We understand social media's importance, but this is a different angle. You're tapping into a market that's less saturated and often more loyal."
An argument broke out as they debated the merits of radio versus social media marketing. Awa was holding her own, countering every objection with facts and figures she had carefully prepared, but it was clear that they weren't winning over the entire room. Just when it seemed like the deal was slipping through their fingers, the door to the meeting room opened.
Kelsey strolled in, his presence immediately commanding attention. Awa's eyes widened in surprise, her heart skipping a beat as she realized who he was. Kelsey wasn't just some random guy in the lobby—he was someone important.
"Apologies for being late," Kelsey said smoothly, his eyes briefly meeting Awa's before flicking to the rest of the panel. "I'll take over from here."
The older man who had been arguing against them sat back in his chair, visibly relieved. Tina gave Kelsey a look that said she wasn't thrilled with his interruption, but she stayed quiet, watching the proceedings unfold.
Kelsey walked to the head of the table, standing confidently as he addressed the room. "After reviewing the numbers and considering the proposal, I've decided we'll move forward with the sponsorship agreement."
Awa, Keira, and Mark all stared at him, completely flabbergasted. What just happened?
Kelsey's eyes locked on Awa, and a slow, knowing smile spread across his face, his teeth looked unusually savage. He sauntered over to her, leaning down slightly, his voice low and smooth. "Like I said, Awa… I always get what I want."
Awa felt her skin prickle as his hand brushed her chin ever so slightly, his eyes glinting with arrogance. She couldn't believe what had just happened—who was this guy?
As he straightened up and addressed the room again, Tina shook her head, a look of irritation crossing her face. The rest of the panel members looked equally stunned but didn't argue with Kelsey's decision.
The meeting ended quickly after that, the sponsorship deal confirmed, but Awa's mind was spinning. Kelsey had thrown everything off balance, and as she left the meeting room, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more complicated than she had anticipated.