Chapter14: The Business Meeting
Leo leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the room. Ethan was sitting across from him, flipping through his phone, while Emma stood near the window, looking a little out of place in the luxurious boardroom. Rebecca, who had come along for no particular reason, was lounging on the sofa, eyeing everyone with an amused expression.
"This is going to be big," Ethan muttered without looking up, tapping away at his phone. "But we need the capital to make it work."
Emma glanced at Leo, unsure about what to say. She hadn't expected to be thrust into the role of CEO so soon, let alone for a project like this. A secure system to deliver luxury goods on the same day—something that could revolutionize the market. But with all the pressure suddenly on her shoulders, she was feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Leo smiled at her, sensing her unease. "Don't worry, Emma. You're going to do great. Ethan and I are backing you all the way."
Ethan finally looked up from his phone, his usual laid-back grin on his face. "Yeah, don't sweat it. I'll handle the connections and logistics. You just focus on running the company, Emma. You're the brains behind this operation, after all."
Emma blinked in surprise. "Wait, what do you mean? I'm not—"
"You are," Leo cut her off gently. "We both know it."
"Exactly," Ethan added. "We're both laz.... i mean busy, so we're giving you the reigns. You're the one who's been doing all the work behind the scenes."
Rebecca chuckled from her spot on the couch. "Yeah, while these two have been lounging around, Emma's been the one actually pulling all the strings. So, here's the deal: you're officially the CEO."
Leo nodded. "You'll have 15% of the company's shares. Ethan and I will both give you our shares so you will represent us in the company, and you will have control over the final decisions—at least until we decide to show up for the meetings ourselves. Ethan will be mostly remote, and sometimes Rebecca will attend on his behalf."
Emma's eyes widened. She was still trying to process everything. "Wait, so... I'm really the CEO?"
"Yup," Ethan said, grinning. "And you're going to crush it. We'll make sure you have all the support you need. And don't worry about the money; Leo's got that part covered."
Leo chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "I'm the 'crypto god,' remember? All the capital you need is already in place. We'll just have to make sure the operations run smoothly."
The topic shifted to one of the more pressing matters: the office space. They needed a location for the company's main office, but they couldn't agree on where to set it up. Ethan looked at Emma, trying to read her thoughts.
"Well," Leo said, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement, "I suppose I can flex a little." He pulled out his phone and made a quick call. "We're buying the entire building for the office. Let's make sure we have a space for the future."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're buying the whole building? Just like that?"
Leo smirked. "When you have access to funds as fast-growing as mine, it's easy."
Emma looked at Leo, both shocked and a little intimidated by how casually he made such a huge decision. "That's... that's incredible."
"Yeah, it's nothing," Leo said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "We'll make sure everything is in place for your company. I want this to succeed as much as you do."
The conversation shifted once again to the team they would need. Emma, who was still trying to wrap her mind around everything, was going to need some support. Ethan would send a team to help her get up to speed and teach her the ropes of managing such a high-stakes company.
"We'll have a whole team for you," Ethan said. "They'll guide you through things, but eventually, it'll all be yours. You're in charge now."
Emma nodded, though she still looked a bit overwhelmed. But seeing the confidence in Leo and Ethan's eyes reassured her. They were both serious about this. They trusted her.
"Now, the fun part," Rebecca interjected, grinning slyly. "How about we go out to eat? You three look like you could use some downtime."
Leo and Emma exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of the meeting. But before they could reply, Rebecca and Ethan stood up. "Actually, we have an emergency to attend to," Ethan said, his tone suddenly serious, though his grin was still intact. "You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves. We'll catch up later."
With that, Ethan and Rebecca left the room in a hurry, leaving Leo and Emma alone.
"Well, I guess it's just us now," Leo said, a little amused. He didn't miss the way Emma's face flushed slightly at the sudden change in their situation.
"I guess so," she replied softly, still a little shy. "But... we can still go, right? To eat, I mean."
"Of course," Leo said, standing up. "Let's go. You deserve a nice meal after all this. I'll let you pick."
Emma smiled shyly, still adjusting to everything. As they left the building and made their way to a nearby restaurant, Leo couldn't help but admire how poised Emma had become during the meeting. Despite her initial hesitation, she had taken control of the situation—just like he knew she would.
At the restaurant, the two of them settled into a quiet corner booth. Leo ordered for both of them, wanting to make sure Emma was comfortable.
"So," Leo said as they waited for their food, "how are you feeling about everything? About being CEO?"
Emma took a deep breath. "Honestly? It's a lot to take in. But... I think I can do it. I'm just a little scared, you know?"
Leo gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't need to be scared. I'm here for you, and so is Ethan. We all believe in you."
Emma's smile softened. "Thanks, Leo. That means a lot."
They talked through their meal, Leo asking about her thoughts on the company and her plans for its future. She was starting to open up more, her initial shyness melting away under the warmth of Leo's support. By the time dessert came, Emma felt more at ease than she had all day.
The night wasn't overly romantic, but there was something undeniably sweet about it—something that made Emma feel like they were finally stepping into a new chapter of their lives. Just the two of them.
As they finished up, Leo glanced at Emma, his expression warm. "You did great today, Emma. I know you're going to make this company something special."
Emma smiled, her heart warming at his words. "Thanks. I think I'm starting to believe that too."
They lingered at the table for a while longer, enjoying each other's company in the quiet of the restaurant. In that moment, it felt like everything was falling into place—business and personal.