Austin looked at Liam curiously. "Really?"
"Yeah," Liam said. "My uncle has this second apartment he never uses. It's empty at the moment. It's not super fancy or anything—kind of small. If you're interested, it's way more manageable."
"That sounds perfect. I'd take small and manageable over expensive and stressful any day." Austin said, feeling less worried as a weight was lifted off his shoulders. "What about rent? How much are we talking?"
Liam shrugged casually. "No rent payment, Austin. Just a place to stay for a while. But hey, it's better than being homeless, right?"
Austin's mouth dropped open, gratefulness surging within him. "Thank you, Mr. Prescott. I don't know what to say. This has been such a headache, and you've just...solved it."
Liam nodded. "No worries. I'll send you the address this evening, and you can check it out. Like I said, it's not fancy, but it'll do."
"If it has walls, a roof, and a shower, I'm in," Austin said, trying to keep his excitement in check.
Later that evening, Liam sent him a message with the address: "Swing by in an hour and take a look."
Austin felt relieved as he set out for his possible new home.
The next morning at work, the Pineapple Tech office buzzed with activity. Just as Austin settled in, Marcus appeared. "Impromptu meeting in the conference room," he announced. "Won't take long."
Everyone gathered in the sleek, modern room, a quiet curiosity hanging in the air.
Once everyone had settled in, Marcus walked to the front and began, "I hope you're all doing well today. All this while, I've been exploring some exciting opportunities for our growth, and, well, I have some news to share." He paused, scanning the room with a smile. "L&V Enterprises is willing to partner with us."
A wave of whispers swept through the room. L&V is a giant company owned by a very wealthy investor. They deal with everything from technology to real estate, even up to mining gold.
Marcus continued, "Their marketing strategies are exceptional, and they really know how to capture an audience. Meanwhile, we have innovative digital products the world wants, with more in development. If we team up, it'll be a 50/50 partnership—a real chance to drive the success we're aiming for."
Liam raised a hand. "Mr. Marcus, this is great news, but why are we only hearing about this collaboration plan now?"
Marcus smiled, clearly expecting the question. "I understand the surprise. I wanted to ensure everything was in place before making an announcement. Tonight, at 8 p.m., we'll meet with L&V's management team on the rooftop to finalize the partnership plans."
Claire raised her hand. "What's the plan for tonight's meeting? Do we need to prepare anything specific?"
Marcus replied, "For now, just be ready to introduce yourselves and provide a brief overview of your roles. We want to make a solid first impression. Since the meeting is tonight, we'll close the office early so everyone can rest and be ready for 8 p.m."
The team nodded as the meeting ended. Austin left feeling both excited and nervous. The partnership with L&V Enterprises had caught him off guard, and the preparation for the evening's meeting was something hard for him right now. As a newcomer, he was still finding his footing, and now he'd have to present himself in front of potential partners. Despite the nerves, he was determined to face whatever came his way.
At noon, Pineapple Tech closed, and Austin headed to Liam's uncle's apartment, the place that had become his reluctant home. Walking inside, he was greeted by sights and smells that made him feel slightly irritated. The small apartment, once modern, was now dilapidated. The soaked, leaky ceiling had left water stains on the walls, turning the white paint into dull green. The musty scent of old furniture hung in the air, and the water system barely worked.
Austin had done his best to make the place livable, but it was far from comfortable. Still, it was free, thanks to Liam's generosity.It's just a temporary place to hold him for a while, and at least it's not the expensive hotel that has been sucking him dry, he reminded himself.
Austin fell onto his bed, thoughts of the evening meeting swirling in his mind, and he kept worrying about presenting well and his limited knowledge of the projects. Exhausted, he dozed off, only waking at 6 p.m, still in his office clothes. With a grumbling stomach, he decided to grab a quick dinner nearby.
At the restaurant, Austin slid into a booth by the window and scanned the menu, though his mind kept drifting back to the meeting. He called the waiter several times, but the staff seemed to ignore him. Frustrated, he decided to take matters into his own hands and went to the counter.
Finally, he took his order, grabbed his tray, and turned around, just as a woman walked by, engrossed in a book.
They collided; his trays crashed to the floor. Austin's meal splattered onto the woman's neatly pressed clothes, her book dropped, and the entire restaurant fell silent and drew their attention to the scene.
Austin's face flushed, horror washing over him. "I... I'm so sorry! I didn't see...you."
Confused, Austin bent down to pick up the fallen book, his gaze shifting to the woman standing before him who seemed to be staring down at her ruined clothes, assessing the damage.
"I'm really sorry," he said, offering the book back to her. As she turned her attention to him, Austin found himself captivated at the moment. She was strikingly beautiful, her dark brown hair cascading in soft waves over her shoulders. Her intense orange eyes locked onto his, her piercing gaze making him forget everything else for a moment, as though the world had paused.