Keith's perspective
I stood confidently at the podium, surveying the room filled with expectant faces. As CEO, I'd addressed countless meetings, but today's stakes were higher. Our quarterly profits and Asian market expansion hung in the balance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Today, we'll discuss our quarterly profits and the proposed expansion into the Asian market."
My voice commanded attention, and I began the presentation with conviction. But as I glanced at the familiar faces, my mind wandered to the mysterious woman.
Her bold proposal still lingered in my thoughts. Who was she, really? I have never seen a lady so bold before.
I refocused on the presentation, clicking through the slides.
"...and as you can see, our profits have increased by 15% this quarter. This growth is a testament to our team's hard work and strategic planning."
A shareholder raised his hand, and I acknowledged him.
"Mr. Johnson?"
"Keith, what assurances do we have that the Asian market expansion won't dilute our focus on core operations?"
I smiled, anticipating this question.
"Excellent question, Mr. Johnson. Our expansion strategy involves partnering with local businesses and leveraging our existing network. We've developed a comprehensive risk management plan to mitigate potential losses."
The room erupted into a flurry of questions and discussions. As CEO, I fielded each inquiry with confidence, drawing on my expertise.
But my mind still lingered on the enigmatic woman.
Now that I think about it, she looks familiar but I just can't remember where I saw her.
I pushed aside the thoughts, concentrating on the meeting's outcome.
As the discussion concluded, I summarized the key points.
"In conclusion, our quarterly profits demonstrate our company's resilience. The Asian market expansion presents opportunities and challenges. We're prepared to navigate both."
The room fell silent, awaiting the verdict.
Suddenly, the chairman of the board, Mr. Thompson, spoke up.
"Keith, we appreciate your presentation. The numbers look promising."
He paused, surveying the room.
"I move to approve the Asian market expansion proposal."
A murmur of approval rippled through the room.
"Seconded," another board member chimed in.
The vote commenced, with shareholders casting their ballots.
Minutes ticked by, the tension dissipating as the results became clear.
Mr. Thompson announced, "The proposal is approved, with 85% of shareholders in favor."
A wave of relief washed over me. We'd done it.
I smiled, shaking hands with the board members.
"Thank you for your trust in our vision," I said. "We'll make this expansion a success."
The room erupted into applause, and I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.
As I left the meeting room, Ethan approached me with a smile.
"Congratulations, sir. You've got the green light."
I nodded, already thinking about the next steps.
I halted mid-task, turning to face Ethan. "What's up, sir?" he inquired.
I lifted my wrist, showcasing the watch. "You're wearing the timepiece I purchased for you," Ethan observed, a smile spreading across his face.
My curiosity piqued, and I narrowed my eyes. "Ethan, I researched this watch online. It's astonishingly expensive. How did you afford it?"
Ethan chuckled. "It's not as if my salary as your personal assistant is negligible."
He added with a grin, "I dipped into my savings."
My brow furrowed. "Why would you do that?"
Ethan's expression turned playful. "Don't be so formal, Keith. Just accept the gift graciously and say thanks with a smile, which you already did." He winked and gestured to the elevator, "Shall we proceed?"
As we exited the elevator, my gaze locked onto the mysterious woman standing at the entrance. Security personnel blocked her path, denying her access due to her non-employee status.
Had she followed me to the company?
What a very strange Lady.
Ethan's curiosity got the better of him. "Who's that woman? I've never seen her around," he said, taking a closer look.
"Ignore her," I instructed.
Ethan turned to me, inquiring, "Do you know her?"
I shook my head. "No."
Moving on, I asked, "What's next on my schedule?"
"Your father has requested dinner at 7 p.m. today," Ethan replied.
I sighed, exasperated. "He always requests dinner every time. At this point, he's practically asking me to move in with him."
I turned to Ethan. "Cancel it. Tell him I'm busy."
Ethan hesitated. "But, sir, he's your father."
My gaze narrowed. "Who exactly do you work for, me or my father?"
Ethan's voice trailed off. "You, sir..." He sighed. "Fine, I'll cancel it."
"By the way Sir, what brought us downstairs?" Ethan inquired. "Aren't you supposed to be heading to your office?"
I turned to him, puzzled. "You pressed the elevator button, not me. I've been wondering why we're here for minutes."
Ethan's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say something?"
I shrugged. "Guess we'll head back up now."
As we turned toward the elevator, James called out, "Sir!"
"James? it's not time for me to leave yet," I replied.
"Your father's been calling nonstop," James explained. "He threatened that if you miss dinner, he'll...well, dig a hole and throw you in it."
I rolled my eyes at my father's dramatics. "That's the most unoriginal threat I've ever heard."
Just then, I noticed a figure behind James. "Who's that?" I asked.
James stepped aside, revealing the mysterious woman.
My eyes widened in surprise. "How did you get in?" I demanded.
"I let her in because she claimed to have a boyfriend working here," James explained.
I shot him a disbelieving glance. "And you took her word for it?"
James looked uncertain. "Do you know her, sir?"
He turned to the woman. "Could you please tell me your boyfriend's name and department? I'll summon him for you."
Her gaze locked onto mine, a sly smile spreading across her face. "He's my boyfriend."
She pointed at me, leaving James and Ethan stunned into silence.
"Are you kidding me?! I'm not your boyfriend!" I exclaimed.
Ethan's expression transformed from shock to disappointment. "You have a girlfriend? Why didn't I know?"
I raised my hands in defense. "She's not my girlfriend. I don't even know her."
Ethan turned to the mysterious woman. "Are you truly his girlfriend?"
She nodded affirmatively, prompting me to intervene. "She's not."
James's confusion deepened. "What's going on here? Who should we believe?"
I asserted my authority. "As your CEO, I assure you, she's not my girlfriend."
Ethan acquiesced. "Alright, sir. We'll take your word for it."
He turned to the woman, his curiosity piqued. "Who are you, exactly?"
I intervened, decisive. "No more questions. Call security; she's so strange."
Just as Ethan prepared to call the securities, the woman pleaded, "Before you have me removed, may I speak with him for just a minute?"
Ethan and James looked to me for approval.
I hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
We stepped aside to a secluded area, ensuring our conversation remained private.
"What did you want to discuss?" I asked.
She smiled mischievously. "Are you certain you don't want me as your girlfriend?"
I sighed, frustrated. "Absolutely not."
She nodded resignedly. "Very well... but I haven't forgotten your past transgression."
I scoffed. "You're twisting this. You entered my car without permission."
"You abandoned me, taking all my money," she countered. "That was cruel."
I sought clarity. "What do you want from me?"
"You want something in return for leaving you alone," I added.
She pondered momentarily. "Give me a job at your company."
I rejected the idea outright. "No way."
Her eyebrow arched. "You didn't even consider it."
"I'd have to see your face every day," I explained. "Name something else; I'll do anything else instead ."
She folded her arms, exhaling heavily. "I'll think about it and return when I've made up my mind."
As she turned to leave, she suddenly halted.
"What again?" I asked.
"Didn't you notice anything unusual that day?" she inquired.
I frowned, seeking clarification. "Unusual in what way?"
"It felt strange," she elaborated. "Like déjà vu, as if I had traveled through time."
My eyes widened in surprise. I took a step closer.
"Time travel?" I asked.
She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Just kidding," she said with a laugh. "I will be back. Also, my name is Eira." She said with a smile and finally left.
I can't believe I actually wanted to take her seriously.
What a weird Lady.
I settled into the car as James pulled away, heading toward my father's residence. Eira's captivating face lingered in my thoughts, her name echoing in my mind.
"Hey James," I called out.
"Sir?" James replied, staring at me through the rearview mirror.
"What does Eira mean?" I asked.
"It's a name," he replied.
"I know it's a name," I continued. "What is its meaning?" I inquired.
James' expression turned thoughtful before responding, "I think it's a Welsh name which means snow."
"I see," I murmured, "her name means 'snow'."
James's curiosity got the better of him. "Who has that name, sir?"
I shook my head, recalling the earlier encounter. "That Crazy woman from earlier, her name is Eira."
James's eyes widened, a knowing glint in his eye. "Oh," he mouthed, a smile spreading across his face.
"That's a lovely name," James added, his tone filled with amusement.
I arrived at Father's estate, steeling myself for what lay ahead. Knowing fully well my father is always up to no good, I wondered what he had planned for today.
Upon entering, I scanned the dining room and spotted Father, but he wasn't alone. A trio of unfamiliar faces, a middle-aged couple and their daughter, sat alongside him. My apprehension grew.
I really hoped it is not what I am thinking.
"Running late, as usual," Father remarked, motioning for me to take a seat.
I exchanged greetings with the mysterious family, receiving courteous responses.
"Allow me to introduce my sole heir, Keith," Father announced, his tone dripping with pride.
"Keith, I'd like you to meet Chef Raven, the owner of Raven's culinary empire, and his lovely family, Mary, his wife, and Zara, their daughter," Father announced.
Chef Raven extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Keith. You're even more charming than your news profiles suggest."
Zara greeted me with a warm smile. "Hi."
I turned to Father, eager to bypass small talk. "What's the purpose of this dinner gathering?" I asked.
Father's stern glance cautioned me to mind the way I speak. "Chef Raven and I have been close friends for years," he began, "and we hope you'll hit it off with Zara."
I raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Come on, Dad, spare me the long talk. Are you arranging a marriage?"
Father's tone turned firm. "Would you comply if I asked you to?"
My suspicions were confirmed, this dinner was a setup.
I just knew Father was up to no good.
"I won't marry her," I stated flatly.
Father's voice rose. "Why not? She's beautiful, wealthy, what more could you want?"
I sighed and turned to Zara. "Do you want to marry me?"
Zara hesitated, glancing at her parents before returning her gaze to me, unsure how to respond.
I turned back to Father. "See? She's hesitant. We're strangers, and you expect us to wed?"
Chef Raven intervened, "You'll only be strangers tonight. After dinner, you can explore getting to know each other better."
I rose from my seat, apologizing, "I'm sorry, but I won't marry your daughter."
I glanced at Father, then walked away.
Father pursued me, his anger boiling over. "You Spoilt brat! At 27, you're overdue for marriage. Do you plan to spend your life alone? Do you want to die single!"
I spun around, exasperated. "I won't die single. Just leave me be."
Father's persistence continued. "I won't back off until you're married!"
Finally, he stopped following me. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Why is he so obsessed with me getting married when it's my life?
This wasn't the first time. Two weeks ago, he coerced me into a blind date with the CEO's daughter of a rival company. And a month prior, I endured another setup with the daughter of a petroleum mogul, all thanks to Father's meddling.
As I stepped outside and began descending the stairs, I glanced up to see a figure running toward me. My eyebrows arched in surprise,
Eira? What was she doing here?
"Don't move!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the air.
I disregarded her warning and continued down the stairs, but my foot unexpectedly twisted beneath me. I lost balance, teetering on the edge of a fall.
In a flash, Eira reached me, grasping my arm and steadying me. Her timely intervention saved me from tumbling down the stairs.
The incident left me perplexed. Why had she cautioned me to stay still? It was as if she had known that I would trip.