Chapter 3 03. Meeting

KATE

I nod affirmatively, stand up, fixing my hair. Grabbing the project papers, I walk to the meeting room.

Upon entering, I sense a pleasant atmosphere and notice a man seated at the table. He appears younger than me and exudes confidence. I wonder where my brother's geeky friend is.

"Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. As some already know, I'm Kate, the CEO of the company, along with my brother Andrew."

As I make my introduction, I notice the man observing me with curiosity. It makes me slightly uncomfortable, but I disguise it well. After some adjustments in the meeting, Henry Müller, my assistant, is introduced. I start to understand why my brother was so apprehensive.

Henry is a young man of 25, with an athletic body and an attractive appearance that I can't deny. His youthful face matches his age, but there's an aura of seriousness and mystery about him.

Before the meeting begins, Andrew comments, "Ah, you arrived just in time. Kate, let me introduce Taylor Crawford."

I observe Taylor carefully, and to my surprise, his appearance is completely different from the last time I saw him. The nerd I knew years ago has transformed into an elegant and attractive man, dressed in an impeccable suit. I'm intrigued by this change, but I try to stay focused and not let my surprise show.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Taylor," I say, regaining composure. He just smiles gently and sits in the chair next to Andrew.

I scrutinize his features more closely until our eyes meet. I immediately avert my gaze and refocus on Andrew, who explains the purpose of the meeting.

"The purpose of this meeting is to introduce Henry Müller, our new intern, who will assist us with the ongoing project. And we're also pleased to announce Taylor Crawford as our new shareholder."

The news that Taylor will be the new shareholder doesn't surprise me, as I was already aware of this partnership. However, his physical transformation intrigues me and sparks a certain curiosity to get to know him better. I concentrate on listening to Andrew's next pieces of information and attentively follow the unfolding of the meeting.

The meeting proceeds as Andrew presents the details of the ongoing project. While he speaks, I notice that both Henry and Taylor continue to observe me with curiosity. Although I try not to show it, I feel slightly uncomfortable with their constant gaze.

As the discussion progresses, I actively participate, sharing my ideas and contributing to the decisions. Despite Taylor's intriguing presence, I make sure to maintain professionalism and focus on the agenda. Andrew and I take turns presenting the plans, explaining the company's strategies and objectives.

During the exchange of information, I realize that Taylor also offers valuable insights and demonstrates a deep knowledge of the field. I'm impressed by his intelligence and skills, setting aside my previous impressions of him based solely on his physical appearance in the past.

As the meeting nears its end, I begin to consider that this new partnership with Taylor could bring significant benefits to the company. Despite the doubts and curiosities that arose, I am willing to be patient and give him a chance. After all, business requires collaboration and teamwork, regardless of appearances or personal prejudices.

With this open mindset, I conclude the meeting, thanking everyone for their presence and expressing optimism about the future of the project.

Once back in my office, I breathe a sigh of relief, as this meeting yielded more than I expected. What was I thinking when I saw Taylor and assumed it wasn't him? It could have been anyone, but it had to be an attractive guy with a well-sculpted body?! I shake my head, slightly dazed by so much information. How could I have guessed that he would change so much from that dull nerd I knew?

I must have been really crazy.

"Kate Collins, this is going to be more challenging than you imagined..."

I fan myself, trying to organize my thoughts. I remember I now have an assistant who is also not to be overlooked. And between us, he also has a certain mystery about him. Although he seems serious, he's here with one goal: to show that he understands the business. I call Camile and ask her to tell Henry to come to my office for a conversation. In a few minutes, he knocks on the door, and I invite him in to sit.

"Welcome, Henry. Can we talk a bit about your goals here at the company?"

I observe him carefully, noting more of his physical characteristics. As he begins to speak, I'm surprised by his slightly deep voice.

"Yes, Miss Kate, we can talk. Thank you for the welcome. As you know, I left all the hotel standards to work with architecture. I'm about to finish college and would like to help you with your projects, which inspire me a lot."

I see sincerity in Henry's words, further convincing me of his commitment. I'm really in trouble with two completely attractive and polite men surrounding me.

I spend a good amount of time talking with Henry, showing him that from now on, he will also help me with new projects and eventually even lead some when I can't be present. However, any changes he deems necessary will have to be communicated to me.

Once we finish, I glance at the clock and am startled to realize that lunchtime has passed. I call Andrew's office, and he answers quickly. I smile upon hearing his voice, happy to be with his friend.

"Tell me, little brother, what do you want?"

It's so good to see him like this, excited about a friend without it always being about a woman, because that's always written on Andrew's forehead: "I'm a player, and I ignore it." I snap back to reality when I hear Andrew ask again:

"Oh, sorry, Superman. I just wanted to know if you want to come down for lunch. My stomach is already giving signs of life."

Andrew starts laughing but stops soon after.

"Yes, little sister, let's have lunch. Any problem if Taylor joins us?"

I smile, even though he can't see it, and confirm that I'll meet them shortly. It will be a great opportunity to find out what happened for him to change so much and become this handsome piece of trouble.