ENTRAPPED IN THE CEO'S EMBRACE
img img ENTRAPPED IN THE CEO'S EMBRACE img Chapter 3 A New Dawn of Opportunity
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Chapter 6 Disillusionment And Determination img
Chapter 7 Unexpected Connections img
Chapter 8 New Connections img
Chapter 9 Shifting Grounds img
Chapter 10 Pancakes and Secrets img
Chapter 11 The Unexpected Revelation img
Chapter 12 Confessions at Home img
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Chapter 3 A New Dawn of Opportunity

For the next ten minutes, Sophia spoke with a fervor she hadn't felt since her academic days. She explained the intricacies of her project, how it mirrored the missing data Benjamin needed, and how she could potentially adapt it in a short time frame.

Benjamin listened intently as he tackled her with questions, each one answered with increasing confidence by Sophia . By the end, the tension in the room had dissipated, replaced by a sense of mutual respect.

"This is...impressive, Sophia ," Benjamin admitted, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I wouldn't normally entrust such a task to someone outside my immediate team, but you've certainly piqued my interest."

Sophia felt a surge of gratitude. "I understand, sir. But if you're willing to give me a chance, I promise I won't let you down."

Benjamin studied her for a moment, his eyes assessing. "Alright, Sophia . Here's the deal. I'll provide you with all the available data and background information. You work your magic overnight, and by tomorrow morning, we'll see if your program can salvage the presentation."

Excitement bubbled within Sophia , but she tempered it with professionalism. "Thank you, Mr. Hayes. I won't disappoint you."

As she left the conference room, Sophia held her head high. For the first time, she wasn't just the receptionist, but someone with a valuable skillset, someone Benjamin Hayes acknowledged.

Back at her desk, she barely registered Nancy's questions about the hurried meeting. Her mind was already diving into the information Benjamin provided. Sophia found herself consumed by a fierce determination to complete her task. With her fingers moving across the keyboard, she adapted her code to meet the specific requirements of Hayes Hotels. She was so engrossed that she lost track of time.

"Sophia !!, It's time to go home", Nancy informed her with a tone of urgency.

"A few minutes more please", Sophia responded.

"Few minutes?? You've been at this .... since you returned from the penthouse.

Gosh! What the heck are you doing with this system? We got to go now!!" Nancy voiced out

"Okay, okay. Calm down, I'll shut down and pack up, geez", she responded.

She quickly saved what she was doing, sent it to her laptop email and shut the system down. Okay, I'm done, let's go!.

Getting home, Nancy went straight to bed as she had a very hectic day and Sophia took a quick bath and continued what she was working on. She kept herself active by fueling herself with coffee periodically, she pushed herself to meet the tight deadline. Despite the hours that passed, she continued to put all her efforts into delivering the best possible results.

Dawn broke out in a burst of several shades of orange hue. Sophia let out a triumphant sigh and pumped her first in the air. She'd done it, and she felt like a proud mother, but exhaustion gnawed at her, yet the sense of accomplishment far outweighed it.

"Oh! It's almost time". She jumped up and rushed into the bathroom. Without wasting time, she was out of the bathroom. It took her time to select her outfit for the day: a wine silk shirt and Palazzo pants with a black stilleto. She checked the mirror and said to herself, "You've got this covered Sophia , don't be nervous."

"Nancy!!, Still sleeping??" She inquired as she poked her head into Nancy's room to check on her.

"Is it morning already, the night has become really short recently", Nancy mumbled with reluctancy to leave her bed.

"Seems.. I won't be able to wait for you today, I have a presentation to show Mr Benjamin, and it's almost time." Sophia informed her.

"Okay then.. We will see at work", Nancy responded, waving dismissively at her.

"Okay, take care of yourself" Sophia responded. Then she dashed out of the apartment.

Sophia got to work earlier than her normal time. Walking in, she saw Benjamin having a discussion with some board members in the receptionist hall. She took several calming breaths before walking up to them.

"Good morning Mr Hayes". She greeted. "And, good morning to you sir's"

"Good morning Sophia . It's nice that you're here, but these are some important persons here, and I'm currently busy. You can send your work via mail. Once I get to the office, I'll review it and give you feedback."

"Alright sir" she responded, feeling a tad bit deflated. She ventured to the receptionist's desk, started up the computer and logged in for the day. She sent him the file via his company email and began her work for the day.

"Sophia , Mr Hayes wants to see you in his office now", Nancy announced, holding the office phone to her ear.

"Really" she mouthed. Nancy nodded in affirmation.

Sophia quickly straightened, without another word, she made her way to his office.

On getting there, she was escorted in by the secretary. Again, the sheer size and the space of his office wasn't at all surprising. It was a workplace befitting of a CEO.

He gestured for her to sit, and she silently complied, sinking into the office chair.

"Sophia ," he began, his voice serious, "...you've saved the day," he finished with a faint smile. "This presentation is infinitely better thanks to your work. You have a sharp mind and a dedication that's commendable."

Sophia could only nod, a blush creeping up her cheeks. The compliment, delivered in his deep, smooth voice, sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"However," he continued, his smile fading slightly, "this doesn't change your position as a receptionist. But," he added, seeing the disappointment flicker across her face, "it does open some doors. I'll speak to HR about a potential opportunity within the IT department, something that utilizes your skills more effectively."

"Thank you, Mr. Hayes," she replied sincerely, her voice brimming with gratitude. "I won't let you down."

He gave her a curt nod, a hint of something unreadable flickering in his eyes, before dismissing her. The rest of the day was a blur for Sophia . She went through the motions of greeting guests and answering calls, but her mind kept replaying the events of the past twenty-four hours.

"Alright, spill it," Nancy demanded, leaning in conspiratorially. "What was that whole hush-hush meeting with Mr. Hayes about?"

Sophia took a deep breath and launched into a detailed explanation, her voice animated with excitement as she described the missing data, her solution, and the potential opportunity within the IT department. Nancy listened intently, her initial skepticism giving way to genuine surprise.

"Wow, Sophia ," she breathed when Sophia finished. "That's incredible! I always knew you were brilliant, but this... this is amazing!"

A grin stretched across Sophia's face. For the first time in weeks, a genuine smile, not a mask of forced cheer. "It is, isn't it?"

"So, what happens next?" Nancy asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Sophia shrugged. "I don't know exactly. But for the first time in a long time," she admitted, "I feel hopeful. Like maybe... maybe things are finally starting to look up."

            
            

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