Chapter 8 STRANGE AFFECTION

A phone suddenly beeped on the bed and she turned to see Julian phone's there.

He forgot his phone.

She picked up the phone and saw the message that just entered,it was from a lady- Lanie. "Can't wait to see you tonight" The message reads.

Jealousy spread across Nadetta face immediately and she frowned.

"I'll just return it" She mumbled to herself and walked out of the room.

As Nadetta made her way to Julian's room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Who was the mysterious texter? And what did she want with Julian?

She arrived at his door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

"Come in," Julian called out, his voice smooth as silk.

Nadetta entered, phone held out. "You forgot this," she said, trying to sound casual.

Julian smiled, taking the phone from her hand. "Thanks, I'd be lost without it."

Their fingers touched, and Nadetta felt a spark of electricity.

"Who's the mysterious texter?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Julian's smile faltered for a moment, before he regained his composure. "Oh, just a friend," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

Nadetta raised an eyebrow. "A friend who can't wait to see you tonight?"

Julian's eyes raised his brow in amusement,why is she questioning him?

As if Nadetta was reading his mind,she quickly clear her throat and said.

"Sorry,I...I jus..uhm, nothing. Sorry for reading your texts. I'll just go to my room" She rushed out her words and after before Julian could even reply.

Julian smiled and closed the door.

**

Nadetta woke up to the sound of her phone ringing,she groggily reached over to answer it, rubbing the sleep for her eyes.

Her eyes widened when she saw the name on the screen - it's Keaton. Her heart skipped a bit,did something Happened? Why is she calling this early in the morning?

She took a deep breath and swipe green,then placed the phone on her ear.

"Hey,Keaton! What's up? She inquired,even before Keaton could talk.

"Hey, your husband was telling me about a date last night. What's it about? Keaton questioned,her voice booming through the speaker.

Nadetta rubbed her forehead and sigh in relief " oh that! I forgot to tell you. It's just a normal date, nothing else" Nadetta replied.

"Oh,thanks. I'll hang up now" Keaton said and hung up before Nadetta could reply.

Nadetta left the bed for the bathroom and had a quick bath,she came out of the bathroom after few minutes and dressed up.

Just as Nadetta was about to sit on the be, there was a knock at her door. "Come in!" she called out.

Julian entered, looking dashing in his suit. "Hey, Nadetta. We have a meeting with the Smiths in an hour. I wanted to make sure you're ready."

Nadetta nodded, smoothing out her dress. "Yeah, I'm almost ready. Just need to finish getting dressed."

Julian's eyes scanned her outfit, a flattering red dress that accentuated her curves. "You look stunning, Nadetta. That color really brings out your eyes."

Nadetta blushed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Thanks, Julian. You don't look so bad yourself."

Julian chuckled, adjusting his tie. "Thanks, I try. But seriously, Nadetta, you're going to knock their socks off. That dress is perfect for the meeting."

Nadetta smiled, feeling a boost of confidence. "Thanks, Julian. I was hoping to make a good impression."

Julian's expression turned serious. "You will, Nadetta. Trust me. Now, shall we head out? We don't want to be late."

Nadetta nodded, grabbing her briefcase. "Yeah, let's go. I'm ready to nail this meeting."

As they walked out of her room, Julian couldn't help but notice how confident and poised Nadetta looked. "You know, Nadetta, you're not only beautiful, but you're also incredibly smart and capable. The Smiths won't know what hit them."

Nadetta laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Thanks, Julian. You're making me blush."

Julian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm just stating the truth. Now, let's go crush this meeting."

As they walked to the conference room, Nadetta couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Julian. He had a way of making her feel seen and appreciated, and she was grateful for his support.

Nadetta and Julian confidently walked into the conference room, where the Smiths were already seated. Mr. Smith, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, looked up from his notes and nodded curtly. His wife, Mrs. Smith, a stylish woman in her late 40s, smiled warmly and extended her hand.

"Good morning, Nadetta, Julian. Thank you for coming," she said.

Nadetta and Julian took their seats, and Nadetta began the presentation. She expertly outlined the marketing strategy, using visual aids and data to support her points. Julian chimed in occasionally, adding his insights and expertise to the discussion.

The Smiths listened intently, asking pointed questions and raising concerns. Nadetta and Julian addressed each issue with ease, demonstrating their knowledge and experience.

At one point, Mr. Smith raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I understand how this campaign will reach our target audience."

Nadetta smiled confidently. "That's a great question, Mr. Smith. Our research shows that the target audience is highly active on social media. We'll be using targeted ads and influencer partnerships to reach them."

Mrs. Smith nodded thoughtfully. "I like that approach. Can you show us some examples of the ads?"

Julian pulled out his tablet and showed them some sample ads, explaining the thought process behind each one. The Smiths were impressed, and their expressions softened.

After the presentation, the Smiths discussed the proposal among themselves, occasionally asking Nadetta and Julian for clarification. Finally, Mr. Smith turned to them and smiled.

"We're impressed, Nadetta and Julian. You've clearly done your homework. We'd like to move forward with the campaign."

Nadetta beamed, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. Julian grinned, nodding in agreement.

"Excellent!" he said. "We'll get started right away."

As soon as the Smiths left the conference room, Nadetta let out a sigh of relief and turned to Julian with a smile. "We did it!" she exclaimed.

Julian grinned, opening his arms for a hug. "We sure did! Congratulations, Nadetta!"

Nadetta walked into his embrace, feeling a sense of camaraderie and shared triumph. But as they hugged, she suddenly felt a flutter in her chest, and her heart began to race.

As they disengaged from the hug, Nadetta's body felt like it was humming with electricity. She couldn't meet Julian's gaze, afraid of what she might see there. But she could feel his eyes on her, burning with intensity.

"Nadetta," Julian whispered again, his voice low and husky. "You're beautiful."

This time, Nadetta couldn't help but look up at him. Their eyes met, and she felt like she was drowning in the depths of his gaze. It was as if time had stopped, and all that existed was the two of them, suspended in this moment.

Julian's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, seeing past her defenses and into the very heart of her. Nadetta felt exposed, vulnerable, and yet...she couldn't look away.

"You're not just beautiful on the outside," Julian continued, his voice dripping with emotion. "You're stunning on the inside too. Your passion, your intelligence, your kindness...it all shines through, and it's captivating."

Nadetta's heart was racing now, her pulse pounding in her ears. She felt like she was melting under Julian's gaze, like she was losing herself in his eyes.

"Julian," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But Julian just kept looking at her, his eyes burning with intensity. "I mean it, Nadetta," he whispered back. "You're the most beautiful person I've ever met."

The air between them was charged with tension, the silence thick with unspoken emotions. Nadetta felt like she was teetering on the edge of something, like she was about to fall into the abyss of her own feelings.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the moment was over. Julian blinked, and the spell was broken. Nadetta took a step back, gasping for air, trying to process what had just happened.

Nadetta's heart was still racing as she tried to compose herself. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Julian's words had touched a deep part of her, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that he had seen into her very soul.

"Julian, I...I don't know what to say," she stammered, trying to find her voice.

Julian smiled softly, his eyes still burning with intensity. "You don't have to say anything, Nadetta. Just know that I see you, truly see you, and I'm captivated."

Nadetta felt like she was melting under his gaze, like she was losing herself in his eyes. She knew she needed to look away, but she couldn't. She was trapped in the depths of his gaze, unable to escape.

The silence between them stretched out, thick with tension. Nadetta knew she needed to break it, but she didn't know how.

Finally, Julian spoke up, his voice low and husky. "We should get back to work, Nadetta. We have a lot to do."

Nadetta nodded, still feeling dazed. "Yes, of course. Work."

As they turned to leave, Nadetta couldn't shake off the feeling that something had shifted between them. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing - she would never look at Julian the same way again.