Chapter 3 The choice

"I tried to keep the meeting professional as possible, but I feel he had a way of getting whatever he wanted with his commanding and irresistible charisma. He has a gentle yet convincing way of making you believe him. His soft-spoken voice was mixed with a persuasive authority.

She felt objectified, because she knew she was far beneath him, she felt like a mere conquest to him, so she believes Mr. Austin just wanted her for one thing, which was to satisfy him emotionally."

These dark thoughts clouded her mind as she snoozed off on her soft couch.

Her phone buzzed on her desk, she looked at the screen and froze, it was Samantha, her best friend then in college.

"Hey Skylar, how are you girlie, it seems like I haven't seen you in months."

"Hi Sam, I'm good, just having a busy schedule over here at work, I barely have time for myself."

Skylar, you never told me you got a job.

My bad, it escaped my mind, probably because we haven't talked for a very long time now, she sighed running a hand through her hair.

"Are you sure you're fine Skylar because you don't sound like it, don't tell me it's just work."

"Sam, it's kind of complicated."

"let's have dinner at my place tomorrow by 7."

Okay Sam, I'll make it.

********

Skylar walks into Mr. Austin's office to submit her report from the previous week, it looked more like Skylar was now a staff of Austin's Global because of her full-time participation in the company because of the partnership, she bumped into a tall, thin jaw man, in his well tailored suits that fit him perfectly, she had never met him before.

"He looks very much like Mr. Austin, this would be his brother, but he looks younger though she muttered.

Skylar walked into Mr. Austin's office.

"Good day sir, this is the report from the podcast from last week, she said as she handed him over a file."

He took the file and glanced at it, then he leaned back on his chair.

Skylar was expecting a response from Mr. Blackwood before she leaves his office but rather, he was not saying anything.

Skylar broke the silence that existed between them, with her voice that was barely above whispers,

"I hope our latest collaboration displayed significant progress" she commented.

Yes, Miss Martins, he leaned forward resting his hands on the table in front of him, he said "this is quite impressive, I knew I could trust your agency with this.

"Thank you, Mr. Blackwood."

Mr. Austin's phone buzzed, he grabbed it quickly, but it wasn't anybody strange. It was Desmond, his younger brother, the guy that bumped into Skylar when she was coming into his office.

"Why is this dude calling again? I thought he just left here a few minutes ago, I wonder what he forgot to say earlier."

"Who's the girl with flawless skin that walked into your office?"

"She's the marketing specialist of a harthood advertising agency, our business partner."

"Sir, I should probably get back to work."

Mr. Austin nodded in approval.

The voice at the other end wasn't familiar though, she said as headed towards the exit heading to her agency.

She checked her to-do list and what she had next was to check the latest updates from other companies.

Her finger poised over her keyboard as she reviewed the latest updates.

Not quite long, the secretary walked into her office.

Miss Skylar, Mr. Robert seeks your attention urgently.

"I'll be there in a jiffy."

Good day Mr. Roberts

"Have your seat, thank you once again for earning us this multi-million dollar contract, the confidence to beat our opponent was very impressive, I must say. This is a contract that may last a long term, based our transparency and efficiency. In order to earn their trust, I expect you to remain consistent with your reports to both companies....

The door slammed open, and the secretary walked in with two glasses of wine.

"Thank you very much sir, for the privilege."

"The main reason why I invited you here was concerning the recent changes that will occur in this agency. But it's still in its incubator stage for now, but we'll have a meeting anytime from now."

"But for the meantime, we will be having a live interview with a representative of Blackwood ventures."

Later that evening.

she stepped out of the cab, Samantha welcomed her with a warm embrace wrapping her hands around her.

Samantha opened the door made of heavy oak and Skylar walked in.

"I made meat balls and pasta for you."

They sat beside the fireplace, devouring the warm meal.

I forgot, I never told you I'd gotten a job, Skylar sounded very apologetic.

That's not a problem.

why were you sounding weird over the phone the other day, what happened,

"It's just work and the many things that transpired."

"It was a kind of bridge in agreement between me and the CEO of the company that my agency works for."

"Skylar give her a brief summary of what happened."

"Sam, The CEO invited me over to his house for a business dinner mainly to formalize the deal. I accepted his invitation though I was a bit skeptical about this. I forced myself to believe that the meeting will be strictly professional, knowing the kind of person Mr. Blackwood was. After signing the business agreement, he disclosed the main aim of our meeting, he was entirely different from the Mr. Austin I met in the conference hall. As you would have it, he had a way of luring me to his bed. He had this Undeniable and irresistible personality." as she spoke, tears rolled down her cheek."

She dabbed her tears with the hem of her coat.

"You don't have to cry, " she said as wrapped her hands around her."

"What if the billionaire CEO loves you and wants something more than just a one day encounter?

Cheer up baby girl. She said as she ran her hand down from her hair to her back gently caressing it."

"That's not possible, I am far beneath him, very far beneath him. I mean, you know he's very influential and will not agree to settle with someone like me.'

"I have a plan, she revealed what if we make him pay for the consequences of the harm he has caused?"