Chapter 2 Their first meeting

Chapter 2

Five years later

The hyenas were circling in.

Victoria Smith watched, holding a wine glass, studying the crowded party room. The event was supposed to be a mixture of business and pleasure, but she knew business was on the forefront of the minds of the people standing there. It was filled with all the upper level executives and CEOs of the advertising world.

She scanned the room. Her gaze landed on the person she was looking for. Augustine James. All the powerful and respectable people in the advertising world had shown up at the event today just for him. He was the owner and CEO of one of the most successful athletic wear companies in the world, James Enterprise. He recently made it into the list of billionaires as one of the youngest self made billionaires in the country.

Just recently he'd fired the advertising agency that worked for him and everyone was trying to get him to choose their agency. It was obvious that any lucky advertising agency that gets picked will be raking in millions just advertising for his company.

She'd been studying him all night, trying to decide the best way to approach him. The agency she worked for was really struggling to survive and a collaboration with James Enterprise could actually save their agency.

From across the room, Augustine James walked over to her like a predator hunting its prey. His flinty gray eyes held a note of amusement and his lips were curved into a half smile watching her with every step he took. Nothing prepared her for the magnetic pull that pulled her towards him. She held out her hands in introduction.

"Victoria, Advertising Executive Saint Communications.

"Augustine James, but I am sure you know who I'm already. His voice was filled with so much self confidence.

"Of course everyone knows who you are, I am sure you probably already know why I'm here", she said after a small pause.

"You are here to propose we collaborate, am I right, so I'm all ears, let me hear what you have to say".

"Saint Communications might not be a top class agency yet but I know something no other agency can give you, that is if you agree to a meeting with us", she said without taking a breath.

She could feel the crowd boring holes behind her back. They were discreetly watching them, trying to see his reaction. She needed to convince him quickly before someone else whisks him away.

He took a sip of his wine and regarded her casually.

"Fine then I will give you a chance but I am still considering other agency offers", he said that last part warningly.

"Of course, I wouldn't expect any less from you".

He put his glass down on the tray of a passing waiter.

"Why don't we have this dance and we'll discuss the meeting time later".

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Augustine James, although successful, was also known as one of the biggest flirt.

Nonetheless, she held out her hand to him and he pulled her to the dance floor. The music slowed and changed to a slow waltz. He held her closely and she could barely resist the urge to run away from the room. All eyes were on them watching them closely. She hated being the center of attention. Augustine didn't seem bothered by the attention, in fact she felt he liked being the center of attention.

"Let's have a meeting next week. I'm busy all week but I've Friday free on my schedule. We could meet outside or in my office first, I will hear your pitch and if I like it we will conclude the rest in your agency, what do you think?

"Of course, Friday works for me", she was ecstatic, finally she would be able to save her company.

"I'll have my secretary call you within the week with the time and location and till then". He released her then and she watched as he walked away as gracefully as he'd arrived, the crowd swallowing him up.

She'd done what she'd come for, there was no point sticking around anymore. On her way out she passed some of her competitors. If looks could kill, she'd probably be dead from the glare and pointed stares they gave her. She couldn't care less anyway about what they thought of her.

She reached the parking lot and stepped into her car. Grabbing her phone, she called her boss to give him updates on what had happened at the party. He picked up on the second ring.

"I will meet with him on Friday", she said immediately he answered. He wants to hear my ideas first. If he likes them, he will arrange a time for us to meet at the agency.

"Well done Victoria, I knew you could do it", she could feel the gratitude in his voice. She couldn't help but feel glad.

"Nothing definite yet, he might not like my ideas. Don't get your hopes too high". She didn't want to squash his excitement but nothing was set in stone yet.

"I know that, but I trust you to get the job done well", he said trying to reassure her. Victoria smiled and dropped the call.

She was so tired and couldn't wait to get home to rest. She had a lot to prepare for before Friday. The fate of saint communications lay in her hands and she hoped she would be able to tackle any problems ahead. She thought as she drove out into the night.

Augustine James loosened his tie as soon as he stepped into his hotel suite. He left a trail of clothing as he passed from the door to his room where he took his socks off leaving them on the floor. He was once again preoccupied with the thought of meeting Victoria. He'd been thinking of her all throughout the week since he'd seen her at the event a week ago. He couldn't get her out of his head. She was one of the most fascinating women he had ever met and she intrigued him in ways he couldn't explain.

It was obvious to him she was desperate for his help. He wondered why she didn't just seduce him to get what she wanted from him. It wouldn't have surprised him. In all his experiences with women in the advertising world, they always resorted to using seductive tricks to get men to do their bidding. After all, he'd gotten quite a number of offers at the event just this night alone.

The ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts, snapping him out of his reverie. Picking up the phone, he looked at the caller id, it was his mother. He frowned. He really wasn't in the mood for his family's never ending drama, but he couldn't ignore his mother's call. Besides, knowing how persistent she is, she will keep on calling until he picks up.

"Hello, Mom."

"Augustine, I'm so glad you finally answered. I've been trying to get in touch with you for a few days now. Why are you always so busy these days?". He could hear the concern and reprove in her voice. He didn't like hurting his mother.

"I have a company to run, remember", he reminded her.

"It's fine, I actually called to remind you not to forget about this weekend. It's a very important day for the family and I hope you can be there.

There was a note of nervous anxiety in her voice as she spoke. He couldn't blame her, it was a touchy subject for him.

"Mom you don't actually think I would go to their engagement, do you?," he asked in disbelief.

"I know it won't be easy especially with what you have gone through, I understand that but our family needs to be complete again, son. I am begging you. I think it is time you made peace with your brother." His mother said in a pleading tone

"Mom, I don't care about them anymore, they deserve each other. I just don't have the time and desire to go to their engagement.

"Would you do it for me then? Just once in this happy occasion I want my family to be complete again."

He was at a crossroad. If his father or his brother had called, it would have been so easy to refuse them. He couldn't stand to be in the same room as his brother but he didn't want to let his mother down.

"Ok Mom, I will be there, but I will be bringing someone with me." He could almost feel her excitement through the phone.

"Oh my God, Augustine why didn't you tell me you were dating someone new. Of course you are welcome to bring her. I'm looking forward to meeting her already.

"You can forward all the details of the engagement party to my assistant so I can make the necessary arrangements".

"I will see you on Friday. I love you, Mom", he said after a short pause.

"I love you too, son. I'm so happy you're coming.

He ended the call and stared at his phone. He just remembered that Friday was the day he was supposed to meet Victoria for their meeting. He'd had it planned out all week and had been waiting anxiously for that day now he had to cancel because of the party. He couldn't understand why his mother thought it was okay to invite him to the engagement party of his brother and his ex fiancee, the woman he was previously engaged to .

Ever since ex fiancee, Jessica betrayed him he hadn't dated anyone properly and his mother had thought he was still pining for her, so she had taken it upon herself to try and set him up with a new girl any chance she got.

He needed to find a date fast. He had already told his mother he was bringing someone and if he pulled out now, he'd looked pathetic. He needed to convince his mother that he was already over Jessica the minute she dumped him for his older brother, Angelo, when he was appointed as the CEO in their family hotel business.

His mother wouldn't believe him, but he was glad his brother had stolen Jessica from him. She was a not-so-bright girl who thought it was better to go for the heir to an hotel empire than the owner of an athletic wear company. Except she didn't think to check how much my company made every year. They deserved each other. He knew his brother only wanted her because of a stupid rivalry he had for Augustine, he always wanted to steal everything he had. Thanks to that he'd avoided a mistake. But it still didn't mean he wanted to spend an entire weekend with his overbearing father and his immature brother. He'd agreed nonetheless and now he needed a date.

He'd narrowed down his options to four women, when the solution suddenly came to him. It was brilliant. It could solve all his problems. He finally had a way of winning Victoria over and at the same time pacifying his mother.

"Maybe the wedding wouldn't be so bad after all", he thought with a satisfied smile on his face.