Chapter 131
Chapter 131
Olivia
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I woke up with a delicious ache between my legs and memories of last night flooding my mind. Alexander had already left the bed, and I could hear the shower running in the en–suite bathroom.
The bathroom door opened, and Alexander emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets still clinging to his chest.
“Morning,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly. “Sleep well?”
“When you finally let me sleep, yes.” I sat up, pulling the sheet around me.
He grinned. “You weren’t complaining last night.”
“No, I definitely wasn’t.” I returned his smile, then glanced at the clock. “We should get ready for work.”
“Take your time,” he said, dropping his towel as he walked to the closet. “I told Alfred to have the car ready in an hour.”
I tried not to stare at his naked form, but failed miserably. Alexander caught me looking and
smirked.
“Like what you see, Mrs. Carter?”
“You know I do,” I admitted, finally dragging myself out of bed. “But if you keep standing there like that, we’re going to be very late for work.”
He laughed, pulling on his boxers. “As tempting as that sounds, I have meetings all morning. Tonight, however…”
I headed to the bathroom, feeling his eyes on me the whole way. “Tonight, we’re going car shopping, remember?”
“After car shopping,” he called after me, “I have plans for you.”
The hot water felt heavenly on my sore muscles.
When I emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a plush towel, Alexander was already dressed in a charcoal gray suit that fit him perfectly.
“Breakfast is waiting downstairs,” he said, adjusting his tie in the mirror. “I’ll meet you there in ten.”
True to his word, Alexander was seated at the dining table when I came down, scrolling through emails on his phone while sipping coffee. Chef had prepared a spread of fresh fruit, yogurt, pastries, and eggs.
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“You look beautiful,” Alexander said, setting down his phone as I took the seat beside him.
I smoothed my navy pencil skirt. “Thanks.”
As we finished breakfast, I outlined my plans for the Thompson project, and Alexander offered insights about the hotel. His advice was actually valuable, and I found myself making mental notes.
“Ready to go?” he asked, checking his watch.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
The drive to Carter Enterprises was quiet. We were both mentally preparing for our workdays. When we pulled into the executive parking garage, Alexander squeezed my hand briefly.
“Knock ‘em dead, Liv.”
“You too, Alex.”
We parted ways at the elevator, where I received a flurry of curious glances from coworkers as I made my way to my new office. The weight of my new title settled on my shoulders as I walked, the gleaming nameplate on my door a tangible reminder of my promotion.
I had just settled behind my desk when Dylan appeared at my door, tablet in hand, and a fresh cup of coffee extended toward me.
“Good morning, Mrs. Carter. I thought you might need this.”
I accepted the coffee gratefully. “You’re a lifesaver, Dylan.”
He consulted his tablet. “Your team will be here in fifteen minutes for the Thompson project kickoff. Conference room is prepped, and I’ve ordered lunch to be delivered at noon.”
“Perfect.” I took a sip of the coffee and almost moaned. “This is amazing. Where did you get this?”
“Little secret of mine,” Dylan winked. “I bring my own beans and use the machine in the executive lounge.”
“You have access to the executive lounge?”
“As your assistant, I do now,” he said with a mischievous smile. “Should I bring the Thompson files to the conference room?”
“Yes, please. And the market research I was working on yesterday.”
initial concepts
As Dylan left, I pulled up my notes on the Thompson Hotels brief, reviewing my one last time. The pressure to succeed with this project weighed heavily on me, but the excitement of the challenge was even stronger.
At precisely 10 AM, Dylan knocked on my door. “Your team is assembled in Conference Room C,
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Chapter 131
Mrs. Carter.”
1535 vouchers
I gathered my materials and followed him down the hallway, my heart racing with nerves and anticipation. This was my first time leading a major project team, and I was determined to make a strong first impression.
As I entered, the conference room fell silent. Six people sat around the sleek table, their expressions ranging from curious to skeptical to enthusiastic.
“Good morning, everyone,” I said, setting my materials down at the head of the table. “Thank you for joining the Thompson Hotels rebranding team.”
Dylan stepped forward, tablet at the ready. “Allow me to introduce everyone. From left to right: Brandon Wilson, Digital Marketing Director; Ava Johnson, Lead Designer; Marcus Williams, Creative Director; Elena Rodriguez, Market Research Analyst; Ben Foster, Social Media Strategist; and Zoe Abernathy, PR Specialist.”
I smiled at each person as Dylan introduced them. “It’s great to meet all of you. I’ve seen your work throughout the company and am excited to collaborate with such a talented group.”
Brandon cleared his throat. “Congratulations on your promotion, Mrs. Carter.”
“Thank you, Brandon.”
Ava beamed with a bright smile. “The Westwood campaign was impressive. You really turned that
around.”
“Thank you,” I said, genuinely appreciative of her support. “Now, let’s talk about Thompson Hotels.”
I distributed folders to each team member. “Thompson is losing market share to newer, more tech- forward luxury brands. Our challenge is to modernize their image while maintaining their heritage appeal.”
Marcus flipped through the materials. “Their current branding is… dusty. Very 1990s luxury.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. “They’re struggling to connect with millennial and Gen Z travelers who have different expectations for luxury experiences.”
For the next hour, we dove into the brief, discussing the hotel chain’s strengths, weaknesses, and competitive landscape.
“What if we focus on the intersection of tradition and innovation?” Elena suggested, pulling up market research on her tablet. “Our data shows younger luxury travelers still value heritage, just with a modern twist.”
“I like that direction,” I said, making notes. “Ava, can you start exploring visual concepts that bridge classic and contemporary?”
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Ava nodded enthusiastically. “I’m thinking refined minimalism with unexpected pops of rich color and texture. Heritage reimagined.”
“Perfect. Brandon, I want you to audit their digital presence and develop recommendations for a complete overhaul. Ben, start brainstorming social media strategies that would appeal to younger luxury travelers without alienating their established clientele.”
“Zoe, you’ll need to develop a PR strategy for the rebrand launch. I want a comprehensive plan for media outreach, influencer partnerships, and event concepts.”
Zoe scribbled notes furiously. “I have some ideas already. There’s a travel influencer summit in New York next month that would be perfect for a preview.”
“Great thinking,” I said. “Let’s explore that.”
By the time our scheduled two hours were up, the team was buzzing with ideas and enthusiasm.
“Let’s reconvene on Friday to share initial concepts,” I said, gathering my materials. “Dylan will schedule individual check–ins with each of you before then.”
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