Chapter 17

Chapter 17
As Amelia sat down across from Derek, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The tension between them was loud, and she knew that it wasn’t just about the project.

He had so much to say and she had so didn’t want him to say and this made everything a little stuffy.

Derek’s eyes seemed to bore into hers occasionally, as if searching for something. Amelia’s instincts told her to be cautious, to not let her guard down. She had been hurt by him before, and she wasn’t about to let it happen again.

It looked like he was pretty harmless now but there was no way for her to be sure of anything because she would rather do nothing than talk about it with him.

“So, what’s this about?” Amelia asked, her voice firm but polite. He was the one who had the whole ideas after all and her duty was just to assist him.

Derek leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. “I think we need to discuss our roles in the project,” he said, his voice smooth as silk.

Amelia raised an eyebrow. “What’s to discuss? You’ve already assigned our tasks according to what Dominic said.”

Derek’s smile was enigmatic. “Let’s just say that I’ve a few adjustments and I believe I am allowed to do that as long as I give you what you can understand and do.”

Amelia’s gut told her that there was more to it than that. She didn’t trust Derek, not after what he had done to her in the past. But she wasn’t about to let him see that.

“Okay,” she said, her voice neutral. “What did you have in mind?”

Derek’s eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. “Let’s just say that I think we could work more... closely together.”

Amelia’s heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. She knew that she had to be careful, that she couldn’t let Derek get too close. But a part of her wondered... what if?

Derek leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “We’re going to launch Dominic’s new product, a car that’s unlike anything else on the market.”

Amelia’s curiosity was piqued. “What’s so special about it?”

Derek grinned. “It’s a hybrid car that runs on both electric and solar power. But that’s not all – it also has a built-in AI system that learns your driving habits and adjusts the car’s performance accordingly.”

Amelia’s eyes widened in amazement. “That sounds incredible! What’s the target audience for this car? And I guess I have missed out on the larger part of the briefing but perhaps there’s something I can read to keep up.”

Derek nodded. “We’re targeting environmentally conscious consumers who want a car that’s not only eco-friendly but also cutting-edge in terms of technology.”

Amelia nodded thoughtfully. “I think we should focus on highlighting the car’s sustainability features in our marketing campaign. We could also emphasize how the AI system makes the car safer and more efficient.”

Derek nodded enthusiastically. “I love that idea! And what if we also partnered with eco-influencers and sustainability experts to promote the car?”

Amelia’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea! We could also create a social media challenge that encourages people to share their own eco-friendly habits and tips.”

As they continued to brainstorm, the ideas started to flow freely. They discussed everything from hosting exclusive test drive events to creating immersive virtual reality experiences that would allow potential customers to explore the car’s features in a fully interactive way.

The energy in the room was electric, and Amelia felt herself getting more and more excited about the project. She loved the feeling of collaborating with Derek, bouncing ideas off each other and watching their vision take shape.

It was something she did not actually expect because they have not had a reason to share ideas even when they were together.

As the meeting drew to a close, Derek smiled at Amelia. “I’m so glad we’re working together on this. You’re a genius! I always knee you were one just that we never explored that part “

Amelia laughed, feeling a warmth in her chest. “Thanks, Derek. I think we make a pretty good team.

Just as Amelia and Derek were wrapping up their brainstorming session, Dominic walked in, a warm smile on his face.

“Hey, guys! How’s it going? Are you getting along well?” he asked, his eyes scanning the room.

Derek nodded. “Yeah, we’re making great progress. Amelia’s been a huge help.”

Dominic’s eyes landed on Amelia, and he smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. Actually, I was wondering if I could borrow my employee for lunch?”

Amelia’s eyes met Dominic’s, and she felt a flutter in her chest. “Uh, sure,” she said, trying to sound casual.

Derek nodded. “Go ahead, Amelia. We can pick up where we left off later.”

Amelia followed Dominic to a nearby restaurant, where they sat down at a quiet table by the window. Dominic ordered for them, and they chatted about everything from the project to their shared love of books.

As they finished up their lunch and prepared to leave, Amelia felt a sense of ease with Dominic that she hadn’t experienced before. Maybe it was the way he listened to her, or the way he made her laugh, but she felt like she was starting to see a different side of him.

Just as they were about to step out of the restaurant, Frederick appeared, a sneer on his face. Lyra wasn’t with him this time and that was a little bit of consolation for Amelia but who knew?

“Well, well, well. Look what we have here,” he said, his eyes scanning Amelia’s face. “You’ve latched onto the next big thing, haven’t you, Amelia?”

Amelia’s face burned with humiliation as Dominic looked on, confusion etched on his face.

“What’s going on here?” Dominic asked, his voice firm but polite.

Frederick sneered. “Oh, Dominic, my dear friend. I had meant to tell you earlier but you seem so focused on believing she works for me or saving her not too long but I am telling you , you should stay away from her.”

Amelia’s eyes flashed with anger, but before she could respond, Dominic stepped in.

“I think that’s enough, Frederick,” Dominic said, his voice cold. “Amelia is my employee, and I won’t have you speaking to her like that.”

Frederick’s face turned red with rage, but he seemed to realize that he was outnumbered. With a final glare at Amelia, he turned and stormed off.

As they watched him go, Dominic turned to Amelia. “I’m sorry about that. Are you okay?”

Amelia nodded, still feeling shaken. “I have to go.”