Chapter 115 A Meeting In Tim's Company
Chapter 115 A Meeting In Tim's Company
Brielle's POV
The sun streamed through the tall windows of Tim’s company as I stepped into the large, nearly vacant lobby. The echoes of my footsteps felt unnaturally loud in the emptiness, and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia wash over me. This place, once bustling with energy, was now nothing more than an empty shell.
Mark was already there, standing near the reception desk with his phone in hand. He wore his usual Armani suit, looking as collected as always and intimidating as always, but there was a certain tiredness around his eyes, like he hadn’t slept well the night before. I approached him, offering a tentative smile as he glanced up and noticed me.
“Brielle,” he greeted, slipping his phone into his pocket. His tone was as calm and measured as ever, but there was something more under the surface. “Thanks for meeting me here.”
“Of course,” I replied with a smile. “It’s strange seeing the place like this. So… empty.” It brought back memories of when I was here.
Mark nodded, casting a glance around the lobby. “It is. But it won’t stay this way for long, not if you have anything to do with it.”
We began walking through the building, taking in the abandoned offices and the conference rooms with chairs still pushed neatly under the tables as if waiting for their next meeting. As we moved from room to room, I could see Mark’s mind working, analyzing the space, calculating the potential.
Finally, we reached the cafeteria, the large, luxurious area that looked more like a high-end café than a workplace break room. The place where Sophia first dragged me to for lunch. That brought back the bittersweet memory of her and what I needed to do in this company for justice. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. The tables were polished, and the high-backed chairs still looked comfortable, as if someone had just left their lunch. We both sat down at one of the round tables, the silence feeling oddly comforting.
“So,” Mark began, leaning back in the chair, “I have been thinking about the presentation you gave. I was impressed. You have a strong vision for this company, but I want to talk about some ideas that could take it even further.” I nodded, eager to hear what he had in mind.
"I'm open to anything you have in mind," I said with a soft smile.
“First,” he started, his voice steady and thoughtful, “I think we should consider expanding into digital publishing platforms. The world is moving fast, and while print is still valuable, digital is where the growth is. We could build an app, something intuitive, sleek, where readers can interact directly with authors. You know, make it more than just reading; make it an experience.”
My mind raced with possibilities as I listened to him, imagining the kind of immersive app he was describing. It would be something that could set us apart from other publishing houses, giving us a cutting-edge advantage.
“Second,” Mark continued, “I want to invest in a subscription model for exclusive content. Think of it like a membership, where readers get early access to releases, limited edition covers, or even behind-the-scenes looks at the author’s creative process.”
I smiled at the idea. “That would definitely create a dedicated fanbase.”
“Exactly,” Mark agreed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “And we need to look into audiobooks, professionally narrated, high-quality productions. Audiobook sales have been skyrocketing, and we could tap into that market with strong storytelling and talented voice actors.”
“That makes perfect sense,” I replied, feeling more confident in the future of this company with every word he spoke. “I hadn’t even thought of the potential for an app. I have always been focused on the storytelling side.”
“That os where your strength is,” Mark acknowledged, “But you will need to think like a businesswoman now. Storytelling is the heart of what you and the company will do, but we need to present it in ways that draw people in.”
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. “Which brings me to my last point... Author branding. We need to make every author who signs with the company feel like a brand in themselves, not just someone with a book on a shelf. We create an ecosystem where readers connect deeply with authors, not just their books, but their personalities, their inspirations, their journey.”
I nodded thoughtfully. Everything Mark was saying made sense. He had a way of seeing the bigger picture that I hadn’t fully considered. That was why he was so good at what he did.
“You have given me a lot to think about,” I admitted. “These ideas could take this company to the next level.”
He gave a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That is the plan.”
After a brief pause, I took a breath and decided to bring up Natalie. “Speaking of branding… there is someone I have been thinking about for this project. She is a freelance graphic designer. Her name is Natalie, and she’s brilliant. She has this incredible passion for what she does, and I think she would be perfect to help us with the visual side of things, such as the branding, the app design, all of it.”
His interest was piqued. “I would like to meet her. If she is as good as you say, I’m sure we can make room for her in the project.”
“She is,” I said, my excitement bubbling up again. “Natalie is exactly the kind of creative mind we need on the team.”
Mark nodded, filing that information away. There was a slight pause before his expression shifted, his eyes softening as he asked, “And how is the pregnancy going? Is everything still… okay?”
For a moment, I was caught off guard by the change in topic, but then I relaxed. “Everything is fine,” I assured him. “The baby is healthy, and Daylan has been incredibly supportive.”
Mark’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he looked distant, almost like he was grappling with something behind that composed exterior. His usually aloof demeanor faltered just for a second, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on beneath the surface. Well, if I remember correctly, he has some experience of a similar situation. But before I could ask further about it and if he was okay, his phone rang.
“I need to take this,” he said, glancing down at the screen. “I will be right back.”
He stood up and stepped away, leaving me alone in the empty cafeteria. The silence pressed in around me, and for the first time in a while, I felt a strange tightness in my chest. It started as a dull pressure, but soon, my heart began to race. Memories of Sophia flooded my mind and the way she had been killed.
I tried to calm myself, placing my hand on my chest, but the palpitations intensified for a moment, my breath catching as I fought to control it. I closed my eyes, trying to focus, willing the sensation to pass. After what felt like an eternity, the tightness eased, and my heart rate returned to normal as the memories faded away. I took a deep, steadying breath, opening my eyes just as Mark reappeared.
Is everything okay?” he asked, his eyes narrowing in concern as he approached the table.
I gave him a reassuring smile, brushing it off. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just needed a moment.”
He studied me for a beat longer, as if he didn’t quite believe me, but eventually he let it go. “I have to head out,” he said, still holding his phone in his hand. “But I will be in touch about the next steps. Let me know when Natalie is available to meet, and I will work around my schedule.”
“Of course,” I said, standing as he prepared to leave. “Thank you for all the ideas today. I’m really excited about where this is going.”
He nodded, but his gaze lingered on me for a moment, something unspoken hanging in the air. Then, without another word, he turned and left the cafeteria, leaving me alone once more.
I sat back down, trying to process everything, the future of the company, Natalie’s involvement, the baby… and Mark. Something was off with him. I could sense it. But for now, I had to focus on what was right in front of me: building this company and making sure everything I worked for came to life.