Chapter 124: New Meeting In Session

Brielle's POV

The boardroom was filled with the familiar murmur of voices, paper shuffling, and the soft tapping of keyboards as I stood at the head of the table, glancing around at the faces of my team. Despite the weight of my pregnancy, literally and figuratively, I felt invigorated. The Phoenix Publishing House was thriving, and today was another step forward.

I smoothed my hands over my swollen belly, feeling the little flutters of life inside as I prepared to present the next big project. The last two months had been a whirlwind, balancing the demands of running a company while being heavily pregnant. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I loved my work, and I was proud of what we had built.

"Alright, everyone," I began, clearing my throat and pulling the attention of the room to me. "Thank you all for being here today. We are entering a new phase in Phoenix Publishing, and I’m incredibly excited about what we are going to accomplish together."

I gestured with my hand towards the presentation on the screen behind me, the bold title of our new initiative in large, clear letters, Phoenix Audiobooks.

"We have had so much success with our authors in print and e-books, but now we are expanding into audiobooks," I continued. "The audiobook market is booming, and we need to make sure our stories reach readers, or in this case, listeners, wherever they are. This is going to be a huge opportunity for our authors to tap into a broader audience."

I paused, letting the excitement simmer through the room. The faces around me were a mixture of anticipation and curiosity, and I could tell everyone was on board.

"We are going to start with a handful of titles, selecting a mix of our bestsellers and some new releases," I said, turning toward the screen to display the short list of titles we had curated. "But I want to hear your input." I turned back to the team. "What do you think about this selection? Are there any titles you feel should be prioritized for the audiobook launch?" I took a seat at the end of the table, resting my hand on it as I let the team digest the information. Mark, who sat across from me at the other end, gave me an encouraging nod.

One of the editors, a bright young woman named Tara, was the first to speak up. "I think it’s a fantastic lineup, but I would suggest adding a couple more non-fiction titles. There has been a surge in demand for audiobooks in that genre, particularly self-help and personal development and more memoirs...autobiographies." She suggested.

"Great point," I said with a smile. "Let’s look at our upcoming non-fiction releases and add a couple to the mix. Anyone else?"

Ideas began to flow from the team, each suggestion valuable and insightful. They talked about potential genres that might thrive in audio format, authors who were known for their strong narrative voices, and even marketing strategies that could help us capture this growing market. Mark chimed in with his thoughts on how we could appeal to both existing fans and new listeners, his expertise as invaluable as always.

"We will also need to focus on the casting for narrators," Mark added thoughtfully, leaning back in the chair. "The right voice can make or break an audiobook. It’s worth holding a casting call to ensure we find the best talent to represent our stories."

I nodded, jotting down a note. "Absolutely. A casting call will be crucial. The narrators have to connect with the audience, bring the characters to life." I loved the idea.

As the meeting came to a close, I felt a wave of satisfaction. This project was going to be huge, and the team’s energy mirrored my own. Once the final details were discussed, I stood up, signaling the end of the meeting.

"Thank you, everyone," I said. "I’m really excited about where this is going. Keep refining your ideas, and let’s meet again next week to go over the final lineup and timeline."

The room slowly began to clear out, team members exchanging thoughts as they left. I gathered my papers, glancing up to see Mark approaching me with confidence. I no longer felt intimidated around him since the first few times I had met up with him in the beginning to make this company a reality. I had grown used to the man that he truly was.

"You’re really pushing through with all this, huh?" he said, smiling as he walked beside me out of the boardroom.

I chuckled softly. "You know me. I can’t sit still for too long."

He gave me a sideways glance, noting my belly with a raised eyebrow. "Even when you are two weeks away from giving birth?"

I let out a small laugh, the weight of his comment hitting me. "I know, I know. But honestly, this project is like another baby to me. I can’t help but be involved. Plus, it keeps my mind off things."

He shook his head, but his smile remained warm. "I don’t know how you do it, but you have to be careful too. Seriously, though, when is your actual due date?"

"The fifteenth," I replied, resting my hand on my belly instinctively. "But who knows? It could be sooner. I just want to make sure everything here is running smoothly before I take any time off."

Mark stopped walking and turned to face me, his expression serious but kind. "Listen, you have done an amazing job getting everything set up, but you need to start thinking about stepping back a bit. You are going to need all the rest you can get once the baby arrives. And don’t worry about Phoenix, I’ve got things covered here."

I exhaled slowly, appreciating his concern. "I know. I do. It’s just hard for me to let go, even for a little while."

He smiled, his voice softening. "That is why I’m here. And if I’m not available, I will make sure we reassign someone capable of handling things. You have built a great team. You can trust them to hold the fort."

I looked up at him, feeling a wave of gratitude. "Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you."

"You would probably still be running around, bossing everyone around until you go into labor," he teased, making me laugh.

"Probably," I admitted with a grin.

We walked down the hallway toward my office, the soft hum of the busy publishing house all around us. I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Phoenix had grown into something more than I ever dreamed, and it was largely thanks to people like Mark, who believed in my vision as much as I did.

Mark paused at the door of my office. "Just promise me you will take care of yourself, okay? The company will be here when you’re ready to come back."

I nodded, feeling the weight of my pregnancy more than ever. "I promise."

As Mark walked away, I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him leave before stepping inside. I sank into my chair, resting my hands on my belly as I stared out the window. It wasn’t easy to let go, even for a short time, but I knew Mark was right. I had to focus on my health and the little life growing inside me.

Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining the weeks ahead, the birth of our child, the time I would spend at home with Daylan, and the peace that would come from knowing that Phoenix Publishing House was in good hands. But even as I prepared myself for that, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of what was still to come for Phoenix. Audiobooks, new releases, fresh voices rising from the ashes, just like the phoenix itself. And in two weeks, I will have another incredible chapter of my life to begin.