Chapter 17

I woke up in my hotel room, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. I sat up in bed, stretching my arms above my head. I had a slight headache, the result of the wine I had drunk the night before, that was the only way to come out of my thoughts.

I felt refreshed, my mind clear, my body relaxed. I looked around the room, taking in my surroundings, I could have a good look at the room last night. It was a beautiful room, decorated in muted colors and simple, elegant furniture. It was a room designed for comfort, for relaxation.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the clock on the nightstand. It was later than I had thought, later than she had planned.

“Oh my goodness! Not today of all days!” I overslept and slept through my alarm. I quickly jumped out of bed, a sense of panic rising within me.

I stood in front of the dresser, my hands trembling as I looked at my clothes. I had so many options, so many choices. But which one was the right one? Which one would make the best impression? I thought about the clients, thought about what they would expect from me.

I thought about my career, about my future if this went wrong. And then, I made my decision. I grabbed a simple, yet stylish outfit, something that would make me look professional, but not overdressed.

My phone buzzed, vibrating the bedside table, the screen lighting up with missed calls and messages. I quickly checked them, my heart sank as I saw the missed calls were from Anita and Amelia.

She had called, over and over again but I slept through it all and had ignored the ringing. felt a wave of guilt wash over me, my stomach churning with anxiety. I dialed her Anita's number,

She answered the phone at the first ring, her voice calm and collected, despite the situation.

"I'm so sorry," I said, her words tumbling out in a rush.

"I overslept, and I know this is a huge problem."

“Well, you're lucky the clients are also running late, you should be here soon, Ma'am," Anita said, her voice soothing, comforting." I breathed a sigh of relief, a weight lifting from my shoulders.

“And about the Presentation?” That was another problem.

“I managed to retrieve it. Thank goodness I duplicated it before it got wiped away. “ She says, I felt like hugging her over the phone, she was just the best. Amelia made the best decision giving me Anita for an assistant.

“Great. I'll be down in 30 minutes. Stall some time for me if you can ok,” not waiting for her to answer, I hung up, grabbed my white towel, and rushed into the bathroom.

After my quick shower, the hot water soothes my nerves. I dried off and got dressed, pulling on the clothes she had chosen.

It was a navy blue sheath dress, with a scoop neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. It was a classic, timeless piece, and mostly, It was comfortable but still professional.

I stood in front of the mirror, going over my presentation in my head. I practiced my opening statement, my voice steady and calm. I imagined myself in front of the room, confident and poised.

I then practiced my gestures and facial expressions when I spoke to them.

I kept trying to imagine the faces of the people in the room, to imagine what they would be thinking. But no matter how hard I tried, Auden's face kept invading my thoughts.

“Not now please,” I cried in frustration,

I tried to push Auden's face out of my mind, but it was no use.

I then closed my eyes, trying to relax, trying to get myself back on track.

I remembered what Amelia said to me if I was panicking,

I quickly pictured myself on a beach, the waves lapping at the shore, the sun warm on my skin. I took deep breaths, trying to clear my mind. It was working, slowly but surely, and my mind began to calm down.

I opened my eyes, feeling more centered, and more prepared for the meeting ahead.

I examined myself in the mirror, making sure I looked presentable.

I ran my fingers through my hair, taming any stray strands, then put on a bit of perfume, just enough to make me feel confident, but not overpowering. I grabbed my bag and my phone and headed out the door, rushing down the stairs as I headed for the elevator,

How could I possibly be late? This was a meeting with some important clients, clients who could make or break my career and possibly my company.

My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan.

I knew that if Auden was at the meeting, it would be a disaster. He would try to sabotage me, would try to make me look bad, he loved business and that was one thing he had to focus on. I can't let this happen, I can't let him win. I have to get to the meeting first, have to get there, and get set up before he arrives. I can do this, I told myself. I had to. Since my company depended on it.

I had spent all day yesterday preparing for this meeting and had worked tirelessly to make sure everything was perfect. And now, I was running late, and my chances of impressing my clients rapidly dwindled. I bit my lip, a feeling of dread settling in my stomach.

I have to make it to the meeting on time, no matter what. I waited as they pressed the button,

The elevator doors shortly opened, revealing a familiar face. As if the world chose today to make me feel worse, I saw Auden, he stood there, with his eyes meeting mine.

I froze, unable to move, unable to breathe. The seconds ticked by, but it felt like hours. The elevator doors started to close, the gap between us slowly narrowing. I had to make a decision and had to do something.

Should I get into the elevator, or should I run?