Chapter 179 With Grace

Chapter 179 With Grace

The incident that went down was a mix of different things falling into place. First off, I was feeling pretty good about the results of my hard work.

After putting in long hours, I had sorted out most of the text for the proposal and then spent a few more days collaborating with my colleagues in the department on the graphic design.

The moment we wrapped up the final draft just so happened to be on a Friday afternoon. This proposal was probably the most dedicated, detailed, and satisfying one I'd worked on in years.

Armed with the earnest proposal, I headed over to see Grace once more, eager to hear what she, being the executive secretary and top salesperson for major clients, thought of it.

When I got to Grace's office and knocked on the door a few times with no answer, her assistant told me she was in a meeting with a client.

Not getting to see her left me feeling a bit let down, which caught me off guard.

I wasn't sure if I was upset because the person who was supposed to value my proposal wasn't around, or if I just missed seeing Grace—or maybe a mix of both.

While I was mulling over this, I heard the click-clack of high heels coming down the hallway. It was Grace. Even from a distance, her tall frame and curves stood out in the office.

She had on a dark blue suit jacket over a plain white shirt, with a crisp collar.

Below, she rocked black stockings that hugged her slim legs, showing off a perfect leg shape that oozed both feminine allure and professionalism.

In my mind, Grace was the epitome of a career woman's fantasy. Watching her glide over, I couldn't help but nervously swallow.

She spotted me and waved, giving me that signature grin of hers. Her long, wavy hair, perfect eyeliner, and lipstick made her smile even more stunning.

As she walked over, Grace jumped in first, "Got a sec today? Any hiccups with the proposal?"

I wasn't exactly thrilled about always talking work with Grace, but I couldn't think of any other reason to approach her besides work.

"Yeah, ran into some snags with the proposal, so I figured I'd come to you for some advice, Ms. Scott," I replied, following her lead.

Grace swung open the office door, motioned for me to take a seat, while her assistant brewed a cup of coffee for me.

"What kind of trouble could Mr. Smith be having that he needs my help? It's truly an honor," she said, settling in across from me.

She adjusted her skirt suit and shot me a smile, causing me to quickly look away.

"Here's the promo plan my team and I put together. Take a look, Ms. Scott," I said, handing her the printed proposal.

"That's a lot. You nailed it already?" Grace raised her brows, looking legit surprised.

"This client is a big deal, so we didn't want to cut any corners. We followed the previous framework for the execution part," I said, taking a sip of coffee, feeling a bit proud.

"No wonder the boss raves about your writing and creativity. Now I get it," she said, flipping through the pages with a nod.

I gestured for her to finish reading before speaking, taking the chance to continue admiring this stunning woman.

Beneath the suit's collar, her fair collarbones peeked out, and her full chest was subtly visible. My mind started to wander once more.

Luckily, Grace wasn't in my department. If she were, how could I ever focus on work when I'd be too busy admiring her all day?

And if she were, I'd probably already be knee-deep in some messy office romance. I could totally see it going down, with Grace maybe not even realizing it. My mind was already spinning wild fantasies about crossing lines I shouldn't.

Her graceful fingers skimmed across the paper, those hands—elegant, slender, like they were made for playing the piano. The ring on her finger? It just fit, like it was meant to be there. Probably a gift from the boss.

I might never cross paths with a girl like Grace outside the office, so catching a glimpse of her at work was lucky enough.

Grace's gaze broke my wandering thoughts. When she looked at me, I realized my eyes were still fixed on her collarbone. I quickly averted my gaze and took a sip of coffee to cover up my mistake.

Grace seemed to sense something was amiss too. I noticed her adjusting her clothing.

I straightened up immediately, pretending nothing had happened. She regained her composure and carried on with the conversation.

"I must say, your proposal is incredibly detailed and innovative. I almost got lost in it," she remarked with an approving smile.

That smile filled me with joy.

"I believe if the client sticks to this game plan, they'll be top three in sales by next year, no doubt. The manager was right to trust you," she concluded, closing the proposal.

"Thank you for the kind words, Ms. Scott. It's motivating for us colleagues. Let's hope the client really likes it," I replied, keeping a calm demeanor despite my inner happiness.

"I'll let management know right away and set up a meeting with the client ASAP. I'm sure we can close the deal in one shot!" Grace's satisfaction seemed genuine, not just polite.

"Forget asking if you want sugar in your coffee. The client sent over some fancy sugar cubes," Grace mentioned as she stood up to fetch them.

"No need, your approval of the proposal is sweeter than any sugar cube," I declined swiftly.

I didn't want to leave so soon, but I felt a bit awkward after my earlier behavior, as if she had caught on to my inappropriate actions.

She was surprised by my refusal but just smiled and let it pass.

We both settled on the couch, and there was a hint of awkwardness in the air. I tried to steer the conversation back to work topics to avoid any uncomfortable silence.

Before I left, Grace casually suggested I stop by her office more often, mentioning she always had great coffee.

It was the first time she had said something like that to me, and I couldn't tell if I was overthinking it or if there was more to her words. I brushed it off and just went with it.

Either way, getting props from the higher-ups for a key client proposal was awesome. I practically floated back to my office, whistling some random tune.

As I settled into my office chair, still thinking about Grace's words, the phone rang.

It was Nora, and the thought of her instantly brought back that crazy night we had, sending a little thrill through me.