章 5: Chapter 5: Super Client
I stared at him dumbfounded. I didn’t think I’d see him again, much less at my office. He hadn’t registered my presence yet, but the red-head seated beside him seemed to, because she got up as I walked toward them.
“Are you from Miranda's office?” she asked me.
I looked at him again. This time, his eyes met mine and I watched as his face moved in recognition. So, he remembered me. I had made up excuses for him in my head. Maybe he didn’t show up because he was too drunk to remember, maybe he didn’t remember what I looked like.
Except, from the look on his face, he remembered alright. I could see the guilt in his eyes as he quickly avoided eye contact with me.
But what was he doing here? Who’s the redhead, and why were they looking for Miranda?
Then it clicked. Samuel? Samuelson Inc? Could he be? No, he can’t be. That was too far fetched. There’s no way I met the CEO of an exclusive fashion brand at a club. That’s impossible.
“Could she be the reason he didn’t show up that night?” I thought, eyeing the red head spitefully.
“We have a meeting with Miranda,” he finally said. His voice washed over me like silk, and memories of that night flooded in. I willed them away with thoughts of how I felt when he stood me up. The anger flooded back in. Good.
“Shall we?” He gestured toward the door indicating that I should do my job and escort them in.
I gritted my teeth angrily, but plastered on a fake smile. “This way.”
I led them towards Miranda’s office, silently stewing, wishing I could lead them to the basement and lock them there. That would be a fitting end to this tragic love story.
When we walked into Miranda’s office, I could still feel his eyes on me, but instead of returning his gaze, I turned to Miranda. “Is there anything else?”
“No, Leah. My secretary can take it from here.”
I had never been hesitant to leave Miranda’s office, but today, I wished I was a fly on the wall so I could spy on this man and his companion. I didn’t have a choice anyways. What Miranda wants, she gets.
I walked back to my desk, still stewing, wondering what sort of mean joke the universe was playing on me.
“You p*ssed off the wrong girl,” I said to myself typing away at my computer angrily.
There was no way I was going to let him get away with this, no f*cking way. I hated that my desk was so far away from Miranda’s office. I couldn’t see or hear anything. If Miranda hadn’t asked me to escort him in, I wouldn’t have seen him, and trust me, I would’ve been a lot happier.
Why did she do that anyways? Wasn’t that Katy’s job? Or is he too important to have a receptionist escort him? Or did Miranda know we had met previously? Was this another plot to rattle me?
No. There’s no way she would have known.
I leaned back on my seat and rubbed my forehead in frustration. The more I tried to understand it, the more confused I got.
“This is not a good look for you, Leah,” I thought to myself.
I jerked at the sound of the landline ringing. I sighed before picking up. “Leah,” I said.
“Come to my office,” Miranda said and hung up.
I wondered why she called me in, but I was eager to get another look at my nemesis. They were still in her office when I got there. His legs were crossed, his shiny shoes and expensive suit making him look like the billionaire he actually was.
The red head seated beside him was discussing schedules with Miranda, which I assumed to be plans for the launch of their new release.
He seemed to sense my presence, because he made eye contact with me immediately. I thought he would avoid me like he did earlier, but he didn’t back down this time. He met my gaze, and confidently held it, with a look of…longing? But before I could register it, it was gone again.
“Leah, you’ve met Declan Samuelson and his secretary, Janet,” Miranda introduced.
Declan Samuelson. The name suited him, but I wouldn’t have guessed it. And she was his secretary. She seemed really confident for a secretary.
“As I mentioned in today’s meeting, Declan is launching a themed fashion line to celebrate his inauguration as CEO, and we are in charge of the press release,” she continued. “I’d like you to go over the details with his secretary and have it on my desk by Friday.”
I turned to face Janet who handed some files to me, which included sketches of designs, descriptions and some other information.
“I’ll mail the rest of the documents to you, including the release date, featured designers, models, etc.,” Janet said. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will, thank you.” I looked at Miranda. “Is that all?”
“That’s up to you Leah. You’re in charge of it, so would you like to interview the subject of your press release?”
I wanted to hug Miranda at that moment. She just gave me the perfect opportunity to get some answers.
“I’ll go over these and set a date that’s convenient for you.” I eyed him, challenging him to avoid the arrangement.
Instead, he said: “If you’re free now, I’d like to have the interview.” He got up and continued. “Miranda, pleasure working with you. I believe you still need to iron out some details with my secretary.” He nodded at both of them and waited for me to move.
I walked out leading him to the boardroom. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it was going to jump out of my chest. It seemed like he wanted to talk to me as much as I wanted to speak to him. What would I even say? Well, I’m not going to bring it up. I’ll be as professional as possible, until he mentions something.
“I need to get my notepad,” I said when we got to the boardroom.
He brought out a pen and paper from his suit jacket and offered it to me. “You can use this.”
I eyed him suspiciously, but took the writing materials and sat down. Like a professional, I began the interview with the most important question: “What does a CEO do on Friday nights?”
“Diving right in, aren’t you?”
“I’m only trying to understand you better.”
“You can ask, you know,” Declan said.
“Alright. Do you personally oversee the launch of your new line? If so, did you do it on a Friday?” I stared him down, waiting for his response.
He leaned against his seat and looked directly at me. “You mean what was I doing on Friday?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said innocently.
“You seem angry at me.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He chuckled lightly. “It’s nice to see you again, Leah.”
I stared at him, some of the anger leaving me. I clung to it desperately, but he looked so good in that suit and the sincerity in his eyes made it even more difficult to.
There was no way I could face him right now, so I got up and nodded. “I’ll set up a meeting with your secretary, I have other things to attend to.”
“I’m sorry,” he called out as I grabbed the door handle. But instead of responding, I walked out, not giving him another chance to mess with my heart again.
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