beam!
Still a little dizzy at the realization that my presentation was indeed over and that I had survived, I quickly stepped down from the podium and relinquished my space to Charli.
Fanning myself with my presentation script, I let my gaze roam the room absently and froze when I encountered a pair of lazy gray eyes studying me with such intensity I found myself catching my breath.
Constantijin was here.
His unsmiling face made me nervous, but even so I couldn’t help feeling gloriously alive just for seeing him. It was exactly like that ba-dump moment I was talking about earlier.
Unnerved by his impassive expression, I forced myself to listen to Charli, who was just thanking us three for the presentation and saying that all our recommendations were worth considering.
“Arian, your presentation was lovely, but next time I hope you add more statistical data – such as what Yanna shared about Hana Kimi’s performance in Japan and Europe.”
Ha! Take that, Arian!
“George, your presentation was also lovely but for now – please stay away from extremely graphic yaoi series. I don’t think American mainstream audience is ready for it yet.”
I gave George a thumbs-up, who was doing his best not to look disappointed.
“And Yanna, you did a great job. I can see how much passion went into your project, but next time, I do hope you have a better video to share with us.”
Arian, you selfish girl, you!
Charli beamed again. “Since this went so very well, I’m delighted to tell you that you will be presenting the same recommendations to the executive managers next.”
Her announcement, made out of the blue, had me gulping and I could see that even Arian was feeling queasy at the thought.
But Charli didn’t seem to notice our silent panic. She thanked our audience, making a special note of Constantijin’s presence. Apparently, he didn’t have to be here at all.
Afterwards, the two other executives talked to us one by one. There was Martha, the finance department head and Lawrence, who led the production department.
At the end of the line was Constantijin. He took his time talking to George and Arian, never once glancing my way. It hurt and angered me, but I knew I couldn’t flounce off like I wanted to.
When he turned his back on Arian, forcing the other woman to close her mouth and retreat, I gave him my best polite, I’m-not-bothered-smile. “Sir.”
He didn’t smile in return.
“I have a few questions about your recommendation.” The curtness of his tone made me straighten. Oh God, was that why he seemed to be in a bad mood? Did he hate my presentation?
Constantijin was already leaving and I had to half-run so I could walk next to him but making sure I was lagging a few inches behind at the same time as a way of showing respect for his position.
“What questions do you have?” I asked nervously.
“Later,” he answered in a still-brusque tone, which only made me tense even more.
He pulled me into his office, which actually had its own reception area. My eyes widened when I saw a familiar gray-haired woman sitting behind the table next to the door of Constantijin’s private office.
She smiled when she saw me, utterly unruffled. “Hello, Ms. Everleigh.”
“H-hi,” I stammered, wondering if I could die right this very moment now. Oh God! How the hell had I managed to forget what happened between
Still a little dizzy at the realization that my presentation was indeed over and that I had survived, I quickly stepped down from the podium and relinquished my space to Charli.
Fanning myself with my presentation script, I let my gaze roam the room absently and froze when I encountered a pair of lazy gray eyes studying me with such intensity I found myself catching my breath.
Constantijin was here.
His unsmiling face made me nervous, but even so I couldn’t help feeling gloriously alive just for seeing him. It was exactly like that ba-dump moment I was talking about earlier.
Unnerved by his impassive expression, I forced myself to listen to Charli, who was just thanking us three for the presentation and saying that all our recommendations were worth considering.
“Arian, your presentation was lovely, but next time I hope you add more statistical data – such as what Yanna shared about Hana Kimi’s performance in Japan and Europe.”
Ha! Take that, Arian!
“George, your presentation was also lovely but for now – please stay away from extremely graphic yaoi series. I don’t think American mainstream audience is ready for it yet.”
I gave George a thumbs-up, who was doing his best not to look disappointed.
“And Yanna, you did a great job. I can see how much passion went into your project, but next time, I do hope you have a better video to share with us.”
Arian, you selfish girl, you!
Charli beamed again. “Since this went so very well, I’m delighted to tell you that you will be presenting the same recommendations to the executive managers next.”
Her announcement, made out of the blue, had me gulping and I could see that even Arian was feeling queasy at the thought.
But Charli didn’t seem to notice our silent panic. She thanked our audience, making a special note of Constantijin’s presence. Apparently, he didn’t have to be here at all.
Afterwards, the two other executives talked to us one by one. There was Martha, the finance department head and Lawrence, who led the production department.
At the end of the line was Constantijin. He took his time talking to George and Arian, never once glancing my way. It hurt and angered me, but I knew I couldn’t flounce off like I wanted to.
When he turned his back on Arian, forcing the other woman to close her mouth and retreat, I gave him my best polite, I’m-not-bothered-smile. “Sir.”
He didn’t smile in return.
“I have a few questions about your recommendation.” The curtness of his tone made me straighten. Oh God, was that why he seemed to be in a bad mood? Did he hate my presentation?
Constantijin was already leaving and I had to half-run so I could walk next to him but making sure I was lagging a few inches behind at the same time as a way of showing respect for his position.
“What questions do you have?” I asked nervously.
“Later,” he answered in a still-brusque tone, which only made me tense even more.
He pulled me into his office, which actually had its own reception area. My eyes widened when I saw a familiar gray-haired woman sitting behind the table next to the door of Constantijin’s private office.
She smiled when she saw me, utterly unruffled. “Hello, Ms. Everleigh.”
“H-hi,” I stammered, wondering if I could die right this very moment now. Oh God! How the hell had I managed to forget what happened between
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