Chapter 2

Anna was waiting for me at the entrance of the building like she always does because she always prefers running through the activities of the day with me as we walked back to the office. I took a deep breath as I stepped out of my car. The rest of the drive to the office was enough for me to get back a bit of my composure. I learned six years ago that no one should ever see you weak, it’s eat or be eaten.

“Good morning Miss Norman”

“Morning Anna. Let me have the activities for the day”, I said immediately.

“Our first activity is the meeting with MIX Fashion Wear which has now been rescheduled to eleven am due to unforeseen circumstances.”

I looked at my watch, it was fifteen minutes past ten, and I still had a while to fully get myself together before the expected guests arrived.

“After that, we have a two-hour meeting with Vogue magazine for a little run-down of what to expect from the interview for next week on Saturday.”

We got to the elevator and I pushed the button to go straight to the fifth floor where my office is located. The office opens and it's empty.

Thank goodness. I inwardly sigh.

“Are you okay, Miss Norman?”

“Of course. Why wouldn't I be?”

Show no emotion, trust no one, eat or be eaten

The elevator rang and informed us that we had arrived at the sixth floor.

“Is there anything else, Anna?”

“No, Miss Norman.”

“Then I'll be in my office until the CEO of MIX arrives. I do not wish to be disturbed.”

“Understood”

I finally release a breath the moment I'm behind the door of my office, I run my hands through my hair countless times, and the image of Asher staring at me floats back into my head. My knees grow weak, and I collapse on the swivel chair, willing my heart to slow down.

Asher was probably here because of a business concern. Because of what I recall, he was rich, and his father owned one of the most successful conglomerate companies. No doubt he was in charge of a few of them now. It was a no-brainer that he would have to come over to New York since they have a couple of branches here. It's been years, six years to be exact, he could have possibly come here in search of me.

I’m fine and Melody will be fine… like we've always been.

“Breathe Samantha… breathe”

Fifteen minutes left, I spring up and walk over to the mirror area I created just to make sure I always look presentable before I leave. I brush off my suit jacket and matching white bottoms in case there are any creases. I was touching up my lip when there was a knock and Anna walked in.

“They are five minutes away, Miss Norman.”

One last glance at the mirror and I walked up to her, feeling like myself again. I flashed her a smile just to clear the doubts she had earlier.

“It's time for a new era. Let's go”

I walk in, and the board of directors rises to greet me as I sashay into the room. I sit and they follow. I tap my microphone to make sure it's on before I speak.

“I'm sure you are all aware of the reason we are gathered in this conference room today. Let's give it our best and when I say best, I want perfection from every one of us, including myself.”

Agreeing murmurs and nods fill the room. The doors swing open, revealing a total of seven men. I walk over to greet them… a smile on my face until I saw the last man. There I was staring again, like a fool.

“Good day, I'm Asher Stone, the CEO of MIX Fashion Wear. It’s nice to meet you.”

THE CEO OF WHAT??

I don't care!!

I wanted to yell

get out!!

I wanted to scream.

Why are you here?? How could I have missed this?

I wanted to ask

“Miss Norman '' Anna whispered sternly behind me, causing me to jump a bit.

I looked down at Asher's outstretched hand that had been left hanging and could feel the weight of all the eyes in the room on me. I took a deep breath and returned my gaze to Asher, praying I wouldn't break down. I looked straight into his eyes, his emerald greens holding my gray ones, both of us fighting for dominance like old times. The moment my hands took hold of him, a very familiar feeling coursed through my veins… so familiar I wanted to run, but I couldn't. I won't.

“I'm Kimberly Norman. Pleasure” I smiled stiffly and Asher's eyebrows rose mockingly, like he was waiting for me to say like and tell everyone what hides behind my curtains. I snatched my hands from his, turned, and smiled. I will not let him or his family make a fool of me again. I have one goal and that is to get this contract signed. I don't care who he was to me or who I was to him… this business proposal was the best and that was why he flew here, and so he can hardly disregard it… I hope.

“Ladies and gentlemen, shall we begin?”

I couldn't help but notice Asher constantly staring at me since the meeting commenced. He stopped for a while to glance at the documents of the itinerary of the meeting for a few seconds and then looked back at me. Not only did I feel like I was under a microscope, I was scared of what would follow after this meeting and angry at the fact that he was barely paying attention to what was being said. His sole interest was me.

The last presenter finished, and it was finally my turn to go up the podium just to add some finishing touches to what had been said by the others and answer any questions they might have.

The moment I was on the podium and I turned around, I immediately met his eyes, staring, trying to dig into my soul. I looked away.

“Hello everyone, I'm Kimberly Norman, the CEO of Canary Fashion Line. I want to appreciate this opportunity. I do not take it for granted in any way, and I am sure we would have a good time working as partners. Not to summarize what has been said. We aim to make lounge and gym wear that are comfortable and make the wearers feel comfortable in their skin, like someone trying out the gym for the first time would want something more modest and not too showy. Our loungewear has many good reviews of its comfortability for both staying in the house and as sleepwear. Working with MIX would be our first step to breaking the market”, I explained, trying my best to avoid eye contact with him.

“You seem very confident” Asher chuckles as his eyes trailed from the length of my legs up until he got to my eyes, slow enough, so I could see it and fast enough that no one besides us noticed.

“I am Mr Stone,” he replied confidently. The only thing he wants is to see the weak girl he dated years ago… well, she is dead.

“why?”

“why not? I know what I am capable of once I put my mind to it and I believe my proposal is incredible. Do you have any doubts?” I asked with my eyebrows raised, and my arms folded over my chest.

“You tell me” he smirks… that darn smirk.

“I believe if you felt like this was a waste of time, a busy man like yourself would not have flown over to New York for this meeting. That should be enough explanation. Anything else, Mr Stone?” I stated as a matter of fact, and the look on his face turned a bit sour. He ignored my question, but I quickly brushed it off and moved on to answer the other questions that were being thrown at me. At least that stopped him from staring at me until the meeting ended.

The moment the meeting ended, I immediately ran off to my office after instructing Anna to send off the visitors from MIX on my behalf, obviously because I was trying to avoid any further interaction with Asher. I know it is quite stupid because we may end up becoming business partners, but I just need a moment for myself.

Any more of his staring or questioning looks would have made me run mad. I shut my office door and rested my forehead on it, finally able to take a deep breath, but that again was short-lived by his voice.

“It's a bit early for that love, don't you think?”

My body steeled, and I shut my eyes hard hoping what I heard was just my imagination, but he spoke again.

“ahh.. Kimberly Norman now, isn't it?”

My day of reckoning is finally here