012

The long-awaited Monday morning came faster than I expected, and even though I was still feeling a little tired from the weekend, I was actually looking forward to getting to work, mostly because I couldn’t wait to catch up with Brenda and hear all about her date. She hadn’t messaged me much over the weekend, which made me think that maybe things had gone really well, or maybe they had gone really bad, and either way, I wanted to know all the details.

But the moment I walked into the office, ready to drop my bag at my desk and find Brenda, something completely unexpected happened.

Nick was standing there, right near my desk, waiting for me, and the second our eyes met, he gave me that confident little smirk of his, the one that always made my stomach feel weird, even though I didn’t want it to.

“Morning, Tracy,” he said smoothly, his deep voice making my skin tingle in a way I really didn’t appreciate. “I need you to come with me to the boardroom. There’s a meeting, and I want you to sit in as an observer.”

I blinked at him, completely caught off guard. “Wait, what?”

Nick chuckled, tilting his head slightly, like he was amused by my reaction. “You heard me. The board meeting starts in ten minutes. Let’s go.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it, my brain struggling to catch up with what was happening. I had never attended a board meeting before. Ever. I wasn’t even sure why Nick wanted me there. And to make things worse, my heart was doing this annoying, fast-beating thing just because he was standing so close to me.

“Umm… I was actually hoping to complete my work from last Friday—” I lied.

Nick cut me off, still smirking. “You can finish up later. Right now, I need you in that meeting.”

I hesitated, but something about the way he was looking at me made it impossible to say no. So, before I even fully processed it, I found myself following him out of the office and down the hallway, trying not to think about the way he walked with so much confidence, like he owned the entire building.

The boardroom was on the top floor, and as we stepped inside, I immediately felt like I had just entered a completely different world.

The room was huge, with a long, polished table in the center, surrounded by the most expensive-looking chairs I had ever seen. The walls were covered in modern designs, and the large windows gave a perfect view of the city skyline.

And sitting at the table were some of the most important people in the company.

At the head of the table was Mrs. Veronica Winters, the chairperson, a woman who looked like she could command a whole army with just one look. She had bold eyes, perfectly styled silver hair, and an aura that made it obvious she didn’t waste time on nonsense.

Next to her was Mr. Daniel Grant, the CFO, a man in his late fifties with glasses and a calm but serious expression.

There were also a few other board members present, but I barely had time to take them all in before Nick walked straight to his seat and gestured for me to sit beside him.

I swallowed hard, feeling nervous as I sat down.

Mrs. Winters glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “Who is this?”

Nick inclined back in his chair, completely relaxed. “Tracy Benett, from the marketing sector. And since we would be discussing more on commerce today, I brought her here to observe.”

Mrs. Winters gave me another look before nodding slightly. “Alright then. Let’s begin.”

The meeting started, and I quickly realized that I had never seen Nick like this before.

He wasn’t just the smooth, charming guy who always seemed to enjoy making me nervous. No. Here, in the boardroom, he was different. He was serious. He was focused. He was in control.

He spoke with confidence, his voice steady and clear as he discussed numbers, strategies, and company growth. He answered every question thrown at him without hesitation, and every time he spoke, people listened.

When Mrs. Winters asked about the company’s strategy for maintaining its competitive edge without increasing operational costs, Nick didn’t even flinch.

“We need to optimize what we already have,” he said. “Expanding without control isn’t the answer. Instead, we focus on efficiency, tightening our supply chain, renegotiating vendor contracts, and using analytics to predict consumer behavior. If we eliminate unnecessary expenses and invest in precision, we not only maintain our position but strengthen it.”

There was a brief silence, followed by nods of approval. Then Mr. Grant, the CFO, adjusted his glasses and spoke. “What’s your plan for sustained growth, Mr. Nick?”

Nick barely took a breath before responding. “We diversify. Relying on a static client base is a risk we can’t afford. Our next move should be expansion into emerging markets where demand for our services is rising. We establish strategic partnerships with local distributors, tailor our marketing, and ensure a presence in industries that align with our expertise. Growth doesn’t come from standing still, it comes from anticipating the next move before anyone else does.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, but another board member wasn’t done. “There’s growing concern about employee retention, especially among high-performing teams. Do you have a solution?”

Nick let a small, knowing smile cross his face before answering. “Retention isn’t just about paychecks. It’s about engagement, about showing employees they have a future here. We create leadership programs, offer performance-based incentives, and build a culture where flexibility and growth go hand in hand. If people see a reason to stay, they will.”

Mrs. Winters tapped her pen against the table, considering his words. Then, with a quick gaze, she asked, “And what about our investors? How do we keep their confidence?”

Like always Nick answered her without hesitation. “Transparency. Investors don’t want promises; they want proof. We provide regular financial updates, set clear long-term goals, and demonstrate sustainable growth through actions, not words. If they see we are structured, strategic, and delivering results, their confidence will remain intact.”

The room fell quiet for a moment. Then, one by one, heads turned toward Mrs. Winters. She studied Nick, her lips pressed together in thought, then finally said. “Good point.”

Nick didn’t react, but I could tell he knew he had won the room. And, as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn’t stop staring at him.

And the worst part?

I was impressed.

I hated confessing it, but there was something about seeing him like this, completely in his element, completely sure of himself that made it really hard to ignore just how good-looking he was.

I tried to focus on the meeting, but my mind kept drifting back to Nick.

His sharp jawline.

The way his sleeves were rolled up just enough to show his strong forearms.

The way he smirked every single time he caught me looking at him.

Ugh.

I snapped my attention back to the meeting, forcing myself to listen as Mr. Daniel Grant started discussing financial reports.

“…the revenue has increased by fifteen percent this quarter, but we need to be cautious with our projections for the next fiscal year…”

I nodded, pretending to understand every word, but honestly, my brain was still stuck on Nick.

And then, as if sensing my distraction, Nick suddenly leaned in closer to me and whispered, “Are you paying attention, Tracy?”

My entire body stiffened.

I turned my head sharply, ready to deny everything, but the look in his eyes told me he knew. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.

I narrowed my eyes, whispering back, “Yes.”

Nick smirked, completely unbothered. “And yet, you’re blushing.”

Oh my God.

I wanted to strangle him.

Or maybe kiss him.

No. No. Definitely not that.

I forced myself to focus for the rest of the meeting, taking notes even though I wasn’t sure if I’d actually need them. But every now and then, I would catch Nick watching me, and every time he did, that annoying smirk of his would return.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the meeting ended, and people started gathering their things.

Mrs. Winters glanced at me again, nodding slightly. “Good job keeping up, Tracy. It’s so good to have you around.”

I blinked, surprisingly. “Oh… um, thank you.”

She gave a small smile before turning to leave, and soon, the room was empty, except for Nick and me.