9. Well Done

~Sienna~

As Lucas dismissed everyone for a ten-minute break, I made my way out of the conference room, my heart thumping like a jackhammer. I was on edge, trying to shake off the nerves that crawled up my spine. I’d been handed a golden opportunity—or rather, tossed into it—and the stakes were so high it made my head spin.

Just as I was steadying myself in the hall, Derrick approached, a subtle smile on his face. He held out a sleek shopping bag in his hand, emblazoned with the logo of none other than Alexander McQueen.

“Miss Wilde, this is from the CEO,” Derrick said, his tone even, though his eyes held a hint of encouragement.

I peeked inside, pulling out a finely tailored black dress that oozed elegance with every inch of its fabric, along with a pair of Christian Louboutin red-bottom heels. My breath caught for a moment.

“He had me order it when he noticed… your dress from last night,” Derrick added with a small, knowing smile. “He wasn’t too pleased. Better get changed. The representatives from Pierce Corporation will be here any minute.”

Shocked but touched, I nodded, murmuring a quick “thank you” before darting to the company restroom.

On my way, Aiden’s scowling face appeared in my path, his expression pitiful, eyes pleading.

“Sienna, please… please flop this thing,” he muttered, practically begging. “The president won’t fire you. He can’t. I’ll do anything. Just… you’ve gotta let me stay.”

For a moment, I stared at him, taking in his desperate plea. But my mouth moved before my mind could, lashing out with words that held every ounce of my resentment.

“Go f**k yourself, Aiden,” I bit out, my voice low and steady.

I brushed past him, ignoring the scowl that replaced his pity, and hurried to the restroom.

In the bathroom, I quickly changed into the designer dress, feeling the buttery-soft material as I slid it on. The dress hugged my frame, cinching slightly at the waist before flaring out just below my knees. The classic cut was understated but effortlessly sophisticated, the kind of dress that was made to impress without trying too hard. I slipped on the Louboutin heels, feeling the rush of confidence that only a pair of red bottoms could bring, and with a final deep breath, I made my way back to the conference room.

When I walked back in, everyone had already taken their seats. The five representatives from Pierce Corporation were clustered together on one side of the long table, each one distinguished and sharp-eyed, assessing the room with quiet authority.

There was Mr. Lee, a lean, sharp-featured man with graying hair who sat at the head of the group, his gaze unreadable behind his glasses. Beside him, a woman with high cheekbones and elegantly coiffed hair sat, Ms. Chen, whose striking presence was enough to make the room feel ten degrees colder.

Next to her was Mr. Harding, a younger, intense-looking man with a slight frown etched onto his face, followed by Ms. Lopez, whose stylish glasses and understated suit radiated a quiet confidence. Finally, Mr. Kim, who seemed less severe but no less focused, sat with a notepad already open in front of him.

Lucas was seated at the head of the table, his attention briefly flicking toward me as I entered. His gaze was as cool and collected as ever, but I caught the slightest, almost imperceptible nod.

“Alright, let’s begin,” he said, his tone firm, commanding the attention of the entire room.

“Miss Wilde, if you could introduce your concept for Pierce Corporation’s new design, please.”

Swallowing the flutter of nerves, I stood up, making my way to the front of the room as the lights dimmed slightly. I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and began.

“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today. My team and I have worked closely on this project, and I’m thrilled to share our concept with you. Our goal was to create a modern, user-centered design that emphasizes functionality while seamlessly reflecting Pierce Corporation’s brand identity.”

I clicked to the first slide, which showcased the homepage design, sleek and simple yet inviting.

“We’ve chosen a minimalist approach to the homepage, with subtle animations that guide the user’s focus to key areas,” I continued, gesturing toward the screen. “The color scheme aligns with Pierce Corporation’s brand colors, aiming for a balance between corporate sophistication and modern appeal.”

Mr. Harding leaned forward, his intense gaze scrutinizing the design. “And how does this design handle mobile responsiveness?” he asked, his tone sharp.

I anticipated the question. “Great question,” I replied, clicking to the next slide, which showcased the mobile view.

“We’ve optimized the design for various screen sizes, focusing on a user-friendly experience. Key elements like navigation and call-to-action buttons are designed to be highly accessible on smaller screens without compromising the aesthetic.”

The room was silent for a moment, and I could sense everyone’s attention fixated on the screen as I moved through each slide, detailing our thought process behind each design choice.

Ms. Chen narrowed her eyes slightly. “What about load times with these animations? Have you tested the impact on site performance?”

I nodded confidently, clicking to the technical specs slide. “Absolutely. We’ve ensured all animations are lightweight and won’t add significant load times. We prioritized efficiency, so users will experience a smooth interface without delay.”

One by one, they fired off questions, each one as demanding as the last. And with each question, my confidence grew. I could feel the hours of preparation and hard work backing up every answer. When Mr. Kim asked about user testing, I was ready, explaining how we had conducted mock user sessions to gather feedback and ensure the design was intuitive.

As I finished the last slide, there was a moment of silence as the representatives exchanged looks, muttering among themselves. The adrenaline was still pulsing in my veins, but I forced myself to stand tall, keeping my expression composed.

Finally, Mr. Lee nodded approvingly, a faint smile gracing his otherwise serious face. “This is impressive, Miss Wilde. Your attention to detail and understanding of our needs are clear.”

The others murmured in agreement, a sense of approval settling over the group.

“Pierce Corporation is pleased to approve this design,” Mr. Lee announced, his gaze flickering to Lucas. “We’ll move forward with this. I believe we’re in agreement?”

Ms. Chen nodded, looking satisfied. “It’s an excellent fit.”

A round of applause broke out from my team, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Relief, pride, and joy all mingled into one as I returned to my seat, a sense of accomplishment washing over me.

I glanced at Lucas, who had been silent the entire presentation, watching from the end of the table. His gaze met mine, and for the first time, he sent me a smile—a warm, genuine smile that made my heart skip.

The representatives and my team gathered their belongings and headed out, leaving just me and Lucas in the conference room. As I packed up my notes and took a shaky, calming breath, he approached, his footsteps slow yet imposing . I looked up, the air between us somehow feeling heavier, charged.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

“You just secured us a hundred-million-dollar deal with your brilliance.”

Before I could even process his words, he leaned in, his face inches from mine, and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to my cheek. The touch was warm, and my breath caught, my cheeks flushing.

When he pulled back, his eyes held mine, something unreadable flickering in their depths. “Consider it my way of saying… well done.”