CHAPTER 4: Too Early To Have Fun

Shantelle

"Are the items we need already prepared?" I informed my team.

We're meeting with our soon-to-be business partner at the last minute. Even if Gavin requested a cooperation, we must exhibit all that the Star Food Company has to offer in order to secure their favor.

If we succeed today, we will have a great chance since our firm will be renowned after Gavin's business is thriving in Standford.

"Yeah, we're ready. All of the paperwork have been reviewed and finalized. We're ready to go,” Cara said.

I was grateful to have Cara by my side. She was a wonderful friend and co-worker of mine. I didn't think I'd make it through the day.

I eventually decided to address the suggestion with the team the day after Dani asked me to a party. 

Everyone gave the same response. We should not pass up this opportunity without giving it a go.

I had no idea Gavin's Adams Enterprise was well-known in Standford, much alone here in Kensington.

Gavin's business was a nice find. 

They possess hotels, restaurants, and resorts in Lambherts and Standford, in addition to Wilderford. 

Our company was doing well, but we still needed additional investors and customers. 

I was certain that many people would enquire about us as a result of our collaboration with Gavin.

That could cause me a personal difficulty in the future, but I shouldn't be selfish this time and forsake all of the misery that my staff had through over the years.

I should concentrate on what I need to accomplish right now and quit thinking about what could happen to me later.

"Well, if we're through. You may have your lunch before heading to the office to avoid being late. The meeting has been adjourned." 

My colleagues began to leave the meeting room, but I remained.

I wanted to sleep, but my thoughts wouldn't allow me since Gavin's words had continued repeating themselves till now. 

It was one of the reasons I didn't get enough sleep, but the other was because I've been focusing all of my attention on preparing for the presentation today. 

Numerous individuals would undoubtedly attend later, so there was no room for error.

Generally, I wasn't the one who brought up our suggestion. I delegated the task, but I was still there at every meeting. 

If I'm unavailable, I'll delegate responsibility for an appointment or meeting to a representative. 

But Lance informed me that his employer wanted me to be the one who discussed everything with them.

I felt nervous and a little terrified for some reason. Is it because we'd meet again later, but this time on his territory?

When it was time, I exited the meeting room and headed to the parking lot. 

I got word that my unit had eaten and was approaching the extended company of Adams Enterprise.

I made my way there by car. I couldn't eat because I was afraid I'd vomit up, and I didn't feel like eating when I was worried.

When I arrived, I was astounded by how large his firm was. Their main building in Wilderford was considerably larger than what I was witnessing, yet it was only three times the size of ours.

It was simple for me to go through, and I was directed to the floor where the meeting would take place. 

I walked smoothly with my head held high, yet deep down, I was worried and afraid, but also exhilarated and motivated.

My emotions have become jumbled. I wasn't sure what I was feeling right now.

I was one meter away from the conference room when I came to a halt because Gavin's face flashed across my head.

I paused for a while and considered backing out, but then I recalled my previous boss's counsel. 

Professional and personal problems are distinct, and I should avoid conflating them. 

I didn't pay heed to what she said since I understood my limits, but I couldn't completely follow her advice because I allowed my judgment mingle with my emotions.

I took a big breath and attempted to be more composed than I had been. 

I need to ignore all of those bad ideas and concentrate on what I should accomplish.

My objective was to acquire their approval before providing them with our services.

As I walked into the meeting room, Gavin and others were already there. 

They were talking amongst themselves as I walked in, so they turned their heads in my direction.

"Everyone, good afternoon! We have five minutes until we begin. I recommend that the Star Foods Team prepare your presentation today so that we can begin promptly at afternoon.” Gavin mentioned this.

"Yes, sir," I said, drawing his attention to me.

I told my crew to put the presentation on the screen right away and handed out the hand-outs to the seven guys in this room. 

I could tell Gavin was watching every move I made, but I didn't let it upset me, even though I was growing aware. 

After we were through, I returned my attention to him in the same way he had gazed at me.

I began my presentation by describing the Star Food Company and the services we could provide to them. 

It took me thirty minutes to explain everything to them, such as what we provide our customers, how we differ from other organizations, and how transactions between our company and theirs work.

Except for one individual in this room, everyone cheered and congratulated me after I finished. 

Gavin did nothing except gaze at me the whole time, but when everyone else closed their lips, he said.

"Has your organization handled transactions and received customers with a large corporation like us?" Gavin inquired. I knew he wasn't going to let me off the hook.

"Not yet, sir, but we serve fifteen customers every month, including small businesses and individual entrepreneurs," I said firmly.

"Even if you can manage fifteen customers, our branches here expect three times the amount and quality you provided, so what will you do if you can't satisfy those demands?" He responded, dissatisfied with what he received from me.

"I know our firm can manage it, and we can make some adjustments to accommodate you and our existing customers, as well as new customers. If you agreed to have us be your food researchers and formulators for your branches here, we could grow at any moment and add excellent staff."

Gavin kept asking me questions for half an hour, but the final sentence he said upset me.

"Ms. Clarkson, thank you for addressing all of my questions. You and your team did an excellent job of preparing for this day. But we still need to study everything, and we wanted to take our time before making a choice because I want to be sure we won't be sorry." Gavin mentioned this.

He was being absurd, claiming that it may not be appropriate to partner with us when he was the one who proposed that we engage into an arrangement with them.

"It's simply that I believe my taste for everything has altered as a result of what has transpired in the past, not just for work but also for other concerns. I officially proclaim that this meeting has come to an end. Thank you everybody, and good luck."

He instantly departed without looking back after saying that. 

Everyone gathered their belongings and exited the room. 

No one in this room understood what he was saying, or if they did, they didn't realize I was the source of it.

I instructed my staff to return to the corporation and inform the others of the outcome. I also warned them they may go if there was nothing else to do.

"Are you free right now?" someone said behind my back.

"Well, I'm on my way back to my office. Why do you need anything?" I responded to him. Theo, one of Gavin's business colleagues, who was also present at the meeting earlier.

"Well, I'd like to ask you to a cup of coffee. What are your thoughts?"

"Well, okay as I don't believe I can go back to the business right now," I remarked as I began to walk out of the building.

As we arrived at the local coffee shop, he ordered us some coffee and spoke with us for a while. I had no idea he was so willing to explain things for Gavin.

Theo advised me not to misinterpret Gavin's statements. He's only being cautious about everything he should do since his father would disown him if he made one mistake.

After the wedding was called off, his father instructed Gavin to locate the wedding invader and the kid, which was me with my falsehoods. 

But when Gavin couldn't locate me, his father became enraged and told him he was a shame to his family.

I felt bad since there was no unborn kid, and Gavin was undoubtedly aware that I was lying at this point.

I remained quiet the whole time since I didn't know what to say and didn't want him to suspect anything. I had just listened to Theo speak about his friend's life, and I had no right to say anything.

I was the one who ruined him and was to blame. He was not the sort to forgive quickly and would make certain that I spent eternity in hell for what I had done to him.

Maybe I was fated to suffer my punishment now, and he was the one who would administer it to me.

GAVIN

"What have you been up to?" I asked Theo, who was both a buddy and a business colleague.

"I simply went to the coffee shop in the rear of the building with Shantelle," he said as he settled into a comfortable seat on the sofa.

"On a first-name basis now, huh? Are you two friends already or something?" I inquired once again.

"No, we simply spoke for a while. That's all. So, when are you going to accept her proposal?"

"So you're intrigued by her. Well, sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not going to take it," I remarked casually.

“What?” He yelled and rose from his seat.

"I didn't like it, therefore I'm not going to accept it."

"Are you sure? Not everyone agreed, but they want to think about it."

"I know exactly what you did. You made the suggestion in the first place. You even sent someone to their workplace to discuss it. So what happens next? Are you playing a joke on her? Don't tell me you still want to get your revenge?" He inquired, surprised.

"No, I simply wanted to play with her for a bit. Don't worry, it'll be my first and last."

Once I stated that, he said nothing. He was one of the few individuals who genuinely understood what had transpired in my life, so he just let me off the hook for what I did today. 

Ordinarily, he would nudge me until I realized I was in the wrong, but he didn't this time. Maybe this was what they called pity.

That may seem cringe-worthy, but I would let fate determine our fate. I didn't believe I'd be able to stop myself from playing with her if we ever met again. 

I was still unable to forgive her.

‘Shantelle Clarkson, you have to prepare yourself for the worst.’