lingering thoughts

Chapter 3

Alexander's POV

I watched her walk away, her figure disappearing into the dim light of the restaurant lobby. I didn't even know her full name, yet somehow, she'd left an impression I couldn't shake. There was something about her—confident but mysterious, with an intensity that lingered long after she was gone.

For the rest of the evening, I couldn't seem to let it go. It was absurd. I'd only exchanged a few words with her, yet the intrigue was palpable. It wasn't just her beauty, though she certainly had that. There was an energy about her, something that drew me in like a magnet. She'd approached me so boldly, as if she'd known exactly what she wanted. And the way she'd just as confidently turned and left… it was as if she already knew how this would play out.

Still thinking about her, I barely noticed the sleek black car pull up to the hotel. The driver opened the door, and I slipped into the backseat, glancing out the window as the city lights blurred past. I knew I needed to refocus. Kings Group didn't exactly run itself, and I had a board meeting to lead in the morning.

---

By the time I arrived at Kings Group headquarters, my mind was back in CEO mode. The building was alive with activity as my assistant, Chris, greeted me, a stack of documents tucked under his arm.

"Good morning, sir. The board's already gathered, and they're waiting in the main conference room," he informed me as we stepped into the elevator.

"Good," I replied. "Anything specific on today's agenda?"

He handed me a file. "Primary discussions will be around the expansion strategy into Europe and the projected quarterly performance. There's also a proposal for a merger with Wilson Enterprises."

Wilson Enterprises. A company with deep pockets and strong ties in Europe. Our connection could open doors for Kings Group, though their CEO had a reputation for being hard to negotiate with. I'd have to tread carefully.

As I entered the conference room, the hum of conversation stopped, and all eyes turned toward me. I took my seat at the head of the table, nodding to my team. The air in the room was tense—everyone knew this meeting would set the tone for our next moves.

"All right," I began, glancing around the table. "Let's hear about this Wilson proposal."

Steven, my head of finance, cleared his throat. "Wilson's team is open to the merger but wants a controlling stake in the joint European operations. They're pushing for a 60-40 split."

I raised an eyebrow. "A 60-40 split? They're ambitious, I'll give them that. But Kings Group doesn't just roll over."

Murmurs of agreement echoed around the room.

"Also," Steven continued, "they're insisting on maintaining their existing workforce in all primary locations, meaning we'd essentially have duplicate teams in some divisions."

"That's inefficient," I interjected. "Our goal is growth, not excess. We'd have to cut overlapping roles."

Richard, head of operations, chimed in. "Sir, their CEO made it clear that job security for their employees is non-negotiable. I think they're trying to leverage the deal by playing the 'loyalty' card."

I leaned back, considering. Wilson Enterprises had clearly underestimated me if they thought we'd accept a deal that tipped so heavily in their favor.

"Get me a list of negotiable terms," I instructed. "And make sure they understand that Kings Group isn't compromising on our autonomy. If we're merging, it's going to be on our terms."

Chris handed me another document. "Here are our alternative expansion options, sir, in case the Wilson deal falls through."

I flipped through the file, but my thoughts drifted back to her, to that striking woman with the intense gaze and mysterious demeanor. I had no business thinking about her in the middle of a negotiation, but she lingered in the back of my mind, a quiet presence I couldn't ignore.

With a mental shake, I forced my focus back onto the papers in front of me. Get it together, Alexander, I told myself.

"Sir?" Richard's voice brought me back.

"Apologies," I said, pushing away the distraction. "If the merger terms aren't ideal, we'll look into expanding in phases. We don't need Wilson if they aren't going to be flexible. Kings Group will remain strong either way."

The board nodded in agreement, seeming reassured by my words. I spent the next hour guiding them through strategies, budgets, and projections. Every move we made now would determine our foothold in the European market, and I wasn't about to leave anything to chance.

---

As the meeting wound down and my team filed out, Chris lingered, studying me with a curious expression.

"Something on your mind, Chris?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He hesitated. "If I may ask, sir, you seem… distracted. It's not like you."

I gave a slight shrug, brushing it off. "Just thinking about the company's future, that's all."

But even as I said it, I knew it wasn't true. I couldn't shake the feeling that meeting her had been significant, that she'd be more than a passing thought in the days to come. There was a pull there, something that defied logic.

Just as Chris turned to leave, I spoke up. "Actually, I need a favor. I want you to find out who she is."

Chris looked taken aback. "Who exactly, sir?"

I hesitated, realizing how absurd it sounded. "The woman from before. The one at the restaurant."

A knowing look crossed his face, and he smirked slightly. "Consider it done, sir."

As he left, I glanced out the office window, a faint thrill pulsing through me. It was rare for anyone to captivate me, especially this deeply and this suddenly. There was no logical explanation, yet I knew that meeting her again was inevitable. And when that happened, I'd make sure to find out just what it was about her that had thrown me off balance.

For now, I'd play along with fate's little game and see where it led.