CHAPTER 012
ALEX’S POV
I walked into the conference room, my gaze moving over the woman seated across from me.
It was a familiar sight. Corporate companies often sent the most attractive female employees to try to win me over with charm in hopes of securing investments or partnerships. It had become routine, almost predictable.
But it never worked on me. I wasn’t here for distractions of flattery. I was here for one thing–business.
She was striking, of course–dark hair, confident posture, and those eyes, sharp and focused.
But that was irrelevant. I wasn’t here to make friends. I was here to assess If her pitch was worth my time.
When I entered, she stood to greet me, offering a smile that was friendly but not overly eager. That was good. A professional.
“Mr. Grey, thank you for taking the time to meet with me,” she said, her voice calm but sure.
I nodded and took a seat. “Let’s get started, Ms…..” I glanced at the file in front of me. “Taylor, right?”
“Yes, Ava Taylor,” she confirmed, showing no signs of being thrown off by the formality.
I had to admit, she was composed, and that was a good sign But I wasn’t about to let myself get distracted by that This was business, and I was still skeptical.
She started outlining her vision for the dresses that would show off each piece of jewelry, I found myself interested.
She wasn’t just talking about designs, she had thought through every detail carefully.
Each dress was made to add to the style and bold look of the jewelry, creating a classy feel around each plece.
“It’s not just about the dresses,” she explained. “It’s about making the jewelry stand out. The fabric, colors, and cuts are all picked to make people focus on the jewelry itself, adding that extra impact to your launch.”
I had to admit, I was impressed. Her approach wasn’t flashy or overhyped. It was simple, clear, and convincing
This wasn’t a woman trying to charm me into a deal. She was making a strong case for why this collaboration would benefit both of our companies.
1 tapped my fingers on the table as I listened, focusing more on her approach than the specifics. She wasn’t just throwing out numbers.
She had a clear plan for how the project would unfold and how she’d handle any potential challenges.
“Your approach is strong, Ava,” I said, cutting her off briefly. “But what if the show requires adjustments or alterations? Can you handle that on short notice?”
She paused for a moment, then smiled–confident not smug
“I’ve already accounted for that. I work with flexible materials and have backup designs ready, just in case. Whatever the show needs, we’re prepared.”
I nodded, impressed. She was prepared, and that wasn’t something I took lightly. I leaned in a bit, folding my arms. “Alright. Go on.”
She continued, diving into more details. Her enthusiasm was clear, but she wasn’t overselling it. She was confident, but not arrogant. Everything about her presentation felt… solid.
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+25 BOWS
CHAPTER 012
It took me a few minutes to realize I wasn’t just listening to a pitch anymore. I was actually engaged.
She had the skills and knowledge to manage this project on her own–something I hadn’t expected from someone
so young.
Her professionalism stood out. Most people came in trying to make personal connections or, worse, throwing themselves at me to secure a deal.
But Ava? She kept it all about the business. And it was working.
A small part of me wondered why someone like her wasn’t already in a higher position. She clearly had the vision and intelligence to be a major asset to any organization.
I glanced up at her again, watching as she explained some technical details. She was so focused, so in control of the information, that it was hard not to notice. She was one of the few people who could keep my attention for this long.
That’s when I heard the knock on the door. I looked up, irritation flashing briefly across my face. My assistant stepped in.
“Mr. Grey, sorry to interrupt, but you’ve got another meeting in twenty minutes,” he said quietly, handing me a
note.
Texhaled sharply, nodding. It was typical. I was always juggling a packed schedule. I turned to Ava. “I’m afraid we’ll need to reschedule. Something urgent came up.”
Her expression didn’t falter, but I saw a slight shift in her demeanor. She was professional, but I could tell she wasn’t thrilled with the change.
“I understand,” she said with a polite smile, gathering her things. “I’ll follow up with your office to set another time.”
I stood up, but before she could leave, I found myself saying something I hadn’t planned.
“Wait a second. Ava, how about dinner?” I asked, surprising myself. “We can continue this conversation, no interruptions, just a more casual setting. We’ll see if we can hammer out the details tonight.”
She looked up, brow furrowing slightly. I could tell she was considering it. I wasn’t offering this as a date, and I didn’t think she would take it that way.
She nodded after a brief pause. “That sounds good.”
I looked at her, noticing her calm demeanor despite the change in plan.
“If you’d like to wait here
we left off.”
I said, “I’ll be done soon. Afterward, we can go straight to dinner and pick it off where
I didn’t want her to feel pressured, so I added, “Only if you’re comfortable with waiting.
I watched her lips curled up in a small smile, “It’s no problem. I’ll wait here, Mr Grey.”
As I left the room, I couldn’t help but think about how effortlessly she handled everything. She was good. Really good. And if I didn’t seal the deal with her, someone else would.
There was something about the lady in the other room that intrigued me, causing me to lose focus during the meeting.
But I shook my head–I’d figure it out later.
