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I sneered inwardly. They were not aware of my achievements and abilities, I could tell. They were too fixated on set rules to take the time to research the new female face that had been thrust upon them. Heck, I had graduated Magna Cum Laude with my accelerated master’s degree.
Instantly, a wave of calm washed over me, fueling a burning desire to prove their assumptions wrong. I had always been determined to make my mark in the business world, and this indeed, was my chance to show them what I was made of.
Throughout the meeting, I seized every opportunity to demonstrate my expertise. When questions arose, I confidently provided well-thought-out answers, leaving no room for doubt about my capabilities.
I struck the perfect balance between showcasing my intelligence and maintaining a composed demeanor, quickly earning the respect of the room. I made it my mission at that moment to implement in their ancient minds that age and gender should never be barriers to success.
I could finally leave a lasting impression on all of them who initially doubted me. It became an empowering experience, and I relished the opportunity to challenge their assumptions and begin paving my path in the business.
“It all looks good and fine, Ms. Brooke. What is your conclusion, sir?”
My attention was diverted from my mission when one of the men turned to a particular pair of eyes to hear his opinion. This time all eyes in the room turned to the man seated at the far end of the table, including mine as I turned my head to the right.
My heart skipped a beat when our eyes connected, and a wave of nervous animation coursed through me. Suddenly I felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. How could I not have noticed him before? Was I so focused on fulfilling my mission and destroying the men’s misconceptions about me?
He was strikingly handsome. And tall, six foot three at least.
It nearly seemed absurd. This gorgeous, fierce-looking man was impossible to miss.
He had this captivating presence, and I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. There was something about those exotic green eyes and his devilish, little smirk as he locked eyes with me that sent shivers down my spine. How long has he been staring at me?
For a moment, everything around me receded. It was like we were the only people in the room. It was like being hit by some unseen force that I’d never experienced in my life before. His thick, midnight hair fell in soft layers to his suit collar, one of my favorite styles, and his lips were to die for as I kept gawking at him. He was younger than all the guys in this room. But the way the other men subordinated themselves to him added to his enigmatic allure.
I couldn’t help but admit it. I too was curious to know what this man thought about the proposal we had discussed. He had been quiet since the beginning of the meeting.
I finally managed to tear my gaze away from his to catch a glimpse of the nameplate in front of him, and my pupils dilated in surprise.
“Wolkov,” I whispered the name without realizing it, my voice sounding out the mystery that surrounded that one name alone. I’ll be damned.
Chapter 2 – Nikolai
From the moment she stepped into the room, she completely captured my attention.
Ashley Brooke.
Her name echoed in my head as I read it off her name shield for the tenth time.
There was something about her that fascinated me beyond her years. She spoke with a wisdom and restraint that was rare to find; she only shared her thoughts when asked or when she felt it was truly important.
But it wasn't just her intellect that fascinated me, of course. It was the girl’s insane beauty, she somehow managed to be the perfect description of grace and elegance. Yet, she managed to be so…
Fucking hot.
I found myself torn between studying her composed presence and getting lost in the depths of her god-blessed features. The woman’s face alone managed to be sexy and taunting as fuck but was as well covered in innocence and gentle beauty.
I couldn't help but stare, unable to tear my eyes away. And then, in one moment, our gazes finally met. It was as if time stood still, and a surge of heat rushed through my veins.
Fuck. If she keeps looking at me like that…
When I asked about the budgets and forecasts for the next six months, Ashley quickly tore her gaze away from me, as if something had startled her, and confidently read out the figures, reassuring everyone that we were on track.
But then, her voice took on a subtle hesitation as she added, “I do have a question regarding our luxury housing complex project in Manhattan.”
Curiosity stirred within me as I sat upright to listen intently to her question. She began, “The luxury apartment complex near Columbus Circle is on target for completion, however, I noticed that there's only one large penthouse on the plan.”
She made sure to make eye contact with every face. “Instead of having just one, why not split it into two penthouses? It wouldn't increase building costs significantly, but it could maximize profits. Penthouses are a scarce commodity in the city.”
That caught me off-guard. Why the fuck hadn't anyone produced an idea like this since this group was formed? Who the hell does this little girl think she is, coming in here and trying to give us subtle instructions or suggestions?
