Chapter 005

The boardroom was silent until the door swung open and Sean walked in.

He didn’t need to say a word. Everyone straightened up the moment they saw him. Sophia was already seated next to his seat with a notepad open in front of her, a pen balanced between her fingers. She looked calm, collected, and even a little bored, but the moment Sean’s eyes met hers, something shifted.

His heart skipped a beat.

That wasn’t Gabrielle. Not the girl who used to blush and stare whenever he passed by, or the one who would stutter when answering a simple question.

No. This was Sophia. The woman sitting across the table was sure of herself, looked so sharp, calm, and beautiful. Too damn beautiful.

“Good morning.” Sean said as he pulled out his chair at the head of the long glass table. His voice was smooth and commanding. “Let’s start.”

Everyone murmured greetings and opened their laptops or notepads. Raymond, his Beta and right hand man at Nexgen Consulting, began with the agenda.

“We will be reviewing the risk assessment proposals for the Concorde Project today.” Raymond announced. “And our top strategy consultant will be leading the presentation.”

Sean looked up again, right at Sophia. She stood, pressed a button on the remote, and the screen behind her came to life right before she started to speak.

“Nexgen was hired to perform high level risk and security analysis for the Concorde Group’s upcoming expansion into East Africa. Our scope covers executive protection, transport logistics, and potential insider threats within their local teams…”

Sean should’ve been focusing on the data, but his eyes kept drifting back to her. The way she spoke, and how she widened her eyes whenever she made a point. The subtle smirk that touched her lips when someone tried to question her and she shot them down firmly.

Sophia did not give a damn, she owned the room.

Four years ago, she couldn't even look him in the eye. And now?

“I don’t trust her, she smells like a storm waiting to happen." Zac growled.

“Stay out of it, Zac.” Sean muttered inwardly.

“You feel it. Don’t lie to me. It’s her."

“That doesn’t change anything. I rejected her. It’s done and dusted. I’m simply intrigued.”

But Zac wasn’t going to be silenced.

Sean sat straighter, folding his hands under his chin as Sophia moved on to risk analysis for transport routes. He told himself he was just listening but he was lying.

He was watching her, but he wasn’t the only one.

“Strong presentation.” Maria, the head of security, said as Sophia wrapped up. “Especially the logistics projection, it was very tight.”

“Thank you.” Sophia said, giving her a small smile.

“And your recommendation to shift some of our operations to private hubs instead of public airports is very bold.” Raymond added, tapping his pen. “May I ask why that suggestion was made?”

Sophia smiled faintly.

“Because public airports increase our exposure and this particular client requested discretion. We can’t guarantee that sort of privacy with local press and airport staff sniffing around. The fewer eyes, the safer the mission.”

Sean’s lips lifted slightly. Lady was sharp and smart one. And she was exactly what they needed here, exactly what he—

No, focus. He scolded himself.

But if she kept on being this good, then he would definitely be glad to work with her.

But why… how come she was acting like she had never met him before? What harm was it to just acknowledge their past and move on?

Or did she just not really care about any of that and took the term “moving on” strictly and literal?

He smiled to himself. Here he had so many things to focus on, and he was thinking about the former weird sheltered girl, now strong independent woman  giving a well thought out and arranged presentation in front of everyone.

“Miss Anderson, wouldn’t the risk be larger while using private hubs? There are ways to work about discretion with public organisations.” Sean said.

He actually agreed with her, but he wanted to get what she’d say to that.

“That’s not untrue, and also why we will have to use a trustworthy one with nothing but great reviews. There are ways to work it out with public airports, but it can never be as good as the most basic experience a private one would be.” She said. “I have a few…”

The meeting went on for another twenty minutes and during that time budgets were discussed, and personnel deployment argued over. But through it all, Sean kept stealing glances at her.

And every time he looked, it got harder to look away.

Eventually, the meeting was adjourned. People started to file out slowly, a few chatting as they packed up their things.

Sean stood up but didn’t leave.

He walked across the room quietly until he reached her side.

“Sophia.” He said to the woman getting ready to leave. “Wait a bit.”

She looked up from her notes.

“Yes?”

He held out a slim brown folder.

“This just came in before the meeting. It’s a confidential client document. I want you to handle it directly, and with the utmost care and privacy.”

Sophia took it, and their fingers brushed.

It was just for a second, but it was enough.

Sean took his hand away immediately. It was like touching a live wire. The shock sparked between them quickly and unexpectedly.

Sophia stiffened slightly, losing her breath for a moment. Sean looked up at her, but she quickly looked away. Still, he noticed the faint flush creeping up her neck.

“Thanks. Be quick with it.”

She nodded.

“Of course.”

He was about to leave and pretend like nothing happened, but then he noticed something.

There was a small note, carelessly tucked beneath her planner. He wasn’t sure why he saw it. Or why he leaned closer. But the bold black letters caught his eye and he drew it out.

-They are watching you. Just act normal. If anything weird happens, run.-

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