The Meeting

Sophia Grant hurried down the busy street, holding a pile of papers tight to her chest. Today was her big chance—a project that could make her career. She couldn’t afford to be late.

She rushed into the huge glass building, barely stopping to catch her breath. As soon as she stepped in, a deep voice stopped her. “Miss, you can’t just barge in here.”

Sophia looked up and froze. Standing in front of her was a tall man in a perfect suit, his dark hair slicked back. He looked powerful, and he was staring at her like she was a problem he needed to solve. She knew who he was right away Alexander Cross, the new CEO, and a billionaire known for being cold and demanding. Everyone at her company whispered about him, saying he didn’t lose, and he didn’t care about anyone’s feelings.

“Miss Grant, I’m guessing?” His voice was sharp, and his face showed no hint of a smile.

Sophia took a deep breath, standing tall. “Yes. I’m here to talk about the new campaign. We’re launching soon, so I guess we’re working together.”

His eyes narrowed, studying her like he was deciding if she was worth his time.

He finally said, “You’ll need to do more than guess. I expect my team to know their work.”

Sophia felt her cheeks flush with anger, but she kept her cool. “I know my work. I’ve been preparing this campaign for weeks. I just need approval from you to move forward.”

Alexander’s face stayed calm, but his eyes sparkled a little, like he was enjoying this. “Well, Miss Grant, show me what you have, and I’ll see if it’s worth my approval.”

Sophia led him to the conference room and spread out her plans on the table. She went over each idea carefully, explaining how each piece would help the company reach new customers. She’d poured her heart into these ideas, and she wasn’t going to let some cold CEO intimidate her.

But as she talked, Alexander barely reacted. He listened, arms crossed, not giving her any sign of what he thought.

When she finished, she took a deep breath and waited.

Finally, he looked up at her, his expression still unreadable. “It’s... good,” he said slowly.

Sophia raised her eyebrows. “Good?”

He nodded, his tone cool. “But not great.”

Sophia felt her stomach twist. “Not great? I put everything into this.”

“Exactly,” he replied. “You put everything, but sometimes less is more. This campaign needs focus. Cut it down. Make it sharper.”

Sophia clenched her fists, trying not to show her frustration. She had worked hard on this project, and he was acting like it was no big deal. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll make the changes.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused. “I look forward to seeing if you can.”

She left the room, her heart pounding with anger. But deep down, something else lingered—a strange feeling, like she’d just met her match. And as much as she hated to admit it, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.