Chapter 42
The night had settled like a dark blanket over the city as Gwyneth made her way back to the Teloria Apartment.
She had barely finished freshening up when her phone rang. It was Flora, her assistant.
Flora said, “Ms. Jenkins, we’ve got a new company eager to pitch a project. They want a meeting at Jenkins Group tomorrow morning at nine. They haven’t given us the name of their director, and it feels a bit risky. Should we turn them down right away!”
When Melanie stepped down. Flora had seamlessly taken over as Gwyneth’s assistant. Unlike many of the ambitious but underwhelming employees at Jenkins Group, Flora was sharp and always got straight to the point. Gwyneth was glad to have someone so capable on her team.
Gwyneth understood Flora’s hesitation. But with only the Verde Group deal in the bag so far, she needed more partnerships to truly establish. herself at Jenkins. The more successful deals she closed, the stronger her position would be.
Besides, a new company meant they were likely small. Even if their proposal was a bit off the mark, a quick meeting wouldn’t hurt. Jenkins Group could afford to hear them OUL
“Book the conference room for nine tomorrow and set everything up,” Gwyneth said.
“Got it I’ll take care of it personally,” Flora replied, hanging up and sending over the files.
Nine o’clock on the dot, Flora texted that she’d already escorted the two reps from the other company to the conference room
The execs are a man and a woman. The woman’s dressed to the nines–fancy, stylish, but no briefcase. Doesn’t look like she’s here to negotiate. The real deal–maker is the guy in the gray three–piece suit]
[Got it. Make sure they’re comfortable.]
Gwyneth stepped our of the car, having pored over the project files on the way. It was pretty straightforward: a major corporation from another state wanted to break into Joracity’s market by partnering with the well–established Jenkins Group.
The proposal made sense–except for one thing it left out the project leader’s name.
Gwyneth strode into the conference room and pushed the door open. Her voice wavered for just a second–no wonder they left out the name. It was Zachary. But she soon composed herself and said, “Sorry to keep you all waiting”
She pulled out a chair and sat down, placing the file on the table. Then she said coldly, fixing her piercing gaze on him. “Since when does Everprosper Group from Calvocity want a piece of Joracity’s market?”
For a moment, Zachary seemed to remember the young, fierce woman who used to accompany him in business deals back in the early days–sharp and fearless. Back then, Gwyneth was his right–hand person. Now, that same sharpness was aimed at him. A pang of pain shot through Zachary’s chest.
The room wa
room was silent. The atmosphere in the conference room was cold and tense.
Flora could feel the strange undercurrents in the room. Gwyneth seemed to know those two, and it didn’t take a genius to see something was off. She muttered something about needing to check on a file and slipped out the door,
Our in the hallway, she nearly ran into Melanie and Quentin.
Melanie shouted, “Dad, I’m telling you, that was Zachary! He’s not here for business–he’s here to hit on Gwyneth. We can’t let her drag our family name into this little love triangle,”
Quentin’s face turned beet red. If it weren’t for Zachary, he could have married Gwyneth off to Harrison and saved the company. “She’s got some nerve, dragging her ex into the office. I’ll be damned if I let her mess up business with her little games.
They were about to barge in when Flora stepped in front of them “Sorry, but Ms. Gwyneth Jenkins is busy with guests. You can’t just walk in-
