Chapter 19: The Meeting
Cassandra’s POV
“Well that hardly proves anything, Mother,” Jordyn said. His frown turned into a sly smile.
I was surprised by this. I’d expected Jordyn to take his mother’s side. In fact, as I watched Jordyn study the picture of me and Dillon, I’d been fully prepared to ask the security guards to escort them BOTH out of the building.
“What do you mean?” Velma balked. “She’s with another man. Clear as day. Right HERE!” She continued to brandish her phone but Jordyn only shook his head.
He turned back around to face his mother.
“That picture shows nothing. I don’t know why you think that’s proof, but it’s not. You’re making a scene, Mother. And you’re embarrassing both me and yourself.”
“She cheated on you,” Velma stared but Jordyn cut her off.
“Leave,” he said, his tone tired. “This isn’t the time nor the place. I came here today for work. And you’re spilling out my private life to all these strangers?”
Again, I was surprised. In the past, Jordyn had almost always taken his mother’s side. It had been our greatest source of contention. But today, he clearly wasn’t going to put up with her antics.
“I’m only trying to help you, son,” Velma said haughtily.
“Then let me discuss my private life IN PRIVATE. Now go. Have some dignity and escort yourself out.”
All eyes were on Velma. Seeing that she wasn’t going to win this fight, she fixed an indignant look on her face and said:
“Fine. I have a lunch reservation anyway and I’m already late.”
Then she scurried out of the office.
I cast everyone a triumphant smile. Then I turned my attention to Jordyn.
“I know you said you’d arrange a meeting, but I just couldn’t wait. Can you do it now? Is the CEO around?”
“L…um…”
Shit shit shit.
“Right now?”
I paused for a minute. I’d already discussed this with Stella and she was on board. So, if I could make it look like I was getting Jordyn a last-minute meeting, then it would all be done and over. He’d have to sign the divorce papers and I’d finally be free.
“Let me see what I can do,” I said with a forced smile. “I’m not making any promises though. Miss LeBlanc is a busy woman.”
“I understand,” Jordyn replied. “I’ll wait here.”
I walked calmly out of the front desk area, but as soon as I was out of eye sight, I high-tailed it down the hall to Stella’s office.
I barged in, shutting the door behind me.
“What is it?” she asked, a puzzled look on her face.
“He’s here,” I hissed.
“Who?”
1/3
“Jordyn! He’s here right now. He came by unannounced. He’s in the receptionist area. He wants to have the meeting.”
“Okay,” Stella chuckled. “So why the panicked face? Let’s just do this and get it over with.”
“Right,” I nodded. “Yes. Let’s just get it done.”
I collected myself and then I calmly walked back down the hall. Jordyn was waiting.
“I just checked with Miss LeBlanc,” I said, trying my best to sound like an assistant. “And as it turns out, a client of hers just canceled a meeting last minute. So she has some availability right now.”
Jordyn smiled broadly. “Well wouldn’t you know. Lucky me, hey? Fabulous. Lead the way.” He made a sweeping motion with his arm. I led him down the hallway and into the meeting room.
Once inside, I sat down across from him and reached for a notepad. I perched my pen and once again tried to look like a dutiful
assistant.
He stared at me.
“Well?” he said.
“Well what?” I asked.
“Aren’t you going to offer me some coffee? Isn’t that your job?”
“Right!” I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes again. I went over to the Keurig and pressed the ‘extra hot’ button. Then I placed it down in front of him. He took a sip and recoiled.
“That’s really hot,” he said, wincing.
“Ooops, my bad.” But I couldn’t help but smirk a bit.
Moments later, Stella walked in.
“Miss LeBlanc, this is Mr….”
“Jordyn’s fine,” he said, shaking Stella’s hand aggressively. “Thank you so much for meeting with me today. I have an interesting collaboration I’d like to discuss with you.”
They both sat down and Jordyn eagerly launched into his pitch. I was a bit taken aback. He was clearly very passionate about working with Hot House Flower, much more so than I’d thought.
And honestly? His presentation was really good. He actually brought a lot to the table in this collaboration. I was impressed.
Several times I had to bite my tongue. I wanted to interject, ask a question, offer a comment. But then I remembered that I wasn’t Cassandra, CEO of Hot House Flower in that boardroom. Not as far as Jordyn was concerned.
No.
I was Cassandra, lowly assistant. And as such, my job was to take notes and keep my mouth shut.
He finished and thanked Stella for her time. He told her to think it over and reach out with any questions.
He left and we looked at each other.
“Well, that was…” Stella searched for the right word.
“Thorough?” I offered.
She nodded. “So…thoughts?”
2/3
I sighed. “I think,” I said with reluctance, “that his company is the perfect fit for a collaboration.”
“I agreed,” she said. “But?”
“I’m hesitant,” I confessed. “And I’d be lying if I didn’t say so. The presentation was great. And it’s the right thing to do for our company. It’s just that…I’ll have to interact with him more and that’s not something I really wanted to do.”
“I know,” Stella said sympathetically. “It’s a tough position to put you in. I…”
Ping.
An email notification came through on my phone, interrupting us both.
I opened it and my eyes widened in shock.
“What is it?” Stella asked.
“Remember that company I was telling you about? Finch Fox Holding?”
“Yeah. You were trying to hunt down the son of their CEO at the business gala weren’t you?”
“I was,” I nodded. I’d spent the better part of the night trying to track down ANYONE from Finch Fox Holding. But I’d come up empty handed.
“And?” she prodded, fishing for more information.
“Looks like I don’t have to hunt anymore. Because I just received a personal invitation to meet with them.”
3/3
