Face to face
1472 Words
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*Chapter 10*
*Wren’s POV*
I hurried through everything that morning.
Unlike my usual routine of snoozing my alarm 4 times, I woke up before it even rang. By six o’clock I was already dressed and standing in front of the mirror, checking my reflection for what felt like the tenth time.
Today wasn’t just another working day.
Today was presentation day.
Our team would finally present the NovaTech project to the company’s CEO and the representatives from NovaTech Industries. Weeks of late nights, coffee, and stress were coming down to this one hour.
The thought alone sent butterflies spinning wildly through my stomach.
Lyra leaned against the bedroom doorframe, arms folded, watching me with an amused expression.
“I’ve never seen you this serious before.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t turn from the mirror. “Can you blame me? This project could actually change my career.”
She walked over and gently adjusted the collar of my blazer. Her fingers were cold.
“Relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
She burst out laughing. “No, you’re not.” She pointed at my hands. “They’re practically shaking.”
I quickly hid them behind my back like a kid caught with candy. “They’re not.”
“They are.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine. Maybe a little.”
Lyra stepped back and looked me over from head to toe, the way she always did when she was pretending to be a fashion judge on TV.
“The makeup is perfect. The outfit is perfect. The heels are perfect. The bag matches.” She nodded proudly, hands on her hips. “Miss Wren Carter, you’re ready to conquer the corporate world.”
I laughed, and some of the tension in my chest eased. “Thanks.”
After grabbing my laptop and the project files, I pulled her into a quick hug. She smelled like coffee and the vanilla lotion she always used.
“Wish me luck.”
She patted my shoulder twice. “You don’t need luck. You’ve worked hard for this. Now go show them why Caleb trusted you with the presentation.”
Her words settled something in my chest. I smiled, real this time.
“I’ll make everyone proud.”
The taxi ride to Sterling Group felt longer than usual. I spent the whole time rereading my notes, mouthing the opening line under my breath.
_Good morning, everyone. My name is Wren Carter..._
By the time we pulled up, my palms were sweating despite the AC.
*Damien’s POV*
Inside Sterling Mansion, Damien stood in front of the floor-length mirror in his bedroom and stared at his reflection with open dissatisfaction.
“This won’t do.”
He loosened the tie he had just finished knotting and pulled it off completely. This was already the tenth attempt. The silk felt wrong. The knot sat wrong. Everything felt wrong.
He walked to the wardrobe. Rows of carefully tailored suits hung in perfect order. Black, navy, grey.
His hand stopped on a black Italian suit—smooth, understated, expensive without being loud. He put it on, fastened the silver cufflinks, and returned to the mirror.
“Hmm… better.”
He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white shirt, then styled his hair carefully, allowing a few strands to fall naturally over his forehead. It was the same style she used to like. The one she would run her fingers through when she thought he wasn’t looking.
He pushed them down.
“Focus.”
His gaze dropped to the two pairs of polished leather shoes on the floor. One matte black. One dark brown.
For the first time in years, Damien Sterling could not decide what to wear.
It was ridiculous. He had board meetings, billion-dollar deals, and he was standing here debating shoes.
After nearly a minute of staring, he picked up his phone.
“River.”
“Yes, sir?”
“I need you at the mansion. Ten minutes.”
He ended the call before she could reply.
*Elsewhere*
River stared at her phone in disbelief.
“But, sir—” She sighed and dropped her head on the kitchen table. “Why is he always like this? How am I supposed to get there in ten minutes?”
Her best friend Flora, sitting beside her with a cup of coffee, laughed into her mug.
“You’ve been saying you’ll resign for three years.”
River pouted. “One day I really will.”
Flora shook her head. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Ten minutes later, River arrived slightly out of breath, hair half-tied.
“Good morning, sir.”
Damien turned from the window. “You’re here.”
River’s eyes widened as she took in his appearance. The suit. The hair. The effort.
“Wow… is there a special event today? I don’t remember seeing this much effort before.”
Damien calmly adjusted his wristwatch. “No. It’s just another day.”
He gestured toward the two pairs of shoes by the door. “I want your opinion. Which one?”
River blinked. Since when did Damien Sterling ask for fashion advice? Since when did he ask anyone for anything?
She pointed to the black pair. “The black ones. They match the suit better. And… they look more CEO-ish.”
Damien gave a short nod. “Good.”
He slipped them on. After what felt like forever, he was finally ready.
“Let’s go.”
*Sterling Group Headquarters*
The conference room had been prepared hours earlier. The air smelled like fresh markers and printer ink. A large projector stood at the front of the room. Representatives from NovaTech were already taking their seats, speaking quietly among themselves, flipping through copies of the proposal.
Caleb entered with the Design Department team and placed the presentation materials on the table. His tie was straight, but his eyes looked tired.
“Listen carefully,” he said once everyone was settled. “This presentation represents weeks of hard work. We only have one chance to impress NovaTech.”
Everyone nodded. Liam sat up straighter. Mr. Frank cracked his knuckles.
“I’ll introduce the project. Mr. Frank will cover the research. After that…” He glanced at Wren with a small, encouraging smile. “Our coordinator will present the final designs.”
Wren swallowed. Her throat felt dry.
Caleb leaned closer and lowered his voice so only she could hear. “You can do this. You know this project better than anyone in this room.”
She nodded and took a steadying breath. _You can do this. You can do this._
Outside the conference room, Damien and River walked down the corridor. Employees immediately stood as they passed, some bowing their heads slightly.
“Good morning, sir.”
Damien acknowledged them with a slight nod. River quietly opened the conference room door.
Everyone inside rose to their feet.
“Good morning, Mr. Sterling.”
Damien entered without hurry and took his seat at the head of the long table. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, but his eyes scanned the room once. Sharp. Assessing.
At the front, Wren was still reviewing her notes, completely absorbed. She was mouthing her first line again, tapping her pen against the folder. She barely registered the sudden silence that fell over the room.
Caleb leaned toward her. “The CEO is here.”
Still distracted, she only nodded absently. “Mm.”
She closed her eyes for one second. Opened her presentation file, straightened her shoulders, and walked toward the projector. Her heels clicked against the floor. Taking one last deep breath, she lifted her head and smiled with practiced confidence.
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Wren Carter, and today I’ll be presenting—”
The rest of the sentence never left her mouth.
Time seemed to stop.
The file nearly slipped from her suddenly trembling hands.
Standing only a few feet away, seated at the head of the table with that familiar, unreadable expression, was the one man she had never expected to see again.
Damien Sterling.
In a black suit.
With that same sharp jawline.
With those same dark eyes that used to look at her like she was the only thing in the world.
The man she had once loved.
The man she had learned to hate.
The man she had spent three long years trying—and failing—to forget.
He was looking directly at her.
And for the first time in three years, their eyes met.
Wren’s heart slammed against her ribs.
_No. Not him. Not here. Not now._
The room was waiting. NovaTech was waiting.
But all she could hear was the sound of her own breathing, and the ghost of a voice from three years ago saying her name.
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