Love Beneath Old Wound

The presentation

Chapter Three: The Presentation

Two weeks had passed since Maya and Ethan's first meeting at The Magnolia Room.

Neither of them expected their paths to cross again so soon.

Yet, on a bright Tuesday morning, Maya found herself sitting in a quiet, sophisticated café a few streets away from her office, preparing for one of the most important presentations of her career.

She sat near the large glass window, surrounded by the gentle sounds of coffee machines, quiet conversations, and soft instrumental music.

Her laptop was open.

Several documents were spread across the table.

Maya stared at the presentation on her screen, reading through the same paragraph for what felt like the tenth time.

She sighed.

"I need this to be perfect."

"You know, reading the same sentence repeatedly doesn't make it better."

Maya looked up.

Her eyes widened.

"Ethan?"

He stood beside her table with a faint smile on his face.

"Good morning."

She laughed in disbelief.

"Are you following me?"

Ethan chuckled.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Twice in a few days?"

"Apparently, we're becoming regular strangers."

Maya smiled.

"That's a strange way to put it."

Ethan gestured toward the empty chair.

"May I?"

"Of course."

He sat opposite her.

His eyes briefly moved toward the laptop.

"Still working on the presentation?"

Maya nodded.

"Yes. I'm presenting it this morning."

"To Brooks Global Holdings?"

She looked at him.

"Yes."

Ethan's expression remained perfectly calm.

"That's a big opportunity."

"It is."

Maya leaned back slightly.

"I'm excited, but honestly, I'm nervous."

"You don't seem nervous."

She gave him a skeptical look.

"That's because I'm trying very hard not to look nervous."

He smiled.

"Fair enough."

She turned the laptop toward him.

"Would you mind looking through it again?"

"Again?"

"You gave me good advice last time."

Ethan glanced at the presentation.

"Sure."

He began reading.

He already knew the proposal well.

He had seen the company name on the cover page when Maya showed it to him earlier, but he had deliberately kept his identity out of the conversation.

He wanted to see her reaction when she eventually discovered who he was.

Not because he intended to embarrass her.

He simply found the situation amusing.

Maya watched him carefully.

"What do you think?"

"The structure is better."

"Better?"

"Much better."

She smiled.

"I changed the section you mentioned."

"I noticed."

"You were right about it."

Ethan looked at her.

"That's rare."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Don't get used to hearing that."

He laughed.

They continued discussing the presentation.

Maya asked questions.

Ethan offered suggestions.

He pointed out a few figures she should emphasize during the meeting.

She wrote everything down.

"Anything else?" she asked.

"One thing."

"What?"

"Don't rush."

Maya looked at him.

"When you're nervous, you speak faster."

She blinked.

"Do I?"

"You did at the restaurant."

She laughed.

"That was because I was embarrassed."

"And today?"

She took a breath.

"Today I'm nervous."

"Then slow down."

Maya smiled.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She closed her laptop.

"I should leave."

Ethan nodded.

"Good luck."

She stood.

"Thank you. Hopefully, I'll impress them."

Ethan looked at her with quiet confidence.

"I think you will."

Maya smiled.

"See you around, Ethan. No no"

"See you."

She walked away.

Ethan watched her leave for a moment before returning his attention to his coffee.

He glanced at his watch.

He had a meeting to attend.

And so did Maya.

She simply didn't know yet that they were attending the same one.

An hour later, Maya arrived at Brooks Global Holdings.

The moment she stepped out of the car, she looked up at the enormous building before her.

The headquarters rose several dozen floors above the city, its glass exterior reflecting the morning sunlight. A massive silver emblem bearing the company's initials stood above the entrance.

Brooks Global Holdings wasn't an ordinary corporation.

It was one of the largest and most successful companies in the country, with major interests in technology, financial services, logistics, real estate, and communications. Its partnerships stretched across several countries, and its reputation for securing major international contracts had made it one of the most respected corporate organizations in the business world.

Maya had heard the name countless times.

She had read about some of their multimillion-dollar deals.

She had followed their expansion into international markets.

And now Beacon Media had been given an opportunity to present a campaign proposal directly to the company's executive leadership.

Maya took a deep breath.

"Okay."

She adjusted her handbag.

"Let's do this."

Inside, the building was even more impressive.

The lobby had soaring ceilings, polished stone floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and enormous digital screens displaying the company's latest achievements.

A receptionist greeted her.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. I'm Maya Carter from Beacon Media. I'm here for the presentation."

The receptionist checked the schedule.

"Yes, Ms. Carter. Your presentation is scheduled for eleven."

Maya nodded.

"Thank you."

"Please take the elevator to the executive floor. Someone will meet you there."

Maya thanked her and walked toward the elevators.

As the doors closed, she took another deep breath.

She had prepared for this.

She knew her material.

She had rehearsed the presentation several times.

And thanks to Ethan's advice at the café, she had even made a few last-minute improvements.

The elevator doors opened.

Maya stepped into the executive hallway.

It was quieter than the lobby, with dark wooden walls, elegant lighting, glass conference rooms, and framed photographs of the company's major achievements.

A member of the executive staff approached her.

"Ms. Carter?"

"Yes."

"I'm Sarah, one of the executive assistants. We're ready for you."

Maya smiled nervously.

"Thank you."

Sarah gestured toward the conference room.

"Please come this way."

Maya followed.

She held her folder firmly against her chest.

Then Sarah opened the door.

"Everyone is waiting."

Maya stepped inside.

The large conference room was occupied by several senior executives.

She smiled professionally.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning."

Maya placed her folder on the table.

She was about to introduce herself when the door at the far end of the room opened.

A man walked in.

Maya turned.

Her expression froze.

Her eyes widened.

Her mouth fell slightly open.

For several seconds, she couldn't move.

It was him.

The man from the restaurant.

The man from the café.

The man who had just helped her improve the very presentation she was about to give.

Ethan.

But this time, he wasn't dressed casually.

He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, his expression calm and authoritative.

The executives immediately turned toward him.

One of them stood.

"Good morning, Mr. Brooks."

Another nodded respectfully.

"Good morning, sir."

Ethan acknowledged them before his eyes settled on Maya.

His expression was not of suprise warm gesture,Maya on the other hand,

Her heart seemed to stop for a moment.

"Ethan?"

The room became strangely quiet.

Maya looked from Ethan to the executives.

Then back at Ethan.

Her face slowly changed from confusion to realization.

She looked at the company logo displayed on the wall.

Then at the executives.

Then at Ethan.

Her eyes widened even further.

"No..."

Ethan's lips curved into an almost amused smile.

"Yes."

Maya stared at him.

"You..."

She couldn't finish the sentence.

Ethan stepped toward the head of the table.

"I'm Ethan Brooks."

Maya's face went completely blank.

She already knew his name.

But now she understood what it meant.

He wasn't simply Ethan Brooks.

He was Ethan Brooks, CEO of Brooks Global Holdings.

The very company she was about to present to.

The very company whose executives were sitting around the table.

The man she had casually asked to review her proposal at a café was the person who would ultimately decide whether Beacon Media received the contract.

Maya slowly lowered herself into the nearest chair.

She looked genuinely stunned.

"You own this company?"

Ethan corrected her gently.

"I'm the CEO."

Her eyebrows lifted.

"The CEO?"

He nodded.

Maya closed her eyes for half a second.

A mixture of embarrassment, disbelief, and nervous amusement crossed her face.

She remembered how confidently she had handed him her laptop.

How she had asked him to criticize her presentation.

How she had argued with him about some of his suggestions.

And, worst of all, how she had casually told him that she would be presenting the proposal that morning.

She opened her eyes.

"You knew?"

Ethan looked confused.

"Knew what?"

"That I was coming here."

"Yes."

Maya stared at him in amusement.

One of the executives looked between them with mild curiosity.

Ethan noticed Maya's discomfort.

He smiled reassuringly.

"Relax."

She gave him a nervous look.

"Relax? I'm about to present to you."

"You were going to present to me whether you knew me or not."

"That's exactly what makes this terrifying."

A few executives smiled.

Ethan quietly laughed.

"You'll be fine."

Maya looked at him suspiciously.

"You've already seen the presentation."

"I've seen the draft."

She swallowed.

"And you still expect me to present it?"

"Absolutely."

His tone was calm and professional.

"Why?"

"Because you prepared it. And because I want to hear you present it."

Maya stared at him.

For the first time since entering the room, her nervous expression began to settle.

She took a deep breath.

Straightened her shoulders.

Opened her folder.

Then she looked at Ethan.

"All right."

He nodded.

"Whenever you're ready."

Maya stood.

Her hands were still slightly tense, but her voice was steady.

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Maya Carter, and on behalf of Beacon Media, I'd like to present our proposal for Brooks Global Holdings' upcoming communications campaign."

Ethan watched her carefully.

The woman who had been laughing with him in a café less than an hour earlier was now standing confidently before a room full of senior executives.

And despite the surprise of seeing her there, he found himself quietly impressed.

Maya continued.

"As one of the leading corporate organizations in the region, Brooks Global Holdings has built a reputation that goes beyond financial success..."

Her confidence grew with every sentence.

The nervousness gradually disappeared from her face.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, listening attentively.

For the first time, Maya wasn't simply the woman he had bumped into at a restaurant.

She was a talented professional with ambition, intelligence, and a remarkable ability to command a room.

And Maya was beginning to realize that the stranger she had met by accident twice was no longer simply a stranger.

He was now the most important person sitting across from her.

Neither of them knew that this unexpected discovery would become the beginning of something neither had planned for.