CHAPTER 8 - THE MEETING
1053 Words
Mrs. Ivy made her way down the corridor with her usual brisk, no-nonsense stride, the heels of her shoes, clicking softly against the polished floor. By the time she reached the interns’ office area, the morning break had settled into its usual easy rhythm.
Elena and the others were gathered near the small break corner, cups of tea in hand, packets of biscuits and snacks spread out across the counter. Jenna was in the middle of saying something animated, Mike was laughing, and Haley was halfway through unwrapping another snack when Mrs. Ivy appeared at the entrance.
The effect was immediate.
Conversation dipped.
Everyone straightened just a little.
Mrs. Ivy‘s gaze landed directly on Elena.
“Something just happened in the conference meeting and it is concerning you.”
At once, every pair of eyes swung to Elena.
Then back to Mrs. Ivy.
Elena slowly lowered her cup. “Ma’am?”
Mrs. Ivy came closer, and although her expression remained composed, there was a noticeable note of significance in her voice.
“Mr. Adrian presented the finance correction report this morning during the executive conference. The one you walked on.”
The room grew even quieter.
Elena’s fingers tighten slightly around her cup.
Mrs. Ivy continued, “The executives were impressed. Very impressed. And when Mr. Sebastian Whitmore arrived and reviewed the report himself, he asked who had done the work.”
Jenna’s eyes widened.
Hailey actually gasped.
Mrs. Ivy looked directly at Elena. “I told him it was you.”
For one second, Elena just stared.
The others did not.
“What?” Mike blurted.
“No way,” Hailey said, nearly choking on her tea.
Mrs. Ivy went on, calm as ever. “Mr. Sebastian was surprised an intern had been given such a voluminous and technical assignment. Mr. Adrian explained your background and why he trusted you with it. After reviewing the corrections, Mr. Sebastian said he was impressed and requested to meet you personally.”
That did it.
The break area erupted.
“The CEO requested for you?” Jenna nearly shouted.
“Oh my God,” Hailey said, eyes huge. “Do you know how crazy that is?”
Cameron gave Elena a look that was half impressed, half amused. “ Sebastian Whitmore barely notices people in this building..”
“Barely seen in his own company,” Quan added. “And now he noticed you?”
Trisha shook her head. “You're a star already.”
Hailey grabbed Elena’s arm dramatically. “Babe, this is huge. Huge. The CEO called for you himself.”
Jenna laughed in disbelief. “You, Miss ‘I overslept and got roasted by Mr. Adrian,’ are now being summoned by Mr. Sebastian Whitmore. What a plot twist.”
Even Elena forced a small smile at that.
Mrs. Ivy cut through the noise with her usual calm authority. “Finish your tea and whatever you are eating. Then come upstairs to the conference room.”
Her eyes rested on Elena one last time.
“And try not to keep the CEO waiting.”
With that, she turned and left.
The moment she was gone, all attention returned to Elena.
The silence lasted barely half a second before the questions and congratulations started all over again.
“Are you nervous?”
“You should be excited!”
“I wonder what he's going to say?”
“Please don't forget us when you become the CEO’s favorite intern,” Mike joked, earning a laugh from the others.
Elena only smiled faintly, though inside her thoughts were anything but light.
Happy.
Angry.
Anxious.
Twelve years.
After 12 years away in London, after the death of her parents, after being taken away from the life that should’ve been hers, she was finally about to stand in front of Sebastian Whitmore.
Her Uncle.
Her late father's brother.
The man who had taken the seat that rightfully belonged to her.
Her tea suddenly tasted like nothing.
She set the cup down carefully, wiped her fingers with a napkin, and tidied the small space in front of her. Then she picked up her composure, the same way she picked up her bag, deliberately, quietly, with no sign of what was storming underneath.
When she turned back to her colleagues, she gave them a small smile.
“I’ll be back.“
Jenna gave her a thumbs-up. “And also, try not to fight with anyone this time alright?”
That almost drew a real laugh from Elena.
Almost.
She stepped out of the interns’ office and made her way towards the elevator, each step feeling strangely heavier than the last.
As she waited, her emotions twisted tighter inside her chest.
She had imagined this moment so many times.
Meeting him again.
Looking into the face of the man who had remained in the very company her father built while she had been sent away, hidden under another identity, forced to wait for the right time to reclaim what was hers.
The elevator doors slid open.
Elena stepped in and pressed the button.
As the doors closed, she caught a reflection in the polished metal and stared at it for a moment.
Would he recognize her?
The question hit harder now that the moment was real.
But how could he?
The last time Sebastian Whitmore had seen her, she was eight years old, small, grieving, frightened, clinging to what little remained of her world.
Now she is twenty.
Her features had sharpened with age. Her body had grown into that of a young woman. Time has taken the child she used to be and carved something quieter, stronger, more guarded in her place.
Still….
Would he see her mother in her?
Would he see her father?
Would he see himself enough to know?
The elevator rose in silence while her thoughts tangled tighter and tighter.
Finally, it stopped.
Elena inhaled slowly as the doors opened.
Then she stepped out.
The executive floor seemed even quieter this time, as though the air itself knew it was not a place for hesitation. She walked toward the conference room, her heartbeat slow but heavy, and when she reached the door, she stopped for the briefest moment.
Be calm.
Watch what you say.
Do not let emotion ruin your plan.
She knocked.
- Writer
