Craved Affection

5. Conflict

"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you in?"

I ask my son when I drop him off at his school. He gives me a side glare which is super cute before getting off the car.

"Mom, please refrain from making that kind of joke. I don't want it."

I laugh at her running form. He's determined to get away as soon as possible. He doesn't like it when I treat him like a baby. He would always say that he's already a big boy and he can do everything on his own now. But he's still a baby to me, forever he will be.

I make sure that Luigi got inside the school safely before driving off. Since I went home last night, I'm able to drive my son to school. But most of the time, it was Anna who would do these things and I would just call him when he arrived at school. Except for the last few days that I got very busy.

"Only two days left."

I keep on chanting that for the whole drive until I got inside the company's parking. It helps me feel at ease. This is the biggest project that I will be presenting to the board since I took over and it means a lot to me. I put my heart into it and David's lesson. I don't want to disappoint the man.

"Miss Catherine?"

I hear a knock on my window and I see Jackie's face there. I cut off the engine and pick up my purse before I go out of my car.

"Mister Kim and Mister Watson are waiting for you upstairs. They both need to talk to you urgently, as they said." Jackie said as she walk alongside me.

"Did you offer them something?" I press my ID on the door.

"Yes, Miss. Before I went down here, I gave them coffee and cookies."

"Good. I will be talking to Kim first. Tell Watson that he needs to wait a bit. He made me wait for him for two days so he could at least wait for me for a few hours."

"Yes, Miss."

Jackie was jotting down something on her notes as we ride the elevator. I took a glance at it and saw that it was my schedule. She's also jotting down what I had just said. I mentally praise her for her efficiency.

"So, what did Anna tell you yesterday?" I ask, approaching her subtly.

"Miss Brook wanted me to clear your schedule for the coming months and marked it as your vacation. I called Miss Lucila regarding this and she told me that she was already informed."

Damn! Anna was quick.

"Other than that?" I inquire.

"I'm so sorry, Miss but I was asked not to disclose any more information other than that."

I look at Jackie when I hear her say that. Did she just...? Is she Lucila? I'm about to confront her about her position and who's the boss here when the elevator pings, indicating that we are already on my floor. Jackie quickly leaves and avoids my anger.

There are already two men sitting in the lounge waiting for me. They both stand up when they see me and greet me.

Great! One of them wouldn't be very lucky this morning.

Jackie talks to them. I hear Watson's protest as I enter my office. He earn that for making me wait for two days and now he wants to be treated like a VIP saying that his matter was more urgent. Nope, I'm not going to tolerate that kind of employee.

Kim follows behind me and gently closes the door. I sit down at the head of the center table and he sits on my left side. He places the papers he's holding before composing himself.

"We can proceed with this after some minor revisions. I have already sent the email to your secretary regarding those. You just need to present the project to the board and we can settle everything with Genesis," Kim discuss as I flip through the revisions he had marked.

"I just need to present this to the cavemen and pray that they will be open-minded with this."

Kim must've seen the worry on my face. Because he quickly tries to reassure me.

"Don't worry too much, Catherine. You have successfully closed many deals over the last three years. You are doing great for an acting manager, so I'm sure they will gladly take this project. Besides, you had given them what they wanted. We had opened a branch in London."

"Correct. If we wanted to expand the company more, we need this," I agree.

"Yes. Don't worry too much." Kim stands up. "I should head out now. Watson said that his matter was urgent and he was being impatient outside."

"Let him wait," I simply answer.

Kim look at me with a stunned expression before he nod as if he understood something. Maybe he did, but I'm not going to explain everything to him. Before he could open the door, it swing open and z a raging Watson.

"Catherine, we can't proceed with this project. I object to this!" he shouts.

I'm not surprised at his outburst. That guy didn't like me from the get-go. The only thing he agreed on was the new branch in London. Other than that, he's against everything that I do. It is clear as day that he just didn't like me. Because most of the time, he's being unreasonable.

"What's this fuss about, Watson? I thought we had finished this conversation?" I said massaging my temple.

"We did. But I heard some rumors going around that Genesis was not that great of a company. We are investing in some unsure partnership." Watson didn't even bother to sit down as he franticly waved his hands in the air to prove his point.

Some other times it would amuse me looking at a stout man flailing his hands around and acting like a kid throwing tantrum. But right now, it didn't. I don't think I was enjoying this current view I had. Not at all.

"We had already signed the initial contract with Genesis. We had agreed that we will be working with them and vice versa. Are you sure about those rumors you heard?"

"We're going to lose a lot of money if the Genesis went bankrupt. What are you going to do then?" I crease my eyebrows deeply at the nonsense he was spouting.

"Watson, why are you thinking that Genesis is going to get bankrupt? I have personally checked their details. They may be new to the business but they have proven their worth. I don't think they will be closing sometime soon." Watson look like he was ready to say something but I stop him before he could infuriate me even more.

"Do you not trust my judgment or you just don't trust me?"

Watson is one of those people who doesn't believe that women can also lead. He's a sexist to the core. I know that he is part of that one-third who voted no before I took over. But I didn't hold it against him.

"If you want some assurance, we can set up a meeting with them after the presentation. You will be coming with me. I'll let you know when," I continue.

"What? Why would I do that?" he ask, perplexed.

"Leave, Watson. Just wait for my call."

I stand up from the chair and go to my desk. I press the intercom and wait for Jackie to answer me.

"Watson is about to leave. Assist him out, please."

The door opens after a few minutes and Jackie enter. She politely motions for Watson to follow her outside. Watson resists at first but gives in eventually.

"Before I forgot, Jackie. After the presentation, schedule a meeting with Genesis. Watson will be coming with me."

Jackie looks at me and Watson–who now had a scowl on his face. He walks out of my office. Jackie is dumbfoundedly standing at the door. When she snaps out of her daze, that is when she realizes that she was still standing at the door. She quickly closes it and I sigh.

So much for a great start.