Chapter 28
Workers scurried away arrival of their formidable employer and CEO. Ethan Dressed impably in a
custom-tailored grey suit with matching pants, he exuded an air of authority and elegance as he
Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
gracefully stepped out of his sleek vehicle. His countenance bore seriousness and ridigity.
Today marked a crucial juncture-the selection process for thepany that would be awarded the
coveted J.T. contract. The atmosphere hummed with a blend of tension and excitement aspany
representatives gathered, hoping to secure the contract bid
As Ethan made his way toward the grand entrance of the Tesco Empire building, a medley of scents
swirled around him, colognes, subtle perfumes, and a palpable nervousness. It was an ordinary day in
the bustling city, yet the significance of the cient filled the air. Just then a familiar scent hit him. He
brushed aside the thought, attributing the familiar scent to mere coincidence, and entered the imposing
building
Momentster, however, that same and particr fragrance stopped him dead in his tracks. Confusion
etched his features as he paused, scanning the faces of those entering the building.
With a resigned sigh, Ethan continued on his way, dismissing the idea as a figment of his
immagination. “I must be mistaken,” he mumbled under his breath. This wouldn’t be the first time.
Entering the building, he strode confidently toward the elevators, his thoughts focused on the task at
hand. The selection. process was a critical one, and he couldn’t afford to be distracted
Minutester, Ethan found himself seated at the head of therge deliberation table, the weight of
responsibility and an unshakable sense of unease settling over him like an invisible shroud.
The room was adorned with sleek, modern furnishings and a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a
panoramic view of the city below. Despite the luxurious surroundings, he couldn’t rid himself of the
nagging feeling that something was amiss.
The presentations began, eachpany vying for the prestigious J.T. contract. As the representatives
spoke and showcased their portfolios, Ethan’s keen eye scrutinized every detail. He couldn’t help but
find fault in nearly every presentation, even those of renowned interior design giants like Big Bang, who
were known for their impressive and innovative work. To him. their designs appeared disappointingly
nd
As the hours dragged on, Ethan’s initial impatience grew into a simmering frustration. His agitation
permeated the room, and those present couldn’t help but feel a palpable tension in the air. Whispers of
difort circted among the board members, each silently hoping to avoid drawing his ire. His aura
was foreboding and dangerous.
When the next set of presenters entered the room, they were greeted by a shocking sight. Ethan
already in a tensed and irritated mood.cast his prating gaze in their direction, his irises shimmered
with an unsenling, light shade of yellow. A hushed gasp of terror escaped one of the presenters as she
locked eyes with him, and panic overtook her in a heartbeat. She turned on her heel and fied the room
in a wild scramble, leaving her materials behind in her frantic escape.
Ethan, exasperated and fatigued, heaved a deep sigh, the aura around him dissipating as his eyes
returned to their natural color. The board members sat in rigid silence, their boss was in a notably foul
mood, and none wished to incur his wrath
Ethans foul mood showed a gradual dissipation, although his wolf was still on the edge, something
itched at the edges of his consciousness like a persistent whisper. He attempted to dismiss the
inexplicable sensation, convincing himself that it couldn’t possibly be her; Hazel.
As the next set of presenters was ushered into the boardroom, the scent got stronger.
Hazel and Chloe, entered the boardroom. Hazel’s graceful stride faltered the instant her eyes locked
with Ethan’s piercing gaze Shock reverberated through her, and she stumbled backward, inadvertently
bumping into Chloe. In her startled retreat, everything she had been carrying sl*pped from her grasp,
ttering to the floor and sca t t e r i n g into disarray. Hazel stood for some seconds just staring at
En then she snapped out of it squatting immediately.
With Chloe’s help, they swiftly moved to gather their sca t t e r e d materials, but the prototypey in a
hopeless state, shattered and beyond repair.
“Starlight?” one of the stakeholders quizzed, his toneced with disapproval as he nced through the
contents of their already presented folder. He raised an incredulous eyebrow and further inquired, “Do
you perhaps n to damage our project just like your prototype
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and all eyes fixated on Hazel and Chloe. Ethan’s expression
remained inscrutable, his mind racing with a cacophony of emotions and unspoken questions
Im very sorry Just give us a minute, Chlor pleaded, her voice carrying a hint of urgency and apology.
Ethan, though still processing the shock of seeing Hazel after so long, nodded. “Send for the next set,”
he ordered, intending to give Harel time to rearrange hersell.
As the still-stunned Hazel was led out of the office, chuching her broken prototype, her mind raced with
disbelief. She had
thin was not only the CEO but also the founder of Tesco Empire. The revtion shook her to the enre
She couldn’t fathoms how he had ascetided to such a position.
sundhed the damaged prototype in her hands, the reality of their situation settling it. The broken
prototype thight –
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automatically disqualify them from the bid.
With determined resolve, both Hazel and Chloe attempted to salvage the situation. They decided to
rely on their presentation slides and digital copies of the design. hoping it would be enough to make up
for their shattered prototype.
“Can we get another attempt? Chloe asked the female assistant,
“No. Am sorry but. You’re disqualified.” She said pointedly.
Sinting there, devastation etched across their faces, they realized that their efforts had been in vain.
The prototype was beyond repair
“I’m sorry.” Hazel numbled softly to Chloe, her voice heavy with regret.
Chloe responded with a reassuring squeeze on Hazel’s shoulder. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
Hazel’s phone buzzed, but lost in thought, she chose to ignore it momentarily.
“We should go, Chloe urged, her voice gently coaxing Hazel out of her daze. Hazelplied, slowly
rising from her seat, her und still reeling from the shock of the encounter.
Inwardly, Hazel tried to console herself. Perhaps it was for the best. Working closely with Ethan would
have been a disaster, considering theirplicated history. She clung to this thought as a means of
emotional refuge.
As Chloe and Hazel made their way towards the elevator, Chloe’s phone began to ring incessantly. She
hastily answered the call, curiosity and apprehension mingling on her face as she listened to the voice
on the other end.
The excitement in their director’s voice was palpable as she spoke into the phone, urging them to
return to thepany immediately. Chloe was about to share the disappointing news of their].T.
proposal when the director abruptly cut her off,
“Oh, forget about J.T.! We’ve received a new offer, the director eximed, her enthusiasm radiating
through the phone. “They saw your prototype for J.T. and want to contract us for it. It’s a smaller
With th
joy
those words, the line went dead, leaving Chloe stunned for a moment. She nced at Hazel, her eyes
brimming with
“We got a new offer, Chloe eximed with a sense of exhration.
“Really!” Hazel responded, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes.
Chloe nodded vigorously in affirmation. “Yes, we did!”
Hazel couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected turn of events. She remembered her mother’s words.
“When Go d closes a door. He opens a window.” With newfound determination, they hurried back to
theirpany, ready to embrace this fresh opportunity with renewed vigor and hope.
Ethan sat restlessly in his seat. His impatience grew with each passing presentation. Finally, he
couldn’t bear it any longer. “Let’s go on a break,” he announced, rising from his chair and heading out
into the hallway. His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity.
He had sensed Hazel just like that day when he’d rushed into thepany but it’d turned out to be
false, he ignored it today. Who would have thought that Hazel would be in hispany.
She didn’t know he owned thispany. It was clear from the look of shock on her face, she had even
dropped the prototype.
moments before she was sent out of the room.
He had only stared at her, too frozen in shock to react for long n Edan stood in the hall, his mund racing
and emotions in turmoil. People around him cast curious nces, wondering what had prompted their
CEO’s sudden departure and return. He needed to regain hisposure and make sense of this
unexpected turn of events. With a deep breath, heposed himself he headed to his office, swinging
the huge mahogany door wide open. Axel followed closely behind.
“Is something bothering you, boss?” Axel inquired, observing his boss’s evident frustration.
responded sinctly, “Hazel was here.”.
thun
un raised an inquisitive eyebrow, remarking. “You never mentioned that she worked for Starlight. Did
you not discover this or did you keep it from me?”
el pendesed Ethan’s words before responding calmly, “You were primarily interested in the children,
and you never
employment.
Tampong into his chair, Eun acknowledged Aarl’s point. His sale request was to determine Hazel’s
whereabouts locatines
Cand (orn spent a day covertly surveilling her to discern the children’s school, which he absequently
seguirert acquired.
He toured, Where & their portfolio?”.
han ineviously rejected their proposal,
Chapter 28.
Axel proceeded to jog Ethan’s memory, saying, “Remember, it’s Starlight-thepany had won the bid
and was contracted by the COO” Axel stated further.
The portfolio Axel handed him was the very one Starlight had leveraged to secure the first contract bid,
the same document. Ethan had dismissed withour offering it a fair evaluation. As he meticulously
fl*pped through the catalog, he sank deeper into his seat, realizing the exceptional quality it contained.
The designs and concepts he saw intrigued him. He had underestimated Starlight due to their new
status, but the quality of their work spoke for itself.
Decisively, Ethan dered. “Have all the others leave. There’ll be no more interviews or presentations.
I’ve made my choice.”
With a nod, Axel left to deliver the message to the remaining candidates, knowing that the bidding
process hade to an abrupt end.
“We won’t be considering any further bids.”
Upon returning to the office. Axel’s phone dinged with a notification. Axel halted in his tracks, adjusting
his sses as he read the message.
Ethan remained in his seat still huddled over the documents, swayed by their impressive content.
“Arrange for a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to Luna’s office,” Ethan instructed without shifting his
gaze.
Axel, who had been on the cusp of sharing some information, swiftlyplied with the new directive. It
appeared that there might be hope for Ethan’s marriage to Luna. With a resigned sigh, Axel retrieved
his phone.
“Perhaps you’d like to know, Hazel never remarried, he contemted telling Ethan, but he decided
against it. After all, they were divorced, and it seemed Ethan was now willing to work with his wife. Why
<pplicate matters further, Axel reasoned.