Enigmatic Eyes | JENLISA

Chapter 18

Thursday arrived with both a curse and a promise looming over her turbulent head. The pressure of her upcoming presentation kept her tossing and turning all night; the only relief she obtained was the occasional caresses from a sleepy Jennie trying to lull her back to sleep.

The better part of her morning was spent reviewing her presentation and her speech, running it by Jennie and Jackson, who stared at her with both admiration and awe. She knew they were both just trying to be supportive.

"That was great!" Jackson shouted, clapping once she finished.

"Absolutely perfect, Lisa! You got this!" Jennie joined in.

"Okay. I need you two to be honest, okay?! If it sucks, tell me! So that I can fix it." She explained once again, earning nods from the two. "Alright, let's try this again."

Once she concluded, she received more applause and reassurance. Whether their reaction was a means to spare her additional anxiety or out of genuine sincerity, Lisa accepted it for what it was; there was no time to alter it now.

"You'll do great. I know you will." Jennie offered, reaching forward to adjust her tie since it had come slightly undone during her prep. "Remember, keep your head up. And smile. No one can refuse that gorgeous smile."

Their arrival at the office was expected, and an enthusiastic Yeri led them to the breakroom for a snack while the board members trickled in, arriving in slow progression.

"Lisa, honey, just relax. Here, have some coffee." Lisa accepted with quaky hands. Nodding a thanks.

"Hey. Hey, look at me. You'll be okay. I know it." Jennie tried, patting down a few curls that loosened from Lisa's ponytail. "And guess what? Once you get through this, you and I are gonna go to that spa down the street for facials and massages. My treat." She pecked Lisa's lips, coaxing a small smile out of her. Jennie smiled in return. "There you are..."

"Or we can talk about your upcoming birthday... Stop acting coy, did you really think I'd forget?" Lisa asked, finally thawing out of her haze; Jennie's addicting kisses the only thing capable of doing that.

"There's no chance of me talking you out of it, is there?" Jennie asked via an elongated sigh.

"Nope. Not one. Whatever you say, it's still gonna happen... with or without your consent. Twenty-five is an important age, Miss Kim. It deserves high recognition." Lisa answered, pulling her in for another soft kiss.

Jennie leaned into it effortlessly. "Okay... get through this meeting and then we can discuss birthday plans all you want. We can even celebrate your win by engaging in more sinful activities later." Her voice dropped to a whisper, and Lisa couldn't help but appreciate how easy it was to lose herself in Jennie... even on the brink of certain disaster.

"Miss Manoban, they're ready, dear." Yeri announced, reentering the breakroom.

Lisa nodded, taking a firm hold of Jennie's hand as she walked fatefully towards the conference room after Yeri. They paused just beyond the closed door; the only barrier now separating her and her pending future.

"Jackson and I will be right here, okay?" Jennie pointed to the seats that lined the hall, smiling encouragement up at Lisa whose confidence now waivered. "Go get 'em, tiger."

Jackson stepped forward, patting her shoulder. "If you freeze up, just... take a minute. Let your heart guide you through it. Not your head."

The manner in which Jackson maneuvered around this stressful event in his usual calm and confident composure both awed and infuriated Lisa to no ends. How can anyone be this unrealistically positive every fucking second of every fucking day?!