unfinished

chapter 10

Izzy needed some of that confidence as she stood and walked to the front of the auditorium. They had moved to this room for her team's presentation. The entire company seemed to be there. She prepared her papers and paced behind her table, waiting for the start time.

Then, she heard a rumble as Dae made her way up the short steps to join her at the table. Her smile was warm  and she whispered encouraging words as she set her own things down and arranged her spot for the day.

Izzy knew it was incredibly rude, but she caught herself looking past Dae for the rest of her team. That was a lie. She was searching for Hobi.

He came in last, reviewing papers with the handsome man who was Dae's security officer. She felt disappointment creep over her to watch him come to the table utterly absorbed in his task. But then he stopped and searched the room until his eyes found hers.

Then he smiled, and she felt as if all the flood lights in a stadium had been flipped on at once, all turned to illuminate her. She nodded to him, then forced herself to close her eyes and calm her spirit.

As she was introduced, she closed off everything but the details in front of her.

" Good Morning, ladies and Gentlemen...." She began.

Hobi had keyed in on her from the moment he walked in the room. He hurriedly answered Tae's questions, hoping for a chance to speak to her before the day began.

He locked eyes with her, and he could tell immediately she was nervous. He knew she had no reason to be. He smiled, lending her a bit of courage and cheering her on. He saw her take his offering and briefly embrace it. Then, he could tell the exact moment she stepped away from Izzy, and Ms.Walker began her presentation.

Unlike her yesterday, he did not look away or pretend to ignore her. He intended to study every detail of her, openly and freely. He had already poured over her material, marking it and reviewing it with Dae. Any questions would come from her. Right now, he planned to drink in every bit of Izabelle, observing her and finding the traces of the girl he once knew.

That had been his plan. He had not counted on his memories dragging him away.

As he watched Izzy, he remembered why they had always used her for group presentations. She always appeared relaxed in front of a crowd, confident, her words effortless.

Hobi was the only one who ever picked up the fact that she rushed through a section she had not vetted personally or how her voice grew breathy when reciting raw data or figures. He always willed her to "breathe" when she hit those sections.