Just One Kiss

Chapter 9

"And this is where we'll be working during your time here" Carla's assistant pointed out to Duke and China as they entered the large boardroom. Carla herself waved from the table where she was already seated, calling her assistant to come and sit beside her as they entered their own hushed conversation. The big boardroom was similar to the one China had worked in countless times in Madrid, except this view was instead of the beautiful buildings that surrounded the Barcelona city.

The two got comfortable at the table as Carla called in Juliana and Marjorie as well as both main teams from the South African and Madrid offices over a video call. Nico entered the room just ask the meeting began, saying his apologies to the group as he removed his suit coat and sat down, focusing his face on the screen. For the next few hours, the team discussed the final logistics of the partnership going into the second round of the project.

When it came to on-ground reporting, Nico and China took turns giving a progress report of the work they had completed so far and their plans for the remainder of the tour. They bounced their ideas back and forth like a coordinated game of tennis across the table, as if they had been doing this all their lives. Looking at the screen, China saw Juliana smirk with pride; this was very good news.

They sat in the boardroom as the clock continued to tick, discussed the deeper details and issues that Duke had identified during his edits and how they could help the team and the future of FlorenTech with JE and Co. As much as she tried to focus on her best friend's brilliance, China couldn't take her eyes off of Nico. He would loosen his blue tie every couple of minutes until it was fully unwrapped around his neck, scribbling notes down as everyone spoke. She tried her hardest not to think of the events of the day before in the garden, which she had failed at miserably the night before as she tossed and turned in her hotel bed.

Nico was trying his hardest not watch her too, but their time in the garden had been playing in a loop in his head throughout the day and sitting across the table from her was not helping. She would take a sip of water every time she started to speak, which was followed by small sips every few moments that at times looked almost fake as she confidently rejected the many of the terms and conditions the Spaniards brought to her.

When she got irritated or found something to complex, she would switch to Spanish and air out her grievances, entertaining not only the South African team that watched in awe as worked her negotiation magic, but the FlorenTech group as well who relaxed more and more as she joked with them through her frustrations.

Eventually, after countless hours of sitting around the table on the call, the meeting was finally adjourned. Though it has been exhausting, it was clear that this was going to be a success, the boardroom table scattered with scribbled notes of all the ideas. As the group packed up for the day, they began to discuss their dinner plans for the night, which Duke was thrilled about.

" I feel like now I can finally enjoy the city since my work is done" he smiled as he spoke.

"Must be nice. Our job is just getting started" China sighed.

They continue to talk as they made their way outside the building, saying their temporary goodbyes and promising to meet each other later that night at the restaurant.

With only an hour to go, China finished applying the last of her eyeliner on her lids when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find Duke in a dark red suit with a white shirt, the top buttons open and a tequila bottled in hand.

"As of now, I am officially on vacation" he said, handing her a shot glass that was resting in his other hand. "We are no longer colleagues, we are best friends on a trip to Spain, and personally, my first chance to have fun since becoming a father."