Always by your side

Chapter 2

Kim

"Why on earth did I say that?" I mentally berate myself. It's so cheesy, i want to slap myself.

I had been reading the script when I noticed this adorable woman with blond curly hair talking to the policeman. I could sense her frustration in the way she spoke, clearly not pleased about the street being closed. Miraculously, she managed to pass through. She must work in one of the buildings nearby. I am in the financial district of Montreal, the brand wanted us to film what resembled a miniature version of New York's finance district. it's cheaper to film in Montreal than in New-York.

The advertisement's theme involves me walking through Montreal, surrounded by tall buildings, before entering one and being transported to another dimension to discover the product.

Do I care if it doesn't make sense?

Nope.

The brand and general public only want me to look good, smile.

"Oh, sorry, um, I think you can remove your hand now," she stammers, her cheeks flushing pink. It's been a while since I've seen someone blush, and it's make her even more adorable.

As I realize I'm still holding onto her, I reluctantly retract my arm. You will think I am used to being in contact with beautiful women, having acted in numerous dramas and films alongside beautiful top actresses in South Korea. But in reality, actors often avoid close interactions with female co-stars to prevent any rumors that could jeopardize the drama. All I can think about is how perfectly her small body fit in my arms, and how her fruity perfume lingers in the air, teasing me with a sense of loss.

" are you working with the crew ?" I asked knowing 100% she is not, but my sassy mouth want to know more about her.

"oh, no " she answers " I am working in this building " She points the building behind us.

The building looks like it has at least 24 floors, so I have no idea which company she works for based on that alone. I was about to ask for her number when I heard my manager yell my name.

"okayyy, and this is my cue to go" she say running for her life to enter the building.

Her expression stayed with me all day: her smile, and the way her cheeks blushed when she was in my arms. She didn't come out for lunch, and we had to leave for another location after 1 p.m. But I was determined to see her again. I made sure we scheduled filming at this location tomorrow morning. This time, I would get her name.

Because what i want, i get.

And i want her.

laure

what the fuck just happened.

One minute i was falling to the ground because of my clumsiness, an another i was in the arm of the most handsome men i saw in a really long time. A stark reminder that my love and sex life was practically nonexistent, as being held by a man made me flush and sweat.

i enter in the building as my ass is on fire.

and it was not my ass on fire, but my cheeks burning with embarrassment. It wasn't just my cheeks, though-it felt like my entire face was on fire. Being flustered in his arms made me feel like a teenager. He was more than a foot taller than me, which wasn't hard since I was only five feet tall. Dark hair, a killer smile, and broad shoulders-just thinking about him made me swoon as I stepped into the elevator.

let's focus i remind myself, i have a big presentation this morning. i need to present a new way to improve our process to the executive. Months of preparation had gone into this, and it could be my ticket to becoming a senior director. Yes, I needed to focus on my promotion, not on a stranger I'd likely never see again.

As I walk to my desk, I see my boss and force a smile. "Good morning, Jordan," I say as I walk past him. The less I talk to him, the better. He had tried to flirt with me multiple times, and it was a pain in the ass. Some men just don't take no for an answer.

" ohhhh, you put a nice dress for your presentation " he says winking at me " putting all your effort on your look, i see"

I want to puke but i answer dryly " See you at the presentation Jordan ".

What the fuck is wrong with him, seriously? And why has HR never said anything? If you think about it, I never complained about his behavior because his backup is one of the most influential VPs. Fuck it, this company is fucked up.

As I review the agenda of my presentation, stress builds in my mind. I can do this, I've rehearsed it countless times. But as I lay out my ideas, I notice the executives' interest waning by the minute. What is going wrong?

I finish presenting the last slide, already certain I won't get my promotion. "Any questions?" I ask, standing in front of nine executives who seem to want to be anywhere but here. The silence is deafening until one director, Marc, locks eyes with me.

"Is this your presentation?" he asks, cocking his head to the side.

"What do you mean by that, Marc?"

"Well, it seems like you copied what Jordan presented to us yesterday," he pauses. "So please explain why we're seeing the same presentation twice and why you're presenting Jordan's work as your own."

Wait, what? His presentation? His idea?

I turn to see Jordan with a smug smile on his face. "Yes, Laure, please tell us what's going on. I'm disappointed you used my presentation as your own."

I'm flabbergasted. Did he just frame me in front of the executives because I refused to go out with him?

As the executives begin to stand up, one of the VPs pauses and says, "We will organize a meeting this afternoon to discuss this, Laure. Have a good day, everyone." My mind races to find a solution.

"Wait a second," I say, slamming my hand on the oval desk in front of me where all the executives are seated.

They look at me with wide eyes-I've never raised my voice in my two years of working here. "Let me understand this. You think I stole Jordan's idea and presentation. Let's quickly see who the real owner of this presentation is. Jordan, show us your slides."

I can feel the tension building in the room, and Jordan clearly didn't expect me to fight back.

"No, I will not show my presentation."

"Then you must have something to hide if you refuse."

The silence in the room was palpable, but there's no way I'm leaving without justice being served.