Whisper Destiny

Chapter 21

~ Catherine ~

"There you are, the secret lover," Louisa's voice chimed with a playful tease, her tone light but relentless. Ever since I confided in her about the marriage proposal, she had seized every opportunity to remind me of them.

"Here's the dress you designed for your sweetheart," she continued, holding up the dress with a flourish. "It turned out so much better than the sketch, Cate. I already love this dress myself. Natasha will definitely look stunning in it."

I stood up, trying to ignore her comments, and took a closer look at the dress she brought into my office. It was true—I had designed it specifically for Natasha, envisioning her in it for the upcoming event. I wasn't entirely sure why I had gone to such lengths.

As Louisa said, the dress was beyond my expectations. The intricate details, the delicate stitching, the way the fabric flowed—it was all perfect. My team had truly outdone themselves. I felt a swell of pride and made a mental note to personally thank each of them later.

"Yes," I murmured almost to myself, "this is exactly how I imagined it." The thought of Natasha wearing the dress filled me with a thrilling mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. I kept these thoughts to myself, not wanting to give Louisa more ammunition for her teasing.

"The dress or Natasha in the dress?" Louisa whispered, her voice close to my ear.

"Oh, can you keep your mouth shut, Lou. I told you to be discreet." I tried to sound stern, but my voice betrayed a hint of amusement.

"So you didn't disagree with my statement then?" she quipped, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

I shot her a deadpan glare, which only made her grin wider.

A knock on the door interrupted us, and Astrid stepped in. "Your next appointment is at 3:30 PM at the Grayson. It's regarding the France acquisition contract."

"Thanks, Astrid. Tell the team we'll leave in five," I instructed, preparing for the upcoming meeting. Just before heading out, I paused in front of Astrid. "And, Astrid, please set an appointment with Noel and Natasha Grayson for their dress fitting."

As I walked towards the elevator, Louisa's parting words echoed behind me, "Enjoy your meeting..." I just shook my head.

******

My team and I arrived at the Grayson building fifteen minutes before the meeting, giving us a little time to revisit the final proposal. As we entered the conference room, I could feel the energy and anticipation among my team members, which make me proud.

We were greeted by Mr. Harrison, Emmette's project manager. "Hello, Ms. Ortiz. How are you? You're looking beautiful as usual," he said, his smile a bit too flirtatious for my liking.

"I'm good, thank you," I replied curtly, sitting down and focusing on my tablet to go through the presentation slides one more time. My team chatted among themselves, their conversations a soft hum in the background. Absorbed in my work, I didn't notice Emmette and his team entering the room until his voice broke my concentration.

"Hello, everyone. I'm sorry for my tardiness," Emmette greeted warmly, and the room responded with a chorus of greetings.

I looked up, ready to stand and greet him, but the figure beside Emmette made my heart skip a beat and my movements freeze. This is very unexpected surprise.

"Cate..." Archer's whisper brought me back to reality.

"Hello, Mr. Grayson!" I managed to say, shaking his hand as he approached.

I was still in shock, not expecting her to be here, today. I stood there, paralyzed, not knowing what to do next. Sensing my state, Emmette quickly took control of the situation and began the introductions.

"I would like to introduce a new addition to my team for this project. I have appointed her to take over my role as Project Champion: Natasha Grayson." Natasha moved gracefully, shaking hands with each member of my team, her presence commanding yet gentle. Everyone in the room welcomed her warmly.

Finally, she stood in front of me, extending her hand. "Hi, Natasha Grayson," she repeated, her voice steady and calm.

"Catherine Ortiz," I replied, taking her hand.

When everyone settled down in their seats, Emmette started the meeting by giving Natasha the floor to address the team.

"Well, as mentioned by Mr. Grayson, I'll be taking over his role in the Franc D'Larc project. I hope we can maintain our great momentum, and I look forward to your continuous support," Natasha said confidently.

Her poised speech reminded me of when I took over Ortiz & Co. ten years ago. The memory warmed my heart and stirred a protective instinct within me towards her.

As the meeting began, we focused on finalizing the contract and the action plan required by both parties before signing it with the current owner. Despite my best efforts to concentrate, I found myself frequently distracted, observing Natasha sitting directly across from me.

She looked very corporate and professional, a stark contrast to the casual, relaxed person I was used to seeing at home. She wore a tailored dark blazer paired with matching pants and a soft, silky yellow button-down shirt. Her brown hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her makeup was simple yet perfectly executed.

The way she spoke when offering her opinions was polite but authoritative. I was thoroughly impressed by her composure and insight. She was beautiful, yes, but there was something about seeing her in this new light that captivated me.

I tried to refocus on the discussion at hand, but my eyes kept drifting back to her, drawn by her presence.

"Everything looks good, and we are ahead of schedule. Please submit the final contract from today's discussion to both Grayson and Ortiz's lawyers to ensure there are no other loopholes. I will leave it to Natasha and Catherine to steer the next steps," Emmette concluded before adjourning the meeting.

The room buzzed with the sound of people packing up, the end of the day finally in sight. I gathered my things, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly from my shoulders.

Archer approached me, his eyes filled with concern. He leaned in close and whispered, "Hey, are you okay? You seemed a bit off just now."

I met his gaze and forced a small smile, hoping it would reassure him. "I'm good. Nothing to worry about, Archer."

As I zipped up my bag, I felt Natasha's eyes on me. She stood a few feet away, her expression unreadable but intense. I could sense her curiosity, perhaps even something more when she observed my interaction with Archer, but chose to ignore it.

"Catherine..." Emmette's voice interrupted my thoughts, making me pause.

"Yes, Emmette?" I responded, turning to face him.

"Join us for dinner? If you don't have a prior engagement. Noel will join us as well. She will be delighted if you can join us," he suggested.

I quickly ran through my schedule in my head. There will be no other meeting for the day. "Yes, sure," I said, nodding in confirmation. Emmette smiled, clearly pleased with my decision.

"Let's call it a day. You all can head home. Good job today! I'll see you in the office tomorrow," I said to my team, dismissing them with a final nod.

As the room emptied and the chatter of departing colleagues faded, I gathered my belongings and moved toward the door, where Natasha stood waiting. The quiet allowed me a moment to truly appreciate her presence.

"Let's go!" Emmette voice broke my thoughts.