She strikes a deal with the devil - an alliance with Leo. A game of manipulation and revenge begins, fueled by a growing, undeniable desire.
...
The rain echoed like a thousand angry gods, mirroring the tempest brew...
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I checked my watch for the umpteenth time. She was late. Regina. That woman finally agreed to take on this project, this dream of mine, was late. I'd never waited for anyone in my life. People waited for me. Hours, days, sometimes even weeks. But here I was, in my conference room, staring at a clock that seemed to mock me with its slow, deliberate ticks.
I'd imagined the moment. Her arrival, her awe at the scale of the project. The way her eyes would widen, the way she would lean in, her mind already racing with possibilities. Instead, I was surrounded by her minions, their eyes glued to tablets, their voices a monotonous drone of measurements and color palettes.
Where was she?
Regina, the designer with the Midas touch. I heard a lot about her professionalism, But this? This was an insult. A slap in the face. I'd hired her, her, not her minions. I wanted her vision, her passion. Not this, corporate approach.
I slammed my fist on the table, startling the team. Their heads snapped up, fear in their eyes. Good. Let them feel it. Let them know the kind of man they were dealing with. I stood, towering over them.
"Where is she?" My voice was low, dangerous.
One of them, a woman with a clipboard, swallowed hard. "Ms. Moretti is overseeing the project remotely, Sir. She will digitally attend the meeting soon."
I forced a balanced tone and said, "Let's get down to business then."
I watched Regina's team working, a bunch of well-dressed puppets dancing to her invisible strings. Their confidence was visible, boldness that masked their obvious lack of depth in the field. I had expected more from a company of Regina's stature. But no, she was content to be a remote puppet master.
The team lead, a man with a haircut so precise it looked like a ruler had been used, started the meeting. Numbers, projections, and a whole lot of corporate terminology. I zoned out, focusing on the tiny screen in the corner where Regina's face was supposed to appear. But it was blank, a mocking void and it was infuriating.
I waited for the right moment. It came when they were discussing the structure of the main chamber. "I'm afraid there's a fundamental issue here" I interjected, leaning forward. "The proposed glass ceiling, while aesthetically pleasing, brings significant challenges in terms of load-bearing and thermal expansion. These are critical concerns that require on-site evaluation and adjustments."
The room fell silent. I could almost taste their panic. The lead tried to recover, but I pressed on. "And let's not forget the acoustics. A space of this magnitude needs careful soundproofing. Without a detailed analysis of the materials and construction methods, we risk an echo chamber that would make the entire building unusable."
A woman with an irritating voice, tried to interject, but I cut her off with a raised hand. "I'm not questioning your team's capabilities" I said, my voice dripping with superiority, "but there are certain aspects of this project that demand the primary client's involvement."
