Whisper Destiny

Chapter 49

~ Catherine ~

The meeting did not go as everyone expected. Natasha had been on edge throughout, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I chose to observe silently from the sidelines for now, I believe, me trying to disrupt the discussion would not benefit the situation. If things became out of control, only then I would step in. For now, I would let Natasha lead the discussion. To be fair, her points of disagreement were solid and well-founded. This was the first time I had seen Natasha in control like this—she could be quite intimidating.

"For the entertainment segment, we plan to hire one of their most talented artist. This will definitely be good promotion for us, but I apologize to Louisa and the team. We haven't had the chance to discuss this with you before; we just came up with the proposal," Caroline shared, her eyes fixed on me. She was the one that has been appointed by Grayson's to lead this grand opening project. I had noticed since the start of the meeting that her attention was mostly on me.

And for obvious reason, I knew she had a thing for me. I wasn't blind; I had received that type of stare too many times before. Her gaze lingered, a mixture of admiration and curiosity that was impossible to ignore. But I knew too well how to set boundaries. She is quite bold, I would say. Even knowing that I was married to her boss, she still managed to act with a casual ease that bordered on flirtation.

"By the name of Alice et Moi, if anyone is truly into music, you will definitely know her," Caroline declared with a confident smile.

"Oh shit, this is going to be a disaster," Louisa muttered beside me. True to her prediction, Natasha's face darkened with irritation. She took a deep breath, her effort to maintain composure evident but strained. It was clear now: Natasha had a strong aversion to Alice.

Before Natasha could voice her discontent, I interjected swiftly. I could sense that whatever was about to escape her lips might not only sour the atmosphere but also reflect poorly on her in front of her team. I had no doubt she would regret the words she might unleash.

"Alright, let's reschedule this discussion for another time," I said firmly. "We haven't made much progress since we began. Ms. Benson, please organize another round of discussions with Caroline and the team, incorporating Natasha's feedback as needed. Thank you all for your time today. Let's adjourn the meeting." I can see confusion on Caroline's face.

As I concluded, I noticed Natasha's eyes narrow to me in anger. She slammed her tablet cover shut and, with a swift, decisive motion, stood up and exited the boardroom, her frustration palpable in her hurried departure.

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension almost palpable. I gathered my belongings and turned to Louisa. "Lou, please handle this matter. I'm not satisfied with the outcome either. I expected more from everyone."

"Of course, I'll look into it. Honestly, I'm quite taken aback by how much Caroline has changed the proposal since our last discussion. I'll need to step up my game with her," Louisa replied. She understood that by me calling her like that meant I was too damn serious, and she responded with the professionalism I expected. I acknowledged her response with a nod, knowing that the issues weren't due to her performance. I knew her work too well to doubt it.

"And Lou, about Alice—" I began, but she interrupted me.

"I know, I'll take care of it. You should probably check on Natasha. She looks pretty upset. We'll head back to the office first," Louisa pat my back.

"Thanks, Lou. I really appreciate it," I said, grateful.

I wrestled with the decision of whether to check on Natasha or head back to the office. Uncertain if she would welcome my presence in her current state, I finally resolved to see her. I knew I wouldn't be able to shake my concern until I spoke with her.