"Echoes of Unseen Fate"

Chapter 8

Amaya POV

"Hello, I'm Amaya Hart, and I'll be overseeing this project," I introduced myself, doing my best to push past the anxiety. "And this is Bridget, my assistant," I added, gesturing toward her as she gave a quick, "Hello".

As I settled into my seat, I could feel the weight of his gaze still on me, though I refused to meet it again. My heart pounded in my chest.

"I'm Alexander Thatcher, and this is my assistant, Aaron Earlwood," he said, his deep, husky voice resonating in the room. There was something captivating about his voice.

I looked up as he introduced himself, offering both him and Aaron a smile while his gaze stayed locked on me. I noticed he was wearing a different outfit, and it dawned on me that the meeting had likely been rescheduled for him to change. I cursed myself for the mix-up and hoped the rest of the meeting would go better.

Camila began introducing the project, her voice a steady hum in the background, but I could barely pay attention.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Alexander lean back in his chair, his posture completely relaxed, as if this situation wasn't bothering him in the slightest. How could he be so calm?.

I forced myself to glance at him, just for a moment. His expression was unreadable, a mask of cool indifference.

The meeting dragged on, with Camila outlining the key points. I nodded when appropriate, scribbling notes and trying to appear as if I wasn't about to lose my mind sitting across from him. I caught Alexander watching me a few times, though he quickly shifted his focus whenever our eyes met.

Finally, the moment I had been dreading arrived.

"Amaya," Camila said, turning to me, "could you walk Mr. Thatcher through the proposed design?"

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the pen in my hand. "Of course," I managed to say, standing and moving toward the large display at the front of the room. As I began presenting the plans, I could feel Alexander's eyes on me, scrutinizing every word, every gesture.

When I finished, the room was quiet for a beat too long. Then Alexander spoke, his voice low and composed, but with an edge I hadn't heard before.

"Impressive," he said, a genuine note in his voice. "Though there are areas that need more work, I appreciate what you've presented, especially considering this is just the beginning."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you," I said, my confidence starting to build. "I'm excited to refine the design further. This was just a draft to showcase the basics of where we could begin. If you like it, we can make adjustments and additions as needed."

He nodded, leaning back slightly in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Let's set up a follow-up meeting to discuss the changes. I want to ensure we capture the vision we both have for this project."

"That sounds great," I said, my heart racing a little at the prospect of working closely with him. "I'll prepare a list of adjustments based on your input."

As we continued to discuss the project, I couldn't help but notice the dynamic between us shifting. The initial tension had transformed into a collaborative spirit, and his enthusiasm for the project was infectious.

"Your approach is refreshing," he added, leaning forward.

A smile crept onto my face. "Thank you".

He nodded

The rest of the meeting flew by as we delved deeper into ideas and concepts. By the end, I felt energized, excited about what lay ahead. As we wrapped up, he stood and extended his hand.