Sugar sugar baby

[7] Day 1 as assistant

The next day at the office still felt surreal. I stood in Vanessa Reed's office, the same overwhelming sense of awe washing over me as I watched her prepare for the day. She was effortlessly in control, her every movement calm, deliberate, and powerful. Her sleek blouse hugged her body, accentuating her curves without a single wrinkle, and her long black hair flowed elegantly down her back.

"Tristan," she said, not bothering to look up from her tablet as she reviewed her notes. "I want you to accompany me to a meeting with the senior management and board today. You'll observe. Pay close attention."

"Of course," I replied quickly, doing my best to stay composed. This was big, and I didn't want to fk it up.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she glanced up. "Good. Let's go."

***

We entered the conference room, and immediately, the atmosphere shifted. Everyone was already seated—men and women in their perfectly pressed suits, all turning to look at Vanessa with a kind of reverence that made me uncomfortable. I stood off to the side, trying to blend into the background as Vanessa took her place at the head of the table. The room was as lavish as you'd expect, a far cry from anything I'd ever seen—a massive table, leather chairs, and artwork that probably cost more than my yearly salary.

The meeting started with Richard, the senior VP, standing up to present the so-called "progress" on a potential merger with Centurion Corp. From the moment he opened his mouth, I could tell what kind of meeting this was going to be.

"Vanessa," Richard began, his voice almost unnaturally eager, "I just want to start by saying how grateful we are for your leadership in pursuing this opportunity. Your vision is, as always, impeccable. Without you, we wouldn't even be in this position."

He smiled, looking around the table for approval. Everyone nodded, as if he'd just said something profound.

"Centurion is a fantastic target for us," he continued, "and we've been doing extensive due diligence to ensure it's the right fit. Their financials are solid, and their tech capabilities would absolutely complement what we already offer. In fact, I'm confident that this merger will not only enhance our market position but also reflect your unmatched strategic foresight."

I felt my stomach churn at how blatantly he was kissing her ass. It was almost embarrassing to witness. He wasn't even pretending to offer any real insights—just stroking Vanessa's ego with every word.

Another board member, Diane, chimed in, her tone syrupy sweet. "I completely agree, Vanessa. You have such an intuitive understanding of where the industry is heading. This merger—it's absolutely genius. Centurion's growth potential aligns perfectly with the long-term goals you've outlined for us."

Everyone nodded enthusiastically, offering their agreement in a chorus of, "Absolutely," and, "Couldn't have said it better."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. No one was actually contributing anything useful. They were just regurgitating whatever Vanessa had likely said in prior meetings, doing their best to look smart by agreeing with her every move. It was sickening, the way they fawned over her, offering no real analysis, no real strategy—just praise, praise, and more praise.

"I'd like to add," chimed in another board member, "this whole process is a testament to your leadership, Vanessa. The way you've guided us through this is nothing short of remarkable."

The man across from him, some executive whose name I didn't catch, jumped in immediately, "Yes, absolutely! Vanessa, your decision-making is flawless. I mean, who else could have seen the opportunity in Centurion like you did? We're all just lucky to be following your lead."