Whispers of Serendipity

Chapter 45: Surprise Surprise

Eleonora's day at work began as usual, with Tommy right beside her, happily occupied on the soft carpeted floor in her office. She glanced over at him as he played, his little fingers arranging blocks into odd, colorful towers. Every so often, he'd look up and flash her a bright smile, as if just making sure she was there.

The gentle hum of office work surrounded them, but within her cabin, things felt cozy. Eleonora worked through her tasks, occasionally stopping to watch Tommy's small world of imagination on the carpet.

As Eleonora worked, she kept thinking that maybe it was time to put Tommy in play school. His fourth birthday was coming soon, and she thought he might enjoy being with other kids his age. She smiled as she watched him play, imagining him making new friends and learning new things.

But the thought of not having him by her side every day made her feel a little sad. She loved these quiet moments with him in her office. Still, she knew this was a good step for Tommy. For now, she decided to enjoy this time, watching him build his colorful towers and smiling back every time he looked at her.

A knock pulled her out of her thoughts, and she looked up to see the office assistant standing at the door. "Ma'am, you have a visitor who'd like to speak with you," the assistant said politely.

Eleonora frowned, surprised. "I wasn't expecting anyone today."

The assistant gave a small smile. "He's in the lounge, actually, speaking with the director and all the senior staff. They seemed quite friendly. Sir has asked me for you."

Eleonora's curiosity sparked. Whoever this visitor was, he seemed important. She looked down at Tommy, still busy with his towers, and stood up, straightening her jacket. "Alright, I'll head over there."

"I'll be back, baby, don't leave the room." she replied, glancing back at Tommy one more time before making her way to the lounge to meet this mysterious guest.

While walking behind the assistant towards the lounge, she felt her heart beating irrationally fast, a sense of nervousness and anxiousness clouding her mind. Every step felt heavy, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something ambiguous was about to happen.

It was strange. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, everything.

As soon she crossed the threshold of the lounge door, her feet froze. The warm glow of the room wrapped around her, but her heart dropped when she saw someone she never expected to ever see again. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as she tried to process the surprise.

Surely never after what happened back at Everwood.

"Oh, here she is. Come on in Eleanora, have a seat," her director said, breaking her trance. She took a deep breath and entered, not daring to look in the eyes of the unexpected visitor.

"Allow me to introduce Mr. Emmet Anderson, the esteemed president of Anderson Legacy House in Everwood. You may recall crossing paths with him during the campaign." Director Norton exclaimed in all his glory sitting right at the center of the room with others.

But Eleanora could least get bothered about him. Her mind ran with questions as to how her brother got to know about her whereabouts. What the hell is he doing here? She took a nervous glance at him and quickly averted her eyes, taking a seat in an empty chair.

He looks different from how she remembers him. Dressed in a casual yet formal tailored suit, giving off a professional demeanor. His hair is neatly styled, and his confident posture conveys authority and composure. He looks...... determined somehow. A complete turnover from when he was begging her to come back home back in Everwood. Her trance is broken yet again by the director.

"So, since everyone is here, I would like to discuss the exciting opportunity we have with Mr. Emmet Anderson. We're on the brink of launching a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative that could significantly elevate their brand."

A collaboration?

"Since Mr. Emmet here is deeply impressed with our campaign work last week, which was led by Miss Eleanora and her team, he has decided to trust us with this grand deal and collaborate with us on this mass level. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our creativity and strategic vision on a much larger scale."

"Eleanora, great job on the last campaign. Your leadership really shone through, and it's a big reason we're here today." he continued, diverting all the attention on her, who was already nervously tapping her foot on the floor, which didn't go unnoticed by Emmet.

As a matter of fact, his entire attention was on his little sister the moment she stepped inside. Only he knows what all strings he had to pull to trace her and get a meeting with the director of her company. Perks of being an affluent figure, it seems.

Eleanora finally looked up and passed a nervous smile to her boss. "Thank you! I appreciate that."

"That's not it," her boss countered, "Mr. Emmet here especially wants to work with you in the planning and execution of the project."

Another bomb!!!

Eleanora's heart raced as the weight of her boss's words sank in. The prospect of working directly with Emmet, her estranged brother, filled her with an overwhelming feeling of dread.

Memories of their last encounter-a heated argument full of resentment and pain-flashed in her mind. She never thought they would end up here, together in front of their team, with him representing a big corporate partnership.

"Eleanora," her boss continued, not noticing her inner struggle, "this is your chance to take the lead again, just like you did in Everwood. You can bring your creative vision to life on a much larger scale. Think about the impact we can make!"

"I-uh, sure," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. The words felt strange coming out. Could she really do this?

No way!

"But sir, wouldn't a more experienced staff member be more suitable for such a grand deal. I mean no offence, but my lack of comparative experience may cause a hindrance in this project." Eleanora voiced out, finally gathering the courage to speak her mind in front of her brother, who regarded her with his calculating gaze.

Of course, he expected it.

"That would be not a problem Miss Eleanora," Emmet spoke for the first time, casually taking a small step forward, his voice confident and unwavering. "You are a fine example of hard work and determination. It's precisely those qualities I need on this project. I value creativity and a young mind knows no limits when it comes to it. So, I have decided I want all the younger staff, including the interns to work on this project with us, of course with your agreement." He completed and took a glance at all the people around the room who were perfectly impressed with his idea.

Damn him and his words!

"What do you say Eleanora?" Her boss asked, his voice indicating he wants an affirmative response.

She looked at her brother, who for once looked back at her with those soft eyes and loving gaze, before reverting back to his composed self. Weighing all the options, there isn't much that can be done in her favor.

"I'll do this."