The Quiet Contract

The meeting - Blushed

Double update cause I didn't update yesterday

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Lisa's POV

I glanced at my watch. It was time to head out for the meeting. As much as I was trying to keep my nerves under control, the thought of sitting in front of Jennie and pretending to be the perfect future wife made my hands shake slightly.

I picked up my phone and called Tzuyu, my first secretary and one of the few people I trusted implicitly at work. Unlike Rosé, who was my rock outside of work, Tzuyu was my anchor in the office.

"Tzuyu, meet me in the meeting hall in five minutes," I said, trying to sound calm and collected.

"Yes, ma'am," she replied smoothly, as always.

I hung up and gathered my things. On the way to the hall, I mentally rehearsed the plan Rosé had drilled into my head: eye contact, smile, compliment, hand-kiss. It felt more like preparing for a battle than a business meeting.

When I entered the hall, Tzuyu was already there with the team, her tablet in hand and her usual calm demeanor on display. She looked up as I walked in and gave me a polite smile.

"Good morning, ma'am," she greeted.

"Tzuyu," I said with a nod. "Thanks for gathering everyone so quickly."

"Of course," she replied, her voice steady and professional. That was one of the things I appreciated most about her—she was efficient and always a step ahead.

I turned to address the team, but my eyes drifted back to Tzuyu briefly. She had been with me from the start, back when I was still finding my footing as a CEO. She wasn't just a secretary—she was a strategist, an advisor, and sometimes even a friend.

"Alright, everyone," I began, clasping my hands together. "We're heading to Kim Enterprises for a meeting. As you all know, Jennie Kim is... meticulous." I hesitated, searching for the right word. "She's a perfectionist, and she has high expectations. I need all of you to be on your best behavior."

The team nodded, a mix of nervousness and determination in their expressions.

"Tzuyu," I said, turning to her, "I'm counting on you to keep everything running smoothly. You know how important this is."

"You don't even have to ask," she said, her tone light but reassuring. "I've already prepared all the documents and presentation materials. I'll make sure there are no surprises."

I exhaled, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She gave me a small smile, one of the rare times she let her professionalism slip just a bit. "You'd survive, but it'd be a lot messier."

The team chuckled softly, and even I managed a small smile.

As we wrapped up the briefing, Tzuyu walked up to me and lowered her voice. "Are you okay, ma'am? You seem a bit... tense."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's just... Jennie. She's..." I paused, trying to find the right words.

"Intimidating?" Tzuyu offered.

"Yeah, that's an understatement," I muttered.

"She's tough, but you've handled tougher situations," Tzuyu said. "Just be yourself. And remember, if she's hard on you, it's probably because she's impressed and doesn't want to show it."