Encoding Love (BWWM)

///FIVE

Zora, with her shy, gentle demeanor and sweet charm. Didn't own the qualities or attributes one needed to strike fear into others. This was common knowledge.

She was a nice and humble woman that her father raised in Greenwich. Who loved finding gadgets and building model robots in the home garage. Zora dressed modestly, she was polite, and she cared for others. She was the type of person who warmed people's hearts. And yet, the icy chill that surrounded the room wouldn't thaw.

Nathan Klein had the opposite effect. He unhinged all those who had the unfortunate pleasure of being in his presence. There was something so alarming hidden in the depths of his grey eyes. Their stare caused others to panic under their gaze. It was terrifying. He didn't have to utter a single word, and he would completely unsettle everyone.

Zora wished she had some of his mannerisms, if only to hold everyone's attention. Nathan was distinguished and had a presence that commanded the recognition of others. He was captivating. The man had a way of silencing a crowded room when he entered.

She could never do such a thing. Everyone always overlooked Zora. No one gave her a second glance. She was intelligent and endearing, but Zora Rhodes was forgettable.

Even as she stood before the movers and the shakers of Klein Technologies, she felt unremarkable. This was her presentation with her research and her design. The people who occupied the conference room were there to see her software. And yet Zora felt like she couldn't deliver.

Her voice was weak, and it wavered and shook. She could barely hold her composure.

When everyone was fighting to keep their eyes open, it was then that Mr. Klein stood from his seat at the head of the table. He wasn't supposed to be there. Wilson had assured her that he didn't attend these meetings. But yet he had entered, donning another finely tailored suit and throwing everyone in the room off guard.

Zora wasn't nearly done, but everyone turned their gaze towards him. It was amazing how he instantly captured everyone's attention. She figured that it came with the power of being a leading figure in the industry.

Her frayed nerves only worsened at that point. She was sure that this was when  Mr. Klein would renege on their partnership. He'd realize he made a mistake by choosing her. The contract had yet to be thoroughly reviewed and signed. Nothing was holding him back from ending this now. Her face reddened at the thought.

"Ms. Rhodes, I'm going to have to stop you." He spoke to her in an even tone.

She knew that Nathan was not the type to raise his voice. He didn't need to. He could get his point across with the way he spoke, verbally tearing through his subordinates. The deep sound of his voice cut like a knife and sent unpleasant chills down one's spine.

"You are wasting our time." That hurt. Zora visibly flinched from his brutal honesty. "I want you to discuss further KT's current software system and how your design is an improvement."

Zora stilled. She had been avoiding talking about the current software in a way to avoid a mishap like their first meeting. She didn't want to take a chance of insulting Mr. Klein and all the people involved in his creations.

She hesitated, but only for a few seconds. "The first version of Klein Tech operating system released in the early 2000s. Designed to run on KT computers. The first of its kind to--"

"I'm not looking for a history lesson, Ms. Rhodes." He interrupted as he casually began to move around the room. One hand tucked into his pants as he took a leisure stroll towards the windows. "Tell us why we need your design."