Chapter 16

The morning light felt harsher than usual as it filtered through my bedroom blinds, cutting through the thick fog of exhaustion that clung to me. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, the glasses perched on my nose doing little to hide the evidence of a sleepless night. Swollen eyes, bloated skin, and the unmistakable dullness that came from crying myself to sleep.

Pull it together, Lila. You have work to do.

Grabbing my bag, I straightened my blazer and left my apartment. I couldn’t afford to falter now.

By the time I arrived at the office, the usual hum of activity was already in full swing. Phones rang, keyboards clacked, and snippets of conversations about deadlines and deliverables floated through the air.

I nodded to a few colleagues as I made my way to the conference room, clutching my coffee cup like a lifeline. This meeting was important, the team was meeting to finalize key aspects of the launch without Drew’s input; he had earlier mentioned that he wouldn’t be attending.

The team was already gathered when I walked in, a mix of faces I’d grown accustomed to these past few months. Some friendly, some indifferent, and one that immediately set my nerves on edge; John Miller.

He was seated near the head of the table, his posture relaxed and a smug smirk playing on his lips. It was the kind of smirk that said he thought he was untouchable, and it took everything in me not to roll my eyes as I took my seat.

I ignored him, taking my place at the head of the table. I wasn’t the official leader of this project, but Drew had entrusted me with significant responsibilities, making it clear I was to oversee these discussions in his absence.

“All right,” I began, flipping open my notebook. “Let’s get started. We’ll be reviewing the rollout strategy for the launch and ensuring we’re aligned on all fronts before next week’s presentation to the board.”

The team nodded, and I dove into the agenda, outlining the plans Drew and I had meticulously worked on. Things started smoothly enough, but I could feel John’s eyes boring into me the entire time, his presence like a dark cloud hovering over the room.

It didn’t take long for him to pounce.

“Hold on,” he said, cutting me off mid-sentence. His tone was sharp, laced with irritation. “You’re suggesting we allocate that much of the budget to influencer marketing? That’s a huge gamble.”

I looked up from my notes, my expression calm but firm. “It’s not a gamble. The data supports it. Influencer marketing Is one of the most effective ways to engage directly with our target audience.”

John scoffed, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh. “Data isn’t everything, Lila. You’re new here and obviously you don’t understand how things work yet. This company doesn’t take unnecessary risks.”

The jab stung, but I didn’t let it show. “I may be new, but I’ve done my research. This isn’t an unnecessary risk; it’s a calculated strategy and Drew already signed off on it.”

John’s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, leaning forward and slapping the table for emphasis. “Drew isn’t here, is he? And since when does a five month contractor dictate how we spend company resources?”

A murmur of discomfort rippled through the room. My grip on the edge of the table tightened, the tension between us crackling like a live wire.

“I’m not dictating anything,” I said, my voice steady but edged with steel. “I’m presenting a plan that was developed with input from Drew and the rest of the leadership team. This is about what’s best for the launch, not personal opinions.”

John let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Personal opinions? That’s rich coming from someone who”

“John, enough,” I snapped, cutting him off. I could feel the heat rising in my chest, but I refused to let him push me further. “This isn’t about you or me. It’s about the success of this project. If you have legitimate concerns, voice them. But if you’re just here to undermine me, you’re wasting everyone’s time.”

The room went dead silent. John’s face flushed with anger, his hands clenched into fists on the table. For a moment, I thought he might actually lunge at me.

“What the hell gives you the right to”

The door swung open with a loud bang, cutting John off mid rant.

“Is there a reason I can hear you from down the hall?” Drew’s voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

All eyes turned to him as he strode into the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. He wasn’t supposed to be here, and his unexpected arrival sent a ripple of shock through the room.

He stopped just inside the doorway, his sharp gaze sweeping over the team before landing on me. For a moment, our eyes met, and I felt my heart leap into my throat.

“Care to explain what’s going on here?” Drew asked, his tone deceptively calm as his gaze shifted to John, who looked like he wanted to disappear into his chair.