Chapter 11 ~ The Annoying Man

"Welcome to Clovies Corporation, Jeslyn," Leonel whispered with a wide smile, then stepped back.

The man sat in the main chair just as the office door swung open.

Jefran, seeing Jeslyn still standing stiffly while Leonel sat arrogantly at his desk, looked confused by the situation.

“What’s going on?” Jefran asked as he approached Jeslyn, snapping her out of her daze.

“Ah, it’s—”

“Did my brother scold you?” Jefran accused, his gaze instantly shifting sharply toward Leonel.

“Scold her? Of course not. I merely asked about the presentation material for later. We can’t afford to embarrass the company in front of the investors, can we?” Leonel replied casually.

Jeslyn lowered her head, trying to hide the flush on her cheeks—not from embarrassment, but from anger. She gripped the tablet in her hands tightly, as if the device could help keep her composed.

Bastard. He kissed me, then acted like nothing happened—in front of his own brother. Jeslyn bit her lip in silence, holding back the explosion of emotions boiling in her chest.

Jefran, who knew Jeslyn well, didn’t buy Leonel’s explanation so easily. His eyes moved between Jeslyn’s face and his brother’s, sensing the tension in the room. Still, Leonel remained seated nonchalantly, twirling a pen between his fingers.

“I can help review the material if you haven’t had time,” Jefran said gently, trying to ease the atmosphere while watching Jeslyn with concern.

Jeslyn nodded slightly. “Thank you, but… I’ll handle it myself. It’s okay,” she said, staring directly at Leonel, as if issuing a silent challenge.

Leonel smirked, as if he had caught on. “Good. A leader should be able to handle pressure. Isn’t that one of the key points in your upcoming annual evaluation, Jeslyn?”

Jeslyn raised an eyebrow. Evaluation? Now he’s messing with my position too?

Jefran looked like he wanted to say something, but Jeslyn spoke first. “In that case, I’ll excuse myself and return to my office, Director.” Her tone was firm, professional, and clearly displeased.

Leonel gave a small nod. “Go ahead.”

As soon as Jeslyn left the room, her steps were brisk—nearly a light jog. She needed a safe space. Time alone. And more than anything, a way to get back at the madman named Leonel Clovies.

Outside, Jeslyn took a deep breath. Stay calm. I won’t let him win. I’ll make him regret underestimating me.

But deep in her heart, Jeslyn also realized… there was something dangerous about Leonel, something that was slowly pulling her into a storm she couldn’t control.

***

Back in the office, Jefran was still standing in front of Leonel, visibly annoyed. “Did you really have to push her like that on her first day back? And in the morning, no less?” he asked.

 Leonel kept his focus on his laptop screen. “Jef, this is the workplace. Learn to separate business from personal matters.” He glanced up at his brother. “And I wasn’t pushing her—I simply asked her to...” Leonel paused, “...make a few revisions.”

“I know you too well. On your first day, you already made someone resign and fired another employee for not meeting your expectations,” Jefran said, venting his frustration. “Come on, don’t pressure Jeslyn.”

“Is it because she’s your fiancée that you keep defending her?” Leonel asked. “If that’s the case, then why let her work here at all? Tell her to stay home and sleep.”

Jefran clenched his fists at his sides, his eyes narrowing.

“She works here because she’s capable. Not because of anyone’s pity—including yours.” His voice was calm, but the firmness behind it was undeniable. “And yes, I will always protect her. Because she matters. Not just as my fiancée, but as someone I must protect.”

Leonel slowly closed his laptop, then leaned back in his chair, looking at Jefran with a calm expression. “She matters?” he raised an eyebrow, questioning the meaning behind those words. “Then if she really does, why did you let her walk into a lion’s den like me?”

Jefran let out a long sigh, trying to stay composed. “Because I know Jeslyn can face any lion—even the wildest one... like you.”

Leonel let out a low chuckle, sharp and mocking. “You’re making her sound like the heroine in some fantasy novel.”

“And you make yourself sound like the cliché villain in an old movie,” Jefran shot back coldly.

For a moment, silence settled over the room. Then Leonel stood and walked toward his brother. “I’m not going to go easy on her just because she’s your fiancée, Jef. If she wants to survive in this ruthless business world, she needs to learn how to dance on fire. Think of it as a form of self-defense.”

“She’s not afraid of fire. She’s just sick of flames pretending to be light.”

Suddenly, Leonel’s expression shifted. Something flashed in his eyes—anger, maybe... or a deep pain. But it was gone in a split second. His face returned to its usual cold mask.

“And that,” Leonel added, now looking more serious, catching Jefran off guard, “is exactly what I want to remind you too.”

“You want to protect her, right? Then do it well—protect her feelings too.”

“Brother—?”

Leonel gently patted Jefran’s shoulder. “Now go. And tell Jeslyn I’ll be waiting in the meeting room in an hour. Don’t keep the clients and investors waiting.”

Jefran exhaled sharply and walked out, but unease lingered in his heart. What exactly did Leonel know? And what did he mean by those words?

***

Meanwhile, in her office, Jeslyn was rearranging her presentation slides. Her hands were trembling slightly—not from fear, but from her inner turmoil. That damned kiss. His attitude. His words.

She took a deep breath. “Okay, Jes. Focus. You’re not some naive girl who’ll let a crocodile like him mess with your feelings. You’re a professional. Show your elegance.”

Just then, a message from Jefran popped up on her phone:

Jefran: “Leonel will be waiting for you in the meeting room in an hour. I’ll be there too. So no need to be too nervous. Tidy up your material, and ask me if there’s anything you’re unsure about.”

Jeslyn stared at the screen. “Jefran still thinks this is all about the presentation,” she muttered, then typed a reply.

Jeslyn: Thanks, Jef. But this time, I can handle it on my own.

***

One hour passed quickly. Jeslyn stood in front of the small mirror behind the filing cabinet door. She straightened her white blouse, tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, then stared at her reflection.

“Show your class, Jes,” she whispered. “Not just to the clients. But to him. Especially that alligator.”

Her steps were firm as she exited the room. Every second down the corridor toward the meeting room felt like a battle between her professional self—determined to prove her worth—and her emotional self, still reeling from Leonel’s behavior.

As she pushed open the meeting room door, several heads turned. There were company executives, two foreign investors, and Jefran seated on the right side. At the far end of the long oval table, Leonel sat upright in a black suit and a slim gray tie, looking every bit the cold, untouchable corporate leader. He looked completely different from the annoying man who had been toying with her.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Jeslyn’s gaze was sharp, full of unspoken words. Leonel’s? Impossible to read. But a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips—was it a welcome, or pure indifference?

“Please begin, Miss Jeslyn.”

Leonel’s voice was calm, almost cold, yet carried an invisible pressure that filled the room. He gestured subtly, inviting her forward.

Jeslyn gave a slight nod. With steady steps, she walked to the front, standing beside the projector screen that lit up with a soft glow, displaying the first slide on the whiteboard behind her.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Jeslyn began, her voice calm yet commanding. She looked around at the investors and the management team seated before her, ignoring the thunderous heartbeat pounding in her ears.

“My name is Jeslyne Xavia Hydra. Today, I will present our rebranding and digital expansion strategy for the upcoming quarter, which we expect will significantly impact the company’s growth.”

The first slide changed, displaying market trends and a SWOT analysis.

Jeslyn continued, her voice gaining strength and confidence, “As we can see, in the past five years, our brand awareness has stagnated at an alarming rate. That’s why this strategy not only focuses on external branding, but also on internal culture improvements—starting with how we communicate.”

Several people in the room nodded, showing interest. Jeslyn continued explaining smoothly. Slide after slide rolled on, covering digital innovation, demographic targeting, and omnichannel content strategies.

Her voice was firm, her word choices precise. Not once did she glance at Leonel, though she could feel his intense gaze—hot enough to burn or freeze, depending on how she responded.

Jeslyn swallowed discreetly and pressed on. “We also conducted market research with over two thousand respondents across six major cities. The results show that customers want a brand that not only sells products but also represents values and authenticity.”

She pointed to a chart on the screen. “That’s why we’re launching a digital campaign with the theme ‘Own Your Origin’—a campaign highlighting real stories from our employees, customers, and partners. It’s not just about products. It’s about who we are and what we stand for.”

The room was silent. Everyone was paying attention. Even Leonel said nothing, his fingers laced together on the table, his expression blank but focused.

Finally, the last slide appeared, titled: Projected Growth & Strategic Milestones.

“So,” Jeslyn concluded her presentation, “with this strategy, we’re not only increasing our market growth potential, but also strengthening the company’s image as a pioneer—one that isn’t afraid to innovate, even in times of uncertainty.”

A brief silence settled over the room. Then, light applause broke out from two foreign investors seated on the left side. A few executives smiled, looking pleased.

But before the applause fully died down, Leonel’s voice cut through the room—calm, but this time with a challenging undertone.

“An interesting presentation, Miss Jeslyn.”

He leaned forward, clasping his fingers together. “But tell me… how do you plan to handle a failed merger if the internal stakeholders themselves aren’t fully on board with this plan?”

Silence fell again. All eyes turned to Jeslyn.

Jefran looked like he was about to speak, but Jeslyn beat him to it.

She lifted her chin, locked eyes with Leonel, and answered firmly, “I’ll make them believe. Because I believe in the data I’ve gathered and the strategy I’ve built.”

Then, with a sharper tone, she added, “And if you—Mr. Director—still have doubts, then let the results speak for themselves.”

Someone at the far end of the table inhaled sharply, surprised by Jeslyn’s boldness. But Leonel remained silent. Their gazes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

People thought Jeslyn was being too daring, unafraid of Leonel—a man known for being firm and unyielding.

Then, Leonel offered a faint smile. Not mocking, but… something else. A quiet acknowledgment. Whether for her courage or the fact that he enjoyed the challenge, no one could tell.

“An interesting answer,” he said at last. “Let’s see… who turns out to be right.”

Everyone in the room looked surprised. Leonel had actually accepted Jeslyn’s bold response. Jefran, on the other hand, felt relieved that his brother didn’t make things harder for Jeslyn.

“You better be satisfied with that answer, Alligator,” Jeslyn thought, still wearing her pleasant smile. “Just don’t even think about giving me more trouble later.”

***