Chapter 8 ~ Board of Directors Meeting

The soft chime of the cash register echoed amidst the hum of customers bustling in and out, ordering coffee and desserts. Jeslyn stood behind the counter, her smile never wavering, even though her body felt exhausted inside. Her hands moved swiftly, jotting down orders and greeting each customer with warm hospitality.

Today felt like any other—busy, lively, and filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked chocolate lava cake from the oven.

But something felt… off.

Jeslyn had the unsettling feeling that she was being watched.

The stare was piercing, even from afar. She instinctively looked up, and her eyes met a man in a neatly tailored formal suit. His face was calm but expressionless. His hair was slicked back, and his thin-rimmed glasses sat perfectly on his face. But it wasn’t his appearance that made Jeslyn’s heart pound uneasily.

It was his gaze.

Sharp. Observant. Unrelenting.

Jeslyn felt a chill crawl up her spine. The man stood near a small magazine rack, pretending to browse, but his eyes never left her.

Livia, who had been preparing a customer's coffee, stepped beside Jeslyn and whispered softly.

“He’s here again, Sis…”

Jeslyn turned quickly. “Who?”

“The one in the gray suit and glasses. The guy standing like a statue,” Livia muttered warily.

Jeslyn frowned. “I don’t know him…”

Livia gave a slight nod. “I know. But he comes here often. Almost every day. He always sits in the same corner, by the window. And every time, he just… watches you.”

Jeslyn swallowed hard. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. Nico and I have noticed it for a while. But you’re always so busy, you never realize.” Livia glanced at the man again, her eyes suspicious. “He’s weird. Never orders anything out of the ordinary, but he’s so consistent. And his gaze… it’s like a detective tracking a target. Creepy.”

Jeslyn tried to remain calm, but her hand trembled slightly as she grabbed the customer’s receipt. She stole another glance at the man. Sure enough—his stare was unchanged. Steady. Still. Unblinking.

“Dear God… I haven’t even resolved things with Leonel, and now this mysterious figure shows up,” Jeslyn thought as she bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the anxiety that crept into her thoughts.

She felt… trapped.

Suddenly, the man began to move forward. The sound of his leather shoes echoed across the café floor, momentarily silencing the cheerful chatter around him. His pace was slow, deliberate. Jeslyn’s heart beat faster, her instincts screaming danger.

“Espresso,” the man said. His voice was deep, flat, emotionless.

Jeslyn flinched slightly but quickly inhaled and forced her usual polite smile. “Alright, one espresso. Dine in or takeaway, sir?”

“Dine in,” he replied curtly, his eyes never straying from Jeslyn’s face. His gaze seemed to peel back the layers of her mind, trying to uncover who she really was—not just a barista, not just the café owner.

Jeslyn avoided direct eye contact, focusing instead on punching in the order. “That’ll be seventy-five dollars.”

The man pulled out a sleek black wallet from his jacket, handed her a fifty-thousand note without a word. His fingers brushed hers—perhaps accidentally, or perhaps not—and Jeslyn felt a jolt, like a surge of static electricity.

“Thank you. Please have a seat; your espresso will be brought to your table shortly,” she said quickly, almost nervously.

The man didn’t turn immediately. He continued to stare at her for a moment before finally walking toward his favorite corner seat by the window—directly facing the counter.

Livia, watching everything from behind the espresso machine, leaned closer. “Sis, are you okay?”

Jeslyn held her breath, then nodded. “I’m fine. But honestly, Liv… his stare is really unsettling.”

Livia peeked at the man again. “He feels like he has… hidden intentions. His aura is different. Most guys flirt. He observes.”

Jeslyn nodded slowly. “I feel that too.”

Before long, Nico brought the espresso to the man. But as he handed over the cup, the man asked a quiet, yet piercing question.

“The owner of this café… she was the one who served me, right?”

Nico nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

The man stared at Jeslyn from across the room again. “Good.”

That was all he said. Then he began sipping his espresso—still without a smile, still expressionless.

Jeslyn swallowed hard. Something was off. This man wasn’t just a regular customer. He came here with a purpose. And Jeslyn could feel it. Her woman’s intuition screamed at her.

The Leonel problem isn’t even over yet… and now another storm is brewing, she thought.

“What’s happening to me? Why are people suddenly watching me in silence?” she muttered under her breath.

***

Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows on the top floor of the Clovies Group tower. The spacious boardroom, adorned with elegant interiors, was now filled with board members, shareholders, and senior managers. All were dressed formally, the atmosphere official yet laced with anticipation. They had all gathered for one reason—a major announcement from the company’s owner.

The main doors opened. Leonel walked in, flanked by Jefran and their father, Mr. Samuel Clovies—a distinguished man whose charisma and commanding voice drew respect with every word.

“Good morning, everyone,” Samuel’s voice rang out calm and firm. All eyes turned to him. “Thank you for attending this important meeting. Today, I will be introducing someone who will carry great responsibility within this company moving forward.”

Leonel stood beside his father in a dark gray suit that accentuated his tall frame. His gaze was confident, commanding attention with an air of mystery.

Jefran, equally charismatic, stood on the other side of their father.

“Allow me to introduce my son, Leonel Clovies,” Samuel said with a proud smile. “Starting today, he will serve as the President Director of Clovies Group.”

A few attendees clapped immediately, while others merely nodded politely, hiding their surprise. Leonel’s name was known, but few expected him to assume the top position so soon.

Samuel continued, “And for the role of CEO, it will be held by my second son, Jefran, who has long been involved in developing our internal systems and business expansion. He will focus on strategy and technological advancement, strengthening our foundation and guiding future growth.”

The applause this time was louder. Jefran stepped forward and shook Leonel’s hand professionally. The two exchanged a glance, both knowing the dynamic between them would not be easy.

Leonel looked out at the senior board members and stepped up to the podium. “Thank you for this trust. I understand that leading a company as vast as Clovies Group is no small task. But I will do my best. And I know I’m not alone. With our new CEO—my brother Jefran—and a solid team, I believe we can go even further.”

The room filled with anticipation and curiosity. The two sons of the Clovies Group founder were now at the helm.

After the formal session ended, Leonel entered his new office. It was spacious, modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. A bookshelf with sleek black wood lined one side, and a large dark marble desk stood prominently at the center.

Leonel took off his suit jacket, hung it over his chair, and sat down. The chair was plush and comfortable—but that wasn’t what made him smile. His mind wasn’t on his new responsibilities, nor on the spreadsheets piling up on his laptop screen.

He leaned back and stared at the sky stretching beyond the glass. A small smile formed on his masculine face.

“What is that lioness doing right now?”

That was the nickname he had given Jeslyn—the stubborn woman who always stirred his chest, between frustration and admiration. Just this morning, she had glared at him, sharp and challenging… and mere seconds later, turned awkward when he praised her. Jeslyn's emotional shifts were swift—like a feral cat that hated being touched but secretly longed to be pampered.

Leonel exhaled, then chuckled quietly to himself. “Foolish, considering she’s Jefran’s fiancée. But I still want her.”

He picked up a pen and twirled it lazily between his fingers. But his thoughts remained with her. Jeslyn’s beautiful face, her always-irritated-yet-cute expression, her semi-threatening tone.

Unconsciously, the corners of his lips lifted again.

“Maybe she’s putting chili in her dessert batter again,” he murmured with a chuckle, recalling the surprise lava cake from that morning.

The room was quiet, filled only with the ticking of the clock and the soft hum of the air conditioner. But inside Leonel’s mind, it was noisy—with the image of one woman.

Jeslyn.

***