Chapter 6

Another presentation you say?

“Yes, Mr. Donovan. We are so sorry for wasting your time, but if you could just spare us 10 minutes of your time.” Dukia responded.

“Alright, You have exactly 10 minutes. The clock is already ticking.” Alex said while taking his seat again.

With that Dukia began her presentation.

Every eye in the room was fixated on her. If eyes could kill, Mr. Cox’s eyes would have sent her six feet below.

Mustering all the confidence within her, she gave the presentation her very best, knowing that if this deal fell through, so would her chances of turning the wheels of this branch.

She walked them through market projections, untapped revenue streams and a restructuring plan that would cut costs by 30% while increasing output by 55%. She spoke with a confidence she absolutely did not feel, her voice steady even as Mr. Cox’s face got redder by the second.

“...and finally, if we implement this strategy within the next ninety days, we can expect to see a 250% return on investment within the first year.”

“Thank you for your time.”

At the end of her presentation, the entire room was silent.

Those same deep blue eyes were staring intently at her, as if trying to solve a puzzle.

“I approve of this deal on the condition that Ms. Chen oversees it.” Alex said.

All heads in the room whipped to look at Mr. Cox.

“Errrr… Mr. Donovan, Ms Chen here is just an inexperienced manager. I do not think she is the right fit…”

“You do not think she is the right fit? And just who exactly is the right fit? Mr. Chen, this same inexperienced manager was able to come up with a presentation that far exceeded yours even with the ample time you had to prepare for it.”

“Well, I’ve given my condition, it’s left to you to accept it. Goodday Mr. Cox.” Alex said already rising from his seat.

“Just a minute Mr. Donovan. Of course we would be happy to work with your terms.” Mr. Cox responded.

“Good. I will have my team send over the contracts by close of business today. I expect to see your signature on them by tomorrow morning.” Alex said, addressing Dukia.

Of course, Mr. Donovan.” Dukia responded.

He held her gaze for a beat too long. Then he walked out of the room, his team falling behind him.

The conference room emptied out leaving Mr. Cox and Dukia alone.

“You…. You think you have won, girl? You think you can just walk in here and take over what I have laboured for? This is my branch. My territory! You are nothing but a…”

“I am nothing but the girl who just saved your job,” Dukia interrupted calmly.

“You and I both know that if this project had fallen through, the headquarters would have shut this entire branch down. Including you. I believe that thank you’s are in order not what ever it is you were planning to say.”

Mr. Cox opened his mouth, then closed it. The veins on his head threatening to burst open.

“Now,” Dukia continued, gathering her laptop,”I believe I have some contracts to review. If you’ll excuse me.”

She walked past him out the door.

She could feel hid glare burning through her back, but she did not turn around.

By the time she got to her office, her hands were shaking.

She closed the door and leaned on it. She let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

She had done it.

She had actually done it!

The Donovan-Goven project was hers. Her ticket to actually reviving this place.

The future was indeed looking bright.

She walked to the other end of her office and took a cup of water. What she really wanted was a glass of wine, but this would have to do.

Cheers to the first of many more victories to come.

The contracts arrived in Dukia’s inbox at exactly 4:58 PM.

She spent the next two hours reviewing every single line of the contract. She found three clauses that favoured Donovan Enterprise unfairly and sent back her revisions.

Gathering her things, she finally packed up and went home.

On getting home, she took a long bath, easing off all the tension from her body the day had brought on.

After her bath, she settled in the living room where she had her dinner while catching up on one of her favourite series.

At 8:25PM, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.

Unknown Number.

She hesitated, then picked the call.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Chen.”

Alex’s voice came through. Deep, smooth and completely unexpected.

“Mr… Mr. Donovan,” she replied, steadying her voice. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I received the revisions you sent. You struck down three clauses.”

“Erm… Yes Mr. Donovan. I do not believe they were fair to both parties.”

“I’m aware.” There was a pause. “I’ve approved all three changes. The new contract will be arriving in your inbox in the next 15 minutes.”

Dukia blinked, mouth gaping as she struggled for words. “You approved them? Just like that?”

“I shouldn’t have?” Alex asked. A deep chuckle rumbled over the line.

Dukia found herself wishing she was face to face with him to see how he looked when he laughed.

“No no no, focus on the matter at hand.” Dukia thought to herself.

“Ms. Chen, I am interested in this partnership. And I am interested in working with someone who knows what they are doing and from the look of things, you do.” Another pause. “I am also interested in getting to know you and what runs behind those eyes of yours.”

Dukia’s grip tightened on the phone. “I do not know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

“Well Ms. Chen, I look forward to our next meeting. Thank you for your time.”

“Erm.. Me too. Thank you too Mr. Donovan.” Dukia responded.

“Sleep well. And Ms. Chen, please call me Alex.”

The line went dead.

Dukia stared at her phone for a long time.

Had she just imagined that call?

Her heart was running a marathon inside her chest.

“Dukia no no, we do not have the time to be thinking with our heart,” she said while rubbing the area over her heart. “We have no time for distractions. We have to steer clear of Alex Donovan, this is strictly business.”

But even as she told herself those words, a part of her knew she hadn’t seen the last of Alex Donovan