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2024-01-04 01:28:58In the boardroom, Naomi averted Wells’ gaze. This man spoke so naturally about his life’s work. There was silence as he spoke, but all potential buyers had nothing short of astonishment on their faces.
Wells was the youngest in his field. However, one would have thought he had lived this life before and reincarnated into this very same role. He was well-versed, answering questions before they could be asked, erasing any doubt that might arise from the consumers in the room. The excitement could be seen in their eyes. Today’s meeting was a success. All prototypes would be ordered in the masses. Mr. Wells, the one and only, had done it again. Naomi could not contain her excitement. She was the first to clap, and she didn’t care that she was being stared at. She felt like a giddy schoolgirl in that moment. All the buyers wanted to take Wells out for a celebratory drink. Luckily, Naomi had a plan to remedy that and kill two birds with one stone. She’d prepared for a late lunch and ordered the best booze to celebrate. This would allow the entire office to partake and allow Wells to have one celebration meeting, not dozens. Naomi was sure he could handle it, but the moment she set eyes on him, she vowed to make his life smooth sailing. She would voluntarily make unnoticeable changes to the way he’d been doing things. Work smart, not hard. Seeing that they were all already gathered in the same building, why not? It was already nightfall in the city, and Naomi, being the planner she was, alerted Wells’ hotel that the buyers would possibly be staying, considering they’d be drinking after such a long day of meetings. Even though all the CEOs of the other companies had a team of security and a driver, it had been a long day for everyone. For this, Naomi made the appropriate arrangements. They would have a room for each of their teams if they decided to hang around lakeside for a few days. As the room full of happy faces talked and drank, they all wanted Wells’ attention. “Mr. Wells, you must let me treat you to a nice supper when you’re in my city!” “Mr. Wells, you’re a genius!” “Mr. Wells, I don’t know how you do it, but I hope I can be a fraction of the man you are when I’m your age.” Compliments poured in from all corners. Everyone was happy. For the buyers, this meant sales—sales and more sales. For the staff at the firm, this meant huge raises, which was nothing new to them. They were used to it. After all, they were employed at the leading tech firm, and the company made millions of dollars while they slept. Wells always rewarded them handsomely for all the hard work they put into his company. The best part was, they were not all regular employees—they were young and career-driven. The best in their departments. If they wanted to, the opportunity was on the table to buy into new products being launched to gain a profit from sales. Most would jump on the opportunity to earn more money. They didn’t lack, but who would turn away a sure gain?
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The Price of Vulnerability 26: Crossroads
Naomi – The Weight of a Decision Naomi sat on the edge of her couch, staring blankly at the door Mr. Wells had just walked out of. The room felt different now—heavier, like it still carried his presence, his words lingering in the air. She had always assumed he would be there, steady, unshaken. But tonight, for the first time, she saw a crack in his patience. And the worst part? She couldn’t even blame him. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the wine glass she had abandoned earlier. The deep red liquid swirled as she took a sip, but it did nothing to settle the unease in her chest. What did she want? Mr. Wells was right about one thing—she had never been the kind of woman to hesitate. So why now? Why, when faced with the choice between her past and her future, did she feel stuck in place? Because Jordan had been her first real heartbreak. And a part of her, no matter how much she hated to admit it, had spent years wondering what would have happened if he had sta
The Price of Vulnerability 25: The Man Who Never Waits
Mr. Wells was not a man accustomed to waiting. In his world, hesitation meant weakness. Business deals, negotiations, power plays—everything in his life thrived on decisiveness. You made a choice, you stood by it, and you didn’t look back. So why was he sitting here, staring at his glass of whiskey, replaying his last conversation with Naomi? She wasn’t sure. That was what she had told him. And he wasn’t a man who handled uncertainty well. Especially not when it involved her. ⸻ A Game He Refused to Play He had sensed it from the beginning—Naomi wasn’t easily swayed. She wasn’t the type of woman who melted under charm or folded under pressure. If she was in, she was all in, and if she wasn’t, she wouldn’t pretend otherwise. That was what had drawn him to her in the first place. But now? Now, there was hesitation. Now, there was Jordan. Mr. Wells clenched his jaw. He had seen the way Jordan looked at her—the ease, the familiarity, the unspoken history between them. And w
The Price of Vulnerability 24: The War Within
Naomi prided herself on control. It was something she had mastered over the years—how to keep her emotions locked away, how to present a composed exterior even when everything inside her was unraveling. But tonight, as she sat alone in her apartment, wine glass in hand, she felt that control slipping through her fingers. The tension between Jordan and Mr. Wells had unsettled her in ways she hadn’t expected. Not because she didn’t know where she stood, but because for the first time in years, she wasn’t entirely sure if she was allowed to feel what she was feeling. Jordan was her past. Mr. Wells was her present—or at least, the beginning of something that could become her present. So why was her mind still tangled up in the past? ⸻ Unraveling the Past She leaned back against the couch, exhaling deeply. Jordan had been a force in her life once—charming, relentless, intoxicating. He had a way of making her feel like she was the center of his world, but when things got tough, whe
The Price of Vulnerability 23: Lines in the Sand
Naomi had always prided herself on control—of her emotions, her choices, and especially the people she allowed in her life. But now, with both Jordan and Mr. Wells looming in her orbit, she felt that control slipping, piece by piece. Jordan’s reappearance had already rattled her, forcing her to confront old wounds she thought were long healed. But Mr. Wells’ reaction? That was something she hadn’t been prepared for. She had expected indifference, or maybe mild curiosity. Instead, he was watching her—closely, deliberately. And she knew that this was no longer just about her past. This was a battle of presence. And neither man was backing down. ⸻ A Chance Encounter or a Calculated Move? Naomi was shelving books at the store when the chime of the front door rang. She turned, expecting a customer. Instead, she found Jordan leaning casually against the doorframe, as if he belonged there. She sighed, already exhausted. “What do you want, Jordan?” “Just checking in,” he said smoo
The Price of Vulnerability 22: A Man Like Mr. Wells
Wells wanted to ask her about her day, he wanted to take away all her worries. He couldn’t stand the silence, words not spoken between them from days of no communication. The random dinner dates, knowing she had troubled she refused to speak about. Mr. Wells wasn’t the type to dwell on emotions. He analyzed, he calculated, he decided. Yet ever since that night at the gallery, he found himself caught in an unfamiliar state—one he refused to name. He had seen many things in Naomi’s expression when she looked at Jordan. Surprise. Discomfort. Restraint. But he hadn’t seen indifference. And that bothered him more than he cared to admit. ⸻ The Unspoken Conversation Two days had passed since the gallery, and Naomi had been quieter than usual. Not distant, not cold. Just… measured. Mr. Wells noticed. And he wasn’t the kind of man to ignore what unsettled him. So when he invited her to dinner that evening, it wasn’t just to see her. It was to address the thing neither of them had
The Price of Vulnerability Chapter 21: Unfinished Business
Naomi had convinced herself that Jordan’s return meant nothing. It was just another encounter with the past, a fleeting moment that would dissolve with time. But deep down, she knew better. Jordan wasn’t the type to reappear without a reason. And the fact that he hadn’t reached out before now? That was deliberate. So, as much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, Naomi knew she wouldn’t be rid of him just yet. And she was right. ⸻ A Familiar Knock Two days later, Jordan showed up at her bookstore. The chime of the door startled her as she rearranged a display near the entrance. She looked up, expecting a customer—only to see him standing there, hands in his pockets, watching her like he had every right to be there. Naomi exhaled slowly, setting down the book in her hand. “If you’re here to buy something, we close in twenty minutes.” Jordan smirked. “And if I’m not?” “Then you’re wasting both our time.” He stepped closer, his expression softening. “Naomi, we need to talk.”
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