Chapter 17
Calen leaned back in his chair, phone pressed to his car. The sleek glass desk in front of him reflected the faint glow from the recessed lighting, casting a warm yet formidable ambiance. Yes, I understand. The Macau project needs additional support from the local government. Til handle it from this end, we’ll have the proposal restructured by the end of the week.” He paused, his gaze moving to a plaque on the wall that read Glen Weiss, President of the Strategic Department, Vice President of Weiss Inc.
He flipped through a set of documents neatly organized on his desk, his brow furrowing. “No, push for more concessions. We need this project to be profitable from day one,” he added firmly, the words resonating against the polished oak–paneled
walls.
A knock at the door interrupted him, and he looked up to see Monica stepping in, her gaze darting over the well–placed awards on his shelf as if they were a part of his persona she still couldn’t fully grasp. He gestured for her to wait, but she closed the door and crossed her arms, her irritation etched clearly on her face.
Calen tightened his grip on the phone. The view of the city skyline behind him reminded him of the world outside this office–a world that demanded his attention, not petty complaints. It immediately reminded him of how he absolutely hated Monica’s petty complaints.
“I’ll have to call you back. I have a meeting in like five minutes to talk about this with the team,” he said, ending the call and lowering the phone. “What’s going on, Monica?”
She stepped closer, her irritation clear. “Izzy’s bullying me again she declared, pouting.
Calen sighed, glancing at the clock mounted above the framed map of Macau on the wall. “I have a meeting in ten minutes, Monica. This isn’t the time.”
Monica’s expression hardened. “With Izzy and her team, right? just don’t understand why you always have to meet with her,” she muttered, a hint of jealousy breaking the usual compostire she wore in his presence.
“Are
you serious?” Calen replied, barely containing his frustration.
She looked away, biting her lip before taking a step closer. “It’s not just that, Calen. She left me hanging last night. I had to pay for the entire dinner. Out of my own savings.”
“How much was it?” he asked, already reaching for his phone.
“Ten thousand,” she replied, eyes wide as if hoping he’d acknowledge her sacrifice.
Calen shook his head, exhaling as he pulled up his banking app. Fine. I’ll transfer it to you
A triumphant smile replaced her frown. She reached over, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. “Thank you, Babe. I knew you’d understand. I’ll get the boardroom ready for your meeting she added, glancing once more at the plaque on the wall before leaving, satisfied. “Oh..” she stopped midway. “Should I cook your favorite dinner tonight?” he asked.
“I might not-
“Take–outs then,” Monica winked before she sauntered out of his office.
Once alone, Calen let out a sigh. The Macau Project is only one of the projects that he needed to finish within this month. He had been losing sleep over this thing. Thankfully, Izzy was pretty efficient in everything.
He leaned back and started drumming against the table. If he could get the Macau project then perhaps, his father would finally decide to step back from the company and finally promote him as the CEO. Just the thought of it made him giddy.
A knock on the door interrupted him. “Come in,” Calen said.
1/3
13:12 Wed, Jan
Chapter 17
Calen leaned back in his chair, watching as Izzy entered his office She was dressed in her usual conservative black pantsuit, the kind that highlighted her straightforward professionalism. Her brown hair was pulled back neatly.
As always, her green eyes looked sharp and observant. It gave he that unmistakable air of intelligence that he admired. Standing at about five foot six, Izzy had a simplicity to her beauty that felt genuine, unembellished. There was something about her–maybe the quiet confidence she carried–that made her look both smart and intimidating
Izzy stopped just inside the door, her gaze briefly moving overs desk before settling on him. “Do you need something before the meeting?” she asked, her expression composed as alwys
Calen found himself appreciating, not for the first time, her professionalism. Even after three years of being together as lovers, Izzy had never crossed boundaries at work. She kept things strictly business, which was something he respected. He paused for a moment, his mind wandering as he watched her, then cursed inwardly.
Their third anniversary!
He had completely forgotten to get her something. He thought be had added it to his calendar. Did Monica remove it or something? He gritted his teeth in silence.
Clearing his throat, he quickly tried to refocus. “I need you to restructure the proposal by the end of the week,” he said, shifting slightly as if to push the thought of his oversight aside. “My father wants it done as soon as possible. It’s a high priority.”
“But I will be presenting the proposal to the team today, I can’t-
“Izzy, that wasn’t a question,” Calen said. “I reviewed it. It lacks something, I don’t know. I just need to focus more on profits.” “Macau is different. Their laws are different,” Izzy said. “We need to focus on following the regulations before anything else.
Calen immediately frowned. What he dislikes the most about Izzy is her tendency to make someone feel stupid. “I’ve read the laws,” he leaned forward. The fact that Izzy was standing while he was sitting made it seem like she was indeed looking down on him, literally. “But then again, I wasn’t asking a question. That is something that you needed to finish in three days Calen faked a smile.
Izzy crossed her arms, her expression resolute. “I need more than three days for this. If that’s a problem, I can speak with CEO Weiss myself to explain why.”
Calen’s face darkened instantly. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, a scowl forming. “Do you even realize what you’re saying. Izzy?” His grip on the edge of his desk tightened. “You’re bypassing my authority to talk to my father? Over a timeline?”
Izzy
zy frowned. “I’m only looking for ways to ensure the proposal is solid, Calen. If I could just—”
“I wasn’t asking for suggestions. You need to get it done. That is an order from your superior or have you forgotten about that too?” he cut her off, his expression hardening as he sat back not breaking eye contact.
Izzy held his gaze for a moment, then nodded curtly. “Fine,” she said. Without another word, she turned and walked out, letting the door close sharply behind her.
Calen watched her leave, his irritation simmering. The Izzy he knew wouldn’t usually question his instructions. What was with her today?
13:12 Wed, Jan 1
