Chapter 32 || A Day Of Surprises

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Sophia

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Sophia.

"Of course." I nod, jotting down the information for show. I really had no need for it because I have it memorized, but it's all about calming the irritated CTO who's steaming at me right now. "I will pass all this information onto Mr.Vallero right after this meeting, but as he's not here himself today, you'll have to present the information to me. Could we start by running through the strategies you've outlined in developing the new software team Mr. Vallero wanted formed?" I asked, lifting my head back up from my laptop, and putting on the most impassive expression one could form.

The CTO, Elijah, sighed as if I had asked him to tell me how he plans to prevent world hunger all together. I, of course, understand that he's not keen on having to present his strategies to me, a basic assistant, but I'm quite sure I could do his job in my sleep. And since Maddox has been hounding him, nitpicking everything this man does, I'm sure he's double irritated. To be fair, Maddox is much more qualified and motivated to do Elijah's job, and has much more spirit about this project than his whole job. Just yesterday, I had to practically drag him away from the IT department and get him on a phone call; he pouted the entire time, even walked down to his car to pull out a whole box of M&M's I wasn't even aware he kept on stock. 'Basic necessity for life', he called it.

Resting back comfortably in my conference chair, I waited. And Elijah, across from me, yanked the binder he had in front of him closer, putting on his reading glasses, before flipping the binder open and beginning to read from it outloud. After a moment, I realized he's point blank reading word by word as if the same binder isn't sitting right in front of me also. "Elijah." I cut him off sharply, "Thank you for reading the reports to me, but I'm quite capable of doing it on my own. I'm asking for your strategies, thoughts, options, and I'd like to have an open conversation with you about them. I appreciate your reading material, but I'd appreciate a discussion more."

Light blue eyes flicked up at me, narrowing on me as if I once again asked him what he plans to do with the lack of viable drinking water in the Middle East itself. "Miss. Larovich," he sighed, pressing his thin lips together in annoyance, "to be frank with you, I don't understand what you want me to discuss with you. All the information you need is in the binder before you."

To be frank with you, I think you're an asshole. Instead of giving him exactly what he wants, I remained polite and respectful, taking a moment to regard the older man. "Who's running this project?" I asked after a second of letting him sit there uncomfortably under my unbothered gaze.

"Me."

The awkward silence was interpreted by the conference room being opened, and before I could go on with my awesome conversation, my focus shifted to the door. I wasn't expecting anyone considering this is a one-on-one meeting, and the only other person who cared for it was Maddox himself, but he's taken the day off and gone snowboarding. To my suprise, I found Mateo strolling past the doorway, crisp black suit tailored to him and carrying a largely assertive attitude. Even the air in the room seemed to shift in his presence, creating a sense of fearsome anticipation I can't understand, because underneath it all is an undeniable calm I couldn't ignore either. Always, no matter what room he enters, you know he's there. Like a black cat. You love them, think they are the cutest, but they're also cursed, and are bad luck. It's on you whether you believe in the superstition, but you know it. Like the cat, you know Mateo's there. You feel the chills that run down your spine when he's near. If you ignore it and choose to pretend he's not dangerous, you take that risk on a well known understanding of who he is.

          

Nevertheless, I had no problem putting aside my feelings, and focusing on my job. So, as he walked with his usual scowl to the other side of the conference room table, pulling out a seat, and sitting down in it, I didn't question what he's doing here, I ignored him. Unlike Elijah, I didn't bother straightening out, or putting on an entirely new persona because I was already sitting in mine. The usual confidence and boldness I wore was staring Mateo back in the face.

Going back to the earlier conversation, I gave Elijah a forced smile. "Good, Elijah, then you are fully aware of what exactly it is I want to hear from you. I'd like to know your strategies and needs for this project to succeed. As much as I'm grateful for this folder of resources, I much rather take this opportunity to learn more information from the leader of the project. I'd like to pass a handful of information onto Mr.Vallero, a full update as you'd put it, and along that, I'd like to share any comments you might have." Leaning forward to my elbow's, I stared down at Elijah from the tip of my sharp nose, "Mr.Vallero is very invested in seeing this project form and be successful. So, how about we start again the proper way, and have a professional discussion on how you are committed to his project. Perhaps you can help me understand what you've done so far on Mr.Vallero's request to be fulfilled."

Elijah's shoulders shot backward, stiffening his entire body on the chair, unhappy to be put in place. But to be fair I already asked this same question once and with a much kinder attitude. The fact that he didn't bother taking that opportunity and has put both of us in this awkward spot is on him. A little awkwardness wouldn't stop me from getting what I need, I'll just be bolder and more passive aggressive about it. Either way, he's talking to me regardless of his feelings about who exactly it is he's presenting too. I'm fully aware of the many employees in this company who are in higher positions than I am that don't practically like to be assessed and passed off to the assistant when it's the COO they'd like to be in front of. But I also don't give one fuck about their insecurities. I'm here to do a job, and by doing it well I satisfy Maddox. So, you can see how I don't give a shit whether Elijah is happy or not, because I'm not here to fail.

Just like that, Elijah got all this shit together and started presenting the information in a much more professional and knowledgeable manner. To be fully honest, I'm pretty sure it's Mateo's presence that put the fire in his ass, but I didn't care. And Mateo's been silently watching all of this go down.

The meeting lasted about forty minutes, in which Elijah ran through the entire project, explaining what state it's in, and how he plans to move it forward. The man is quite smart, I'll admit that. During the entire meeting, Mateo sat with an impassive expression and a coldly calculated ring around his hazel eyes. I don't why he's here, or what he wanted but I didn't give him a minute of my attention. I was here to do my job, and there's only one person who can cloud my focus, and it sure isn't him. My weakness just so happens not to be in the building today, and the emptiness of his wild energy I feel on every nerve in my body. I am not by any means ready to trust him, but I promised to try, and I'll keep that promise.

It wasn't until Elijah had finished his presentation, and stepped out of the conference room that I finally gave my attention to Mateo. "Hello to you." I smiled.

He stretched his muscles, replying in a chuckle. "Hello back."

"Is there something you're in need of? Or do you not have enough of your own work that you decided to add an extra meeting to your calendar?" I joked, filing away the binder and shutting off my laptop.

Sitting back, he watched me from across the table, blank as an empty canvas. "I have my own reason for wasting my time here."

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