Chapter 4: Unlucky Charm
Chris opened his briefcase and pulled out a stack of papers, laying them out on the table. "I have identified several key marketing channels that I believe will be effective in reaching our target audience," he said, pointing to a chart. "Social media, word-of-mouth, and influencer marketing are all going to be important. I have also developed a robust PR strategy that will help us get the word out about the product."
"This is impressive," Alex said, looking at the materials. "But what about the logistics? How are you going to actually get this product to market?"
"I have a plan but first let's have some coffee", Chris said smiling before ringing the bell to place an order.
As Chris looked at the young woman standing before him, he was struck by her beauty and poise. Despite the fact that she was clearly upset, she was carrying herself with a dignity and grace that was impressive. And despite the fact that he had never met her before, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
"Please, we'd like some coffee" he said, motioning to the chair next to him.
The investors placed their orders, and Lily returned to the kitchen. She busied herself with preparing the coffee and pastries, but her mind was still reeling from the conversation she had just had with William.
She took a deep breath and tried to focus on her task at hand. She had to get the coffee and pastries to the table as quickly as possible, and she didn't want to make any mistakes. She carried the tray out of the kitchen, determined to do her Best.
Lily carried the tray of coffee and pastries into the meeting room, setting it down on the table with a polite smile. She then began serving the cups of coffee to each of the investors, careful not to spill a drop. As she did so, she noticed that Chris was watching her closely, his eyes never leaving her face.
She tried to ignore his gaze and focus on her task, but she couldn't help but feel self-conscious under his scrutiny. She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm, but her heart was racing. Was he really interested in her, or was it just her imagination?
One of the investors noticed that Lily's hand was shaking as she poured the coffee, and they quickly intervened. "Miss, are you okay?" they asked, their voice tinged with concern. "You seem a bit unsteady."
She froze, her hand still trembling. She looked up at the investor, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice shaking. "I'm not sure what happened. I must have gotten a bit flustered."
"That's quite alright," the investor said, gently taking the pot of coffee from her. "Why don't you go".
As she left the room, she could feel the eyes of the investors on her back. She felt humiliated and ashamed, but she tried to hold her head high as she walked down the hallway. She made her way to the staff bathroom and locked herself inside, breathing heavily. She leaned against the sink and tried to steady her breathing, willing herself to calm down.
"It's okay," she said to herself, her voice hoarse. "You're okay. Just take a deep breath and collect yourself." She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sound of her breathing, trying to push all other thoughts from her mind.
As the investors continued their discussion, Chris found himself unable to focus on the topic at hand. His mind kept wandering back to Lily, and he couldn't help but wonder what had caused her to become so flustered. He felt a sense of concern for her, and he hoped that she was alright.
He tried to tune back into the conversation, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Lily. He knew that he needed to stay focused, but he couldn't seem to shake the image of her from his mind.
The discussion continued, and he did his best to contribute, but he could tell that he was not at his best.
After much deliberation, the investors reached a decision: they were going to invest in the project!
He was overjoyed, and he could barely contain his excitement as he signed the agreement. This was a huge step forward for him and his company, and he couldn't wait to get started on the project.
He thanked the investors for their time and their support, and he headed back to his office, a huge grin on his face. He couldn't wait to share the news with his team.
The investors left and he rang the bell again but instead of Lily, her boss Mr Williams came in.
"Mr. Williams!" Chris exclaimed, a bit taken aback. "I was expecting Lily. Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything's fine," Mr. Williams said, a stern expression on his face. "I needed to speak with you about something important, and I wanted to do it in person."
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," he added, his tone somber.
"The coffee was delicious, as always," Chris said, hoping to lighten the mood. "By the way, I hope everything's okay with Lily. She seemed a bit off earlier."
Mr. Williams sighed, and his face softened a bit. "I'm afraid Lily won't be working here anymore," he said. "She has decided to move on to another opportunity."
Chris couldn't help but feel skeptical about Mr. Williams' explanation. It didn't seem like a good enough reason for Lily to leave her job so suddenly. And the fact that she was shaking earlier had him even more concerned. Something didn't add up.
"I hope you'll forgive me for being blunt," he said, mustering up the courage to ask the question that was on his mind. "But I have to ask - is there something more going on here? I feel like there's more to the story."
"There is more to the story," he admitted. "Lily's been having some personal problems recently, and it's been affecting her work performance. We've tried to help her, but she's decided that it's best for her to move on. I hope you understand."....
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone