* * *
“You ready for this?”Emmett asked, resting a soothing hand on the small of my back as I took the seat next to him.
The conference room gleamed like a fortress of glass and steel.Nerves twisted my stomach into knots as I smoothed my skirt for what felt like the hundredth time.The elevator doors slid open, and Thomas and Laura Price entered together.Their presence heightened my excitement and anxiety.
I nodded, momentarily unable to find my voice.“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He squeezed my hand under the table as we waited for the rest of the board members to arrive.
Once everyone was seated, Thomas called the meeting to order.“Let’s get started.No time to waste.”
Emmett and I exchanged a look, suppressing our smiles.
Minutes blurred together in a haze of anxiety and adrenaline as the board ran through mundane items on their agenda.Despite Emmett’s steady presence beside me, my palms grew clammy.This presentation was the culmination of our tireless work on the community development project.I wanted it to be flawless.
And with Emmett leading the room, I knew it would be.
“Well, that settles that,” Thomas said, though I had no clue what they had been discussing.“Let’s move on to the proposal from Special Projects.Emmett?”
“I think I’m going to sit this one out,” Emmett said.
The blood drained from my face.On Emmett’s other side, Glenn wore a mischievous grin.
Cheeky fuckers planned this.
My stomach dropped as reality sunk in.I was leading the pitch—to the entire board.Shit.What if I stumbled over my words?What if they weren’t convinced?
Emmett gave me an encouraging nod.“You’ve got this.”
At that moment, I couldn’t have loved him more.Only two weeks into his new role as president, and he was already stepping to the side to ensure I wasn’t left in his shadow.
I drew a steadying breath and strode to the front of the room.This was my chance to shine.
I took in the faces before me—some familiar, like Meghan’s with its warm smile, but others were strangers whose opinions held immense weight.As my eyes landed on Thomas, he gave a slight nod.“Whenever you’re ready, Ms.Winters.”
Squaring my shoulders, I clicked to the first slide, outlining our vision for revitalizing the Harrison Park neighborhood.I could deliver this pitch in my sleep.“Thank you, Mr.Price.It’s an honor to be here today...”
The words flowed smoothly.I was in my element, my passion for the project lending strength to my voice.With each point I hit, the weight on my chest lifted.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Emmett’s proud gaze locked on me.His silent support bolstered my nerves.I could do this.
Every fact, every data point, every nuance was etched indelibly in my mind after weeks of relentless preparation.Slide after slide, I painted a vivid picture of the transformative potential this project held for the community—new jobs, affordable housing, education initiatives.This wasn’t just another corporate scheme to pad investors’ pockets.It was a chance to uplift an entire struggling neighborhood, to breathe new life into a region that had been left behind for far too long.
I knew the skeptics in that room would need more than just flashy graphics and empty promises.They needed to see the depth of my belief, my commitment to making this dream a reality no matter what obstacles lay ahead.
So, I bared my soul with every point I drove home, each impassioned utterance bleeding conviction.The future of struggling families was worth fighting for.And I would fight tooth and nail.
Forty minutes later, I clicked to the final slide, the renderings of the proposed community center and housing complex filling the screen.
“In summary,” I said, infusing my voice with every ounce of passion I could muster, “this project has the potential to be a game-changer, not just for Price Industries, but for the entire community.By investing in their future, we’ll be forging a legacy that extends far beyond the boundaries of this boardroom.”
Silence filled the air as I finished, the only sound the faint ticking of the clock in the corner.Then, slowly, Thomas inclined his head, the hint of a smile on his lips.
“Thank you, Ms.Winters.Your presentation was thoroughly prepared and well-delivered.I’d like to personally congratulate you on a job well done.”
I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.“Thank you, sir.Truly, though, it was a team effort.I could not have done it without the support I received from Emmett and Glenn and the rest of the Special Projects team.”
Thomas nodded, and I caught a wink from Emmett out of the corner of my eye.
