“Maya,” Cecil says.“Zach Knight, this is Maya Santiago.I believe you two have already met.”
I glance at Zach; he’s already looking at me and our gazes hold because Cecil’s words hit so deep.We have met, only it wasn’t just last night.Now it feels like we’re sharing a little secret.
“Zach enjoyed the presentation very much,” Cecil continues, good-naturedly.
Zach clears his throat.“That was one heck of a slick presentation deck.I’ve seen a lot of presentations, and I have to say, this was excellent.”
I feel myself blush from top to toe.Why is he heaping so much praise on me?“It’s just a presentation.Anyone can do it,” I blurt out, a little embarrassed by his fawning praise.
“I don’t agree.”
Our eyes lock, and there’s awkwardness.I hate that he’s putting me in such a difficult position.He’s giving me glory, but it makes me feel uncomfortable.
“Sit down …please,” he adds, as an afterthought.He’s a big shot billionaire, now.“I’d like you to run me through this presentation deck.There are some slides that I’m not sure about.”
He taps the tablet in front of him and then turns it around so that I can see it.“The performance overview, the part where you reference year-on-year growth, but you haven’t included raw figures.I’m also wondering why the wholesale projections stop at this quarter.”His eyes lift to mine, calm and curious, and searching.My gut tells me this is personal.He’s not bothered as much about these figures.To some degree, yes, but it’s me he’s questioning.
Why are you like this?
My stomach tightens.“I’m not the best person for this,” I say carefully.“Katherine would be.”
“But I’m asking you.”
Everyone’s eyes are on me, and I don’t know what to say.I don’t know what Zach wants.
Cecil perks up.“Is that the time?Sorry, Zach, we have another meeting to attend.I didn’t realize this would run over.We obviously have much to talk about.”
“Not a problem.I’m sure Maya will clue me in,” Zach answers, smoothly.
Cecil stands.“We’ll have to leave you both to deal with this.”He and the other managers rise and follow.The meeting room empties and I turn on Zach.
“What are you doing?”I snap, feeling more panicked and more uncomfortable than ever.I wasn’t prepared for this, for him to be in my territory.He left it a week, enough time for me to forget.And then he turns up and demands answers from me.“Did you know my boss wouldn’t be here?”
The room suddenly feels hot, and I’m feeling more flustered than I want to let on.
“No.”Zach is infuriatingly calm, with his hands loosely clasped over his stomach and his eyes twinkling in amusement.
Fury slowly spirals inside me, and I resent that he’s obviously manipulating the situation for his benefit; to have me and him be alone together.“You could have had this meeting anywhere.Why are you having ithere?”
“Where else should I have it?”There’s a hint of mischief in his eyes.“You don’t think I engineered this, do you?”
It’s the way he says it, that makes my spine go ramrod straight.“You people would know the first thing about engineering situations.”I spit the words out with such venom that he tilts his head, eyes widening.I can’t help it.Years of simmering resentment come flooding out.
“What are you implying?”
I close my eyes, slowly, then open them.“Please leave me alone.Please,” I beg.“You being here is just going to cause problems for me.”
He sits up, leans forward.“What problems?What are you talking about?”
When I don’t say anything, he persists.“I can see that your boss isn’t nice to you.I sense that you do a great job because all I hear are glowing reports about you—”
“You’ve been asking about me?”
“No.Cecil and the other managers commented.I know you’re brilliant, Maya.“
I roll my eyes, and he sees it.He’s trying to be my friend.Trying to butter me up, but I don’t need compliments.Not from someone like him.
“I also happen to know that the company isn’t doing as well as the image you’re trying to portray,” he continues, ignoring my petulant reaction, but I snap to attention at his words.“Cecil wouldn’t say it, which is why I wanted a meeting with him.I wanted to go through the slides.There were a lot of things missing in that presentation, and that’s what I want to talk to you about.”
