Chapter 15
~ Octavia ~
He waited. Everyone did. I took a steadying breath and found my voice.
"What I mean is that the environment is adaptive. It doesn't just mirror reality; it responds to the user. Our AI integration means the virtual space shifts based on the biometric data we collect," I explained, my voice firm.
Franklin nodded, throwing a few more technical curveballs my way. I caught every single one, answering with a precision that left him no room to argue.
When I finally saw a flicker of defeat in his eyes, I stood a little straighter. "Any other questions, Mr. Flemington?"
"No further questions. Thank you," he said. He paused, his expression unreadable for a second.
"You did a good job. I'm impressed."
"Thank you," I managed to say before retreating to my seat. My heart was hammering against my ribs.
It felt like he had been hunting for a flaw—deliberately trying to trip me up as a way of punishing me for our situation. He wanted me to fail, but I hadn't given him the satisfaction.
"Wow, Octavia, you really killed it," Victoria whispered, leaning toward me. "You did so well."
"Thanks, Vic. You did too."
"I don't think so," she sighed. "Your presentation was a hundred times better than mine."
"Don't compare us," I said, patting her hand. "We both did great work."
Franklin stood up, drawing the room's attention back to the head of the table. "I'm incredibly impressed by the work I've seen today. This is a significant decision, and I want to be deliberate. I will meet with the board and my team over in a week to finalize the Lead Developer promotion. I'll announce the decision at the next executive meeting."
I felt a wave of frustration. Why the delay? Why couldn't he just end the suspense now?
"Miss Herman... Octavia?" Franklin's voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up.
"Can I speak with you outside, please?"
A nervous hum went through the room. I could feel every eye on me. I cleared my throat.
"Sure. Of course."
Franklin nodded to the room. "Thank you, everyone." He shook Miranda's hand, exchanged a few formal pleasantries, and walked out with his team trailing behind him.
I followed slowly, feeling the weight of the office gossip already beginning to pile up behind my back.
"Damn, girl," Victoria whispered as I passed. "He probably wants a quiet moment. Better hurry up!"
I stepped out into the cool hallway. Franklin was leaning against the wall, his hands shoved into his pockets. His team was nowhere to be seen.
"You called for me?" I asked, stopping a few feet away.
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he stepped into my personal space, invading the air I breathed. I shivered involuntarily. "What are you doing?" I whispered.
"PDA, remember?" he murmured, his voice dropping to a low, husky register.
"We have to keep up appearances. Your colleagues are watching us through the glass."
I frowned and started to turn my head to look back at the conference room.
"Don't look," he warned. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted. The dominating CEO vanished, replaced by a man who looked almost... desperate.
"Franklin, I…"
"Shhh." He looked over my shoulder, ensuring our "audience" had a front-row seat. "Here comes the kiss."
Before I could protest, his lips captured mine. My knees went weak instantly.
A flash of memory hit me — the night at the hotel, where we had one night stand. I couldn't remember much of that night, but the taste of him now gave me an inkling of what I had forgotten.
He cupped the back of my neck, tilting my head to deepen the kiss.
If I didn't know better, I would have said it wasn't an act. His breath was ragged, and a low, almost silent moan vibrated in his chest.
His cologne—heavy, masculine, and expensive—filled my senses. I found myself enjoying it, my hands reaching up to tug on the lapels of his suit jacket to pull him closer.
For a second, it wasn't about the contract. It was just us.
Then, he pulled away. I opened my eyes, slightly dazed, to find him staring at me with a look of icy detachment.
"There. It's done," he said, his voice returning to its usual coldness. "We gave the audience exactly what they needed to see."
The sudden shift made my blood run cold. "Yes. I suppose we did." I crossed my arms, trying to hide the fact that I was flushed.
"I'm heading back to the office. I'll see you at home."
Home. He called the estate home, but to me, it was a gilded cage.
"Okay," I said flatly.
"Bye," he said, turning and walking away so fast it felt like he was fleeing.
"Yeah. Bye."
I turned back toward the conference room, but my colleagues were already spilling out into the hall.
"Aww, you guys are so cute together!" one of them gushed.
"Did you see that? He practically swallowed her whole!" another giggled.
"It was so romantic."
"Just get married already, Octavia!"
I forced a soft chuckle. "Guys, come on... you're making me blush."
"It's more like you're making me sick," a sharp, venomous voice rang out from behind the crowd.
The laughter died down as Bella stepped forward, her face a mask of pure rage. My smirk returned, sharper than before. I found I actually enjoyed her discomfort. It was bliss.
"Be happy for the moment, Octavia," Bella hissed, stepping closer. "Just know that soon you'll be in tears, wondering why the world hates such an unfortunate soul like you."
Someone in the crowd gasped. She was trying to break me, but I wasn't the same girl I was yesterday.
"Aww, really?" I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "If I'm the unfortunate soul, what does that make you, Bella? A soul so wasted that even the devil rejected you?"
Another collective gasp echoed through the hallway. Bella looked like she was going to explode. Her face was contorted with fury, her hands shaking at her sides.
Before she could retaliate, Miranda walked out of the room, her phone in hand.
"What is all this commotion?"
She didn't wait for an answer. "Actually, I don't want to know. Get back to your desks. Now."
The crowd scurried away, but I stayed for a second longer, watching Bella stomp off. I was the one gloating now. I had defended my project, survived Franklin's kiss, and put my nemesis in her place.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was winning.