...The Meeting with Ethan

Amelia had heard a lot about Ethan Hartley, but she had never seen him up close. The whispers, the occasional mention of his name in passing conversations, and the way everyone seemed to look to him for approval made it clear that he was no ordinary CEO. He wasn’t just the boss—he was the force that drove the company forward, a figurehead whose presence seemed to command respect without effort.

Today, however, things were different. Clara had just informed her that she would be attending a meeting with him. A real, face-to-face meeting.

Amelia had never felt more nervous in her life. The task she had worked on over the past week—the client report—was going to be discussed in this meeting, and she was expected to be there to present it. It was a huge opportunity, but the pressure was almost unbearable. She knew this was her chance to make an impression, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she might mess it up.

As she walked into the conference room, Amelia tried to calm her racing thoughts. The room was sleek, modern, and intimidating, with a long glass table surrounded by high-backed chairs. The walls were lined with wood paneling, and the large windows overlooked the city below. It was the kind of room where important decisions were made, and now she was part of it.

Clara was already sitting at the table, flipping through some papers. Ethan, however, was nowhere to be seen yet. Amelia took her seat at the end of the table, trying to appear composed, even though her nerves were beginning to get the best of her. She could feel her palms getting clammy, her heart thudding in her chest.

A few moments later, the door opened, and in walked Ethan Hartley.

Amelia had seen photos of him before—on the company website, in articles, and even in passing social media posts. But none of those had prepared her for the real thing. Ethan Hartley was striking. Tall, with dark hair neatly combed back and sharp features that seemed almost too perfect. His suit, an impeccably tailored navy blue, fit him in a way that made it seem as if he had stepped out of a fashion magazine.

But it wasn’t just his appearance that was intimidating—it was the way he carried himself. Confident, composed, and effortlessly authoritative. The room seemed to shift when he entered, the air thick with his presence. He gave Clara a quick nod of acknowledgment before turning his attention to the rest of the room.

And then, his eyes met hers.

For a brief moment, Amelia felt like the entire world slowed down. She had heard that Ethan was intense, but the way he looked at her—like he was assessing her every move—made her feel like she was being put under a microscope. It wasn’t unkind, but it was piercing. It made her want to shrink into her chair, but instead, she held his gaze for a beat longer than she had intended.

“Amelia,” Ethan said, his voice low and smooth, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Good things, I hope.”

His tone was polite but guarded, as if he didn’t want to say too much but still expected a response. Amelia had to remind herself to breathe.

“Uh, yes, of course,” she stammered, feeling her face flush. “I—I’ve been working on the client report, and I’m happy to share it with you.”

Ethan nodded, taking a seat at the head of the table. “Let’s see what you’ve got then.”

Amelia’s heart was racing as she pulled up the report on her laptop and began presenting the work she had spent so much time on. Her hands were shaking slightly as she clicked through the slides, trying to focus on the data and the key points she needed to highlight. As she spoke, she could feel Ethan’s eyes on her, his presence looming over her every word. She stumbled over a few sentences, her nerves getting the best of her, but she kept going, knowing that she had to finish what she had started.

As she wrapped up the presentation, there was a brief silence in the room. Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. Amelia’s stomach twisted in knots as she waited for his response. The last thing she wanted was for him to dismiss her work or point out every flaw.

“Well,” Ethan said after a moment, his voice steady, “the report is solid. I can see you’ve put in a lot of work here. It’s thorough, and it covers all the key points.”

Amelia felt a wave of relief wash over her, but she didn’t dare let her guard down yet.

“However,” he continued, “there are a few areas where I think we can tighten things up. Some of the data points could be presented more clearly, and the timeline needs to be adjusted for better clarity. We need to make sure our client understands the value we’re offering them without any confusion.”

Amelia nodded quickly, mentally taking note of his feedback. “Of course, I’ll make those adjustments right away.”

Ethan’s gaze softened just a little, and he gave a small nod. “Good. I appreciate your effort on this, Amelia. Keep working on it, and let’s have a revised version by the end of the week.”

As the meeting wrapped up, Amelia felt a strange sense of accomplishment. Ethan had been direct, but he hadn’t been dismissive. He had acknowledged her hard work, and though there was still more to be done, he seemed satisfied with her contribution. The weight of her anxiety hadn’t fully lifted, but for the first time, Amelia felt like she might actually be able to keep up with the expectations of the job.

As she left the conference room, Clara gave her a reassuring smile. “Well done,” she said quietly. “You handled that well.”

Amelia managed a small smile, her mind still processing everything that had just happened. Ethan Hartley—intimidating, sharp, and surprisingly fair—had seen her work, and that was enough to push her forward. There was a lot more to prove, but this was the first step.

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