CHAPTER 4: The Meeting

Julian turned... and his eyes locked onto mine. His brows lifted in surprise. He hadn’t expected to see me here.

I rolled my eyes and walked past him, saying nothing, as I headed straight for the receptionist.

"Good morning," I greeted her calmly.

"Good morning, ma'am. How may I help you?" she asked with a polite smile.

"I have an appointment with the CEO." I replied.

"Alright. May I have your name and the organization you're representing?" She asked.

"Lexi Robert. I’m here on behalf of Starline Limited." I answered.

She scanned her register, then nodded. "You're on the list. Please have a seat. The CEO will see you shortly."

I found an empty chair and sat down, painfully aware of Julian still staring at me... his gaze lingering on my protruding stomach. I didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking.

Few minutes later, the receptionist stood. "Those here for the partnership meeting with the CEO, please follow me."

I stood, along with Julian and four others. She led us to a polished office at the top floor, which had been set for the meeting. As we filed in, the air shifted and people were soon engaged in low conversations.

Then he entered.

All eyes turned toward the man walking in with confident ease. He looked awfully familiar, but I can't seem to remember where I knew him from.

His eyes flicked to mine... and paused. Just for a second. Like he was trying to place me.

"Hello, everyone," he began, his voice calm, commanding. "I’m Clyde Bayne, the new CEO of White Rose Fashion."

I froze.

Clyde Bayne.

I have heard that name before. And my heart dropped, as I remembered.

He was the man from the bar that night.

The one-night stand.

The potential father of my unborn child.

I looked at Julian and then back to Clyde. The father of my child... was either one of this men, and they were both in the same damn room.

Clyde’s expression remained neutral, but I couldn’t tell if he recognized me for sure... or was simply trying to place me. Either way, I had to focus.

He continued, "As you all know, White Rose is only seeking to partner with one cosmetics company. I expect each of you to convince me why your brand is the right fit."

The pitches began.

The first representative came from one of the top five cosmetic brands in the country. His presentation was confident, polished. He talked about mutual prestige, big names, celebrity endorsements. A powerhouse linking arms with another.

The guy made a good pitch, citing why it will be beneficial for two big and well known brands to collaborate. And how they can easily help to promote each other's products.

The second speaker represented a smaller brand... but they’d partnered with the winners of last year’s fashion competition. She smartly positioned herself as part of a proven winning team.

I felt sweat bead beneath my blouse. I wasn't so sure of myself anymore. These were solid competitors. Starline was neither rich nor trending. We were deep in debt, teetering on collapse.

What could I possibly say to stand out?

Julian stepped forward.

"I’m from Sun and Moon Limited. I won’t waste time describing our brand... you already know who we are. We’re one of the top five cosmetic companies in the country. Our products speak for themselves. Celebrities, influencers, prominent people of the society, and even politicians... are all regular customers of ours. As you can see, our customer base is elite. We didn’t get here by flashy speeches, but by quality and consistency. Partnering with us will be one of the best decision that your company will make. Thank you."

He nodded slightly, then stepped back. The room murmured approval.

Then it was my turn.

I took a breath and stepped forward.

"Good day. I’m Lexi, representing Starline Limited," I began. "I took time to study your company... your collections, your branding. One thing became clear: for the past two years, you have been slowly tailoring your products to the youth. Your designs, your colors, your campaigns... they all target a younger demographic."

Clyde’s expression shifted slightly, his interest piqued.

"At Starline, we just launched a new line called 'Forever Young'. Like you, we’re focusing on what the next generation wants... what they feel. They crave freshness, boldness, rebellion. If online trends are anything to go by... the whole world is also slowly following this approach. People have gotten tired of the same repeated lifestyle. They crave something new... something different, that challenges what we currently have. Like the youth approach. Even the older generation is reaching for youth... reinventing themselves."

I paused, meeting Clyde’s eyes.

"A youthful outfit needs the right cosmetic companion. What we’re offering isn’t just makeup... it’s a movement. A shared vision. A trend rising through the internet, reshaping beauty. And you and I, Mr. Bayne, can push it into the mainstream—together."

Before I could say more, Julian’s voice cut in.

"Nice speech. But your company sounds like an underdog. Nobody’s heard of Starline before. It’s not exactly... a household name. And moreover every other company here can also offer the same thing as your company, and even do it better."

I turned to him, trying to stay composed.

"Your company targets a more mature audience. Switching to youth branding would be jarring and controversial. We’re already there. This isn’t about reputation. It’s about alignment."

Julian scoffed. "Please. What do you know about branding... or controversy?"

I narrowed my eyes. My fingers curled against my side. He always knew how to poke the sore spot. But not today.

"Oh, you want to talk about controversy? Sure. How about this... why don’t you tell everyone here why the sight of your pregnant ex-wife is rattling you so badly?"

Gasps and scattered laughter echoed around the room.

"Wait... they were married?"

"I didn’t know that!"

Julian’s face twisted in rage and embarrassment.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Clyde cut in sharply.

"That’s enough, Mr. Reed. You had your turn. Let Mrs. Lexi speak."

I met Clyde’s eyes again, grateful. "That’s all I have to say," I said, and sat down.

The remaining presenters gave their pitches. When they were done, Clyde stood.

"Thank you all. Your pitches were impressive. But I want to make something clear. We have no interest in partnering with a brand already aligned with our direct competitors."

The woman who had spoken second scoffed and stormed out.

Clyde continued. "If all we wanted was a cosmetic brand, this would have been an email. We’re looking for something different. Something fresh. On that note, the rest of you are dismissed. Mrs. Lexi, please stay... we have more to discuss."

Everyone exchanged surprised glances but stood and left without protest.

Julian lingered.

"You’re making a mistake, Clyde. Your father would never approve of this decision..."

"Mr. Reed," Clyde said coldly, "get out of my office."

Julian gritted his teeth, then turned and left.

Once the room was quiet, Clyde approached me.

"So, Mrs. Lexi," he said, the intensity in his eyes unmistakable, "tell me more about this trend. But first... coffee or tea?"

I gave a tired smile. "Just water, please."