My mouth hung open for a while and then I shut it close, taking time to respond to Zoey. It didn't matter who the hell I slept with, Zoey wouldn't know him at all.

“I have this major presentation happening today and every fucking person is asking me what does this mean. Can't I sleep with a guy and expect no sort of commitment? I preferred the Bronx where you can hop on a stripping pole and never worry about commitment.” I packed up my things into a brown laptop back, closing the gap between me and Zoey. “I am fine Zoey. Truly, one sex doesn't change anything. I am still that tough bitch you know and love.”

I cupped her cheeks into my palms and dropped a kiss on them, leaving the room. I heard her yell my name and I groaned, retracing my steps.

“What about my father? He refuses to do anything without you visiting him. He keeps saying you’re the only one who gets him. Honestly, it’s kinda creepy how much he talks about you. Apparently, he is a man whore after my best friend. Geez,” I shook my head, giggling at her words. “You need to stop being sexy. He is my father, you know?”

I shook my head, laughing softly. “Well, maybe he should stop being so handsome for his age. Besides, you’re the one making me visit him every weekend. You know what happens when adults are left alone, right?” I winked at her, trying to keep things light between us.

Zoey rolled her eyes but laughed. “Ugh, stop! He’s my father, Lauren. I swear, if you two ever—”

“Oh, don’t worry,” I teased. “I’m not about to become your stepmother anytime soon.”Zoey threw a pillow at me, and I dodged it, finally making my exit. I heard her laughing behind me as I stepped out of the apartment. “Don’t stay out too long and remember, no sex for a year!”

I chuckled and closed the door, heading right into the elevator. The elevator door dinged open and I stepped out to the residential lobby, walking to my small red Ferrari parked on the drive through. Sliding into my Ferrari, I strapped on the seatbelt and started the engines.

“Get it together Lauren, what's the worst thing that can happen after having sex with your stepdad?”

_______________________________________

Avel Agency…

“Where the hell is Lauren? Get her on the phone. The investor is getting really impatient if she doesn't show up.” Pacing back and front was a man in a tailored black suit who went by the name Jason Caldwell, the lead project manager at Avel Agency. His neatly groomed hair usually gave off a calm vibe, but right now, he was anything but that. His eyes darted to his assistant, who was frantically dialing Lauren's number.

"I'm trying, sir! She’s not picking up yet."

Jason let out a frustrated groan, rubbing his temples as he continued pacing. "This is our biggest investor, and she knows that! We can’t afford to mess this up."

I parked my Ferrari in the agency’s underground lot, taking a deep breath before stepping out, ready for whatever I was going to say. It was not like hell was going to rain if I let Kathy win…what am I kidding, it was going to rain hell.

Making my way into the building, I could already feel the tension in the air. The receptionist gave me a hurried wave as I strode past, her phone glued to her ear as she dealt with another call. I reached the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor, mentally preparing myself for what was about to come.

When the elevator doors opened, I walked straight out of it, my arms clutching onto the documents and Jason spotted me first.

“Lauren! Finally,” He exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. “The investor is in the boardroom waiting. You’ve got five minutes to get in there and blow him away.”

I gave him a reassuring nod, very sure I was going to put them in awe. “I’ve got this.” I murmured, pushing open the black door and entering in, my heels clicking against the black porcelain tiles.

“You are late, Miss. Do you know how long you took to get here? If this company wasn't my only choice I would have left a long time ago.” I scoffed, my eyes rolling to my wrist watch. I was only five minutes late and he was already making a hell out of my life.

I cleared my throat, walking in front of the dozen stern faces seated in the boardroom, and only one important person to impress, Sebastian Kensington. "I apologize for the delay," I picked up my usual tone, placing the documents on the table and standing tall. "But I can assure you that what I’ve prepared today will be worth the wait."

Without looking directly at him, I set up my materials, flipping open the files as my fingers flew across the laptop keyboard. I could feel his eyes on me, scrutinizing every movement and shit, I felt it was like hell.

"Good morning, I’m Lauren Wayne, a data analyst and engineer and I’ll be handling today’s—” Before I could finish my statement, I knew he was already skeptical about me once I saw his hands raised up in the air.

I squeezed my face blatantly wondering if he was here to be a pain in the ass or just listen to my proposal.

“Give me a reason why I should listen to you after coming in late. Miss Kathy here was thirty minutes earlier than you.”

My mouth hung in awe, very convinced this man only saw no one but Kathy. It was okay to have preference but not when I haven't presented yet! I took in deep breaths, struggling to keep myself at ease but it wasn't possible. From the smug expression on Kathy's face, I already knew she had gone behind my back and done some shitty things or maybe, climbed into his bed to make him favor her.

I should have never trusted Kathy in the first place. I darted back to what I came here originally for and stood to my ground. "I appreciate your concern, Mr. Sebastian, but I believe my work speaks for itself, regardless of my arrival time. If I may continue, I can show you exactly why I’m the right choice for this project.”

His eyebrows raised slightly, as if surprised by my confidence. “Go on,” he said, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. I was grateful he didn't push me to the edge.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the presentation. “Today, I’m here to discuss the innovative strategies we can implement to enhance our data analytics and improve client satisfaction. I’ve outlined key points that address both the efficiency of our processes and the potential for increased revenue.” As I clicked through the slides, I could feel Sebastian’s gaze boring into me, but I forced myself to maintain eye contact with the rest of the room, including Kathy, who seemed eager to undermine me at every turn.

“While Kathy has certainly put in her time, the methods I propose are cutting-edge and tailored to the unique challenges we face. I’ve analyzed market trends and competitor strategies to ensure we stay ahead.”Sebastian nodded slowly, his expression shifting to one of interest.

“Continue,” he said, his tone slightly softer now, as if he were genuinely curious and I was happy. It wasn't easy to make an impression on the famous renowned business Guru. Finally, I wrapped up, looking around the room expectantly. “So, what do you think?”

Sebastian leaned back into his chair as he tapped the tip of the pen on the table showing how satisfied he was. “I’m not in a position to make the final decision. The person who is making the decision is Mr. Shepherd.”