Chapter 36
The family of three made their way down the elevator and strolled into a nearby store. The kids excitedly roamed around searching for the perfect birthday gift.
Finally they settled for some hair ribbons and bows, stuffed animals and dolls with a dollhouse. Satisfied they moved to the wrapping area where they were assisted by the store
owner.
âI miss Nathan and his special pudding,â Daisy mused with a wistful expression. Her voice. held a hint of nostalgia, and she fingered the ribbon adorning the neatly wrapped present.
Hazel, her heart warmed by her daughterâs sentiment, knelt beside her, her hand gently ruffling Daisyâs hair. âI miss him too. Heâs been quite busy, my dear. Weâll call him soon, and maybe he can share his secret pudding recipe with us.â
The gratitude that Liam and Daisy felt toward Mr. Richard, the kind store owner, was evident as they both chorused a heartfelt, âThank you.â He had sweetened their shopping experience with a delightful assortment of sweets which they munched happily as they headed out of the store.
Hazel hailed a taxi, and afterwards she ensured her children were safely dropped off at school before heading to her office. As she stepped into the bustling corporate world, the anticipation of the dayâs events mingled with her thoughts.
The meeting at her office was purely an informative session, focusing on the details of the Starlight-JT cooperation. They delved into the intricacies of the collaboration and what each party could expect in the coming weeks. It was a productive and insightful discussion. that helped set the stage for the project.
After the meeting, Hazel, along with her team members and Chloe, set out for Tesco Empire. They had been graciously provided with transportation by Tesco Empire.
The moment the bus pulled into the Tesco companyâs driveway, a well-dressed woman greeted them with warmth and professionalism. She introduced herself as Gigi, and she held a significant role in the Empire, overseeing external relations and business, including inter-company deals.
Gigiâs keen eyes scanned the group, and she inquired, âWhoâs heading this project?â
Hazel, stepped forward as the leader of the project.
Gigi guided them into the building, and the elevator swiftly carried them to their destination, a vast office space. The expansive office space left them in awe. The room wast tastefully designed, with attention to every detail, providing a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics.
This is where youâll be working.â Gigi explained, her smile infectious. âWeâve taken the liberty to design it with your needs in mind, but feel free to make any adjustments to match your impeccable designer taste.â
With a playful glint in her eye, she added, âDonât hesitate to make this space your own. And donât worry about inconveniencing anyone; this office is usually used by other business associates collaborating with the Empire during their term with us. Make yourselves comfortable. Your briefing is scheduled for eleven.â
With those encouraging words, Gigi left them to settle into their new workspace.
Chapter 30
Thank you. The team usioned gratitude in unison, their voices filled with genuine appreciation.
Chloe, with a keen eye for detail, noticed that Hazel appeared a bit paler than usual. She leaned in and whispered, âAre you okay?â
Hazel nodded and replied softly, âYes, Iâm fine.â Despite her composed response, a whirlwind of emotions and expectations churned within her.
She took a deep breath in, determined to face Ethan and whatever challenges she would be facing.
Hazelâs
An unsettling sense of unease clung to me like a stubborn shadow. My palms kept getting sweaty and moist with nervousness and I continuously wiped it off making it difficult to maintain composure. The prospect of meeting Ethan, who would now be my superior, loomed over me with a shroud of uncertainty. I wondered about his demeanor and attitude. toward me in this new superior and subordinate setting. Ethan, my ex-husband.
The unease was unrelenting, a persistent feeling that wouldnât dissipate. Desperate to quell my nerves, I reached for a bottle of water and took a few hurried swigs. News of Ethanâs recent marriage to Bella had reached gotten to me. They were a prominent couple, widely recognized throughout the city. Surprisingly, this knowledge brought me a sense of relief. During our marriage, Ethan had not yet attained the level of wealth and influence he now possessed. As his ex-wife, I remained comfortably anonymous, living my life without the prying eyes of the public.
Amid my thoughts, Chloeâs gentle touch snapped me back to the present. âHazel,â she said. softly, concern evident in her voice.
I blinked and refocused on her. âHuh?â I mumbled, momentarily disoriented.
âYouâve been spa c i n g out, Chloe remarked. âAre you sure youâre okay?â
I offered her a reassuring smile. âOh, yes, Iâm fine. Just a bit nervous, thatâs all,â I added with a chuckle.
Chloe nodded understandingly. âWell, okay then. We should head to the briefing; itâs almost
time.
âOkay,â I replied, determined to gather my composure. âLetâs go, team.â
We made our way to the elevator, following the map that Gigi had handed to us earlier. Navigating the vast expanse of Tescoâs facilities was no small feat, and we didnât want to risk getting lost.
Upon entering the office, it became apparent that others had already taken their seats, suggesting that we had arrived later than expected.
âApologies for our tar d i n e s s,â I quickly offered, my tone apologetic.
A woman at the head of the table, whom we assumed to be the meeting facilitator, responded, âItâs not a problem. We had informed you of the adjusted meeting time. We initiated some preliminary discussions while waiting for your arrival.â
Gigi, ever gracious and welcoming, explained further, âYes, we intended to start a bit earlier
Chapter 36
to allow you time to settle in and address some business matters.â
We took our seats as everyone at the table began introducing themselves. They were all key individuals responsible for various departments within the Empire.
As I began to deliver a prepared speech, the door swung open, and to my astonishment, Ethan walked into the room. The moment was filled with a complex mix of emotions as our paths crossed once more.