Alethea
The air catches in my throat as my eyes widen, my mouth almost open. His piercing blue eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, I forget where I am.
I quickly look away, hoping no one notices my flushed face.
‘Why now?’ I scream inside. ‘Why him?’ Of all people, why does the universe have to throw this at me?
Last night, we were so close to something. And now here he is, standing tall, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that fits him just right.
That stupid smirk is still there. I look down, but I can still feel his gaze on me, burning into my skin.
Finally, he sits down, like he’s in charge of everything around him. I take a small breath, but I know that look is still on his face.
He clears his throat; everyone quiets down, their attention shifting to him as he speaks, with a deep, smooth voice.
“I’m sorry I’m late, I had some situations last night that kept me up all through the night,” Xavier says, still looking straight at me.
My heart stutters in my chest. ‘Damn it’ He knows exactly what he’s doing.
I can tell he’s referring to our encounter. And the pull he still has on me makes my stomach tighten with something else I can’t deny.
I force myself to focus, to push those thoughts away.
“For those of you who know me, I’m Xavier Sterling. And I’ve just taken over as CEO after buying the company.”
The room goes quiet as he speaks, and everyone’s eyes are on him. But mine are stuck on how he carries himself with confidence, and he seems untouchable.
“I’m excited to be here, I’m impressed with the progress Tech Spark has made, and I want to make sure we keep succeeding together.”
“And now, I’d like each of you to introduce yourselves,” Xavier says smoothly, with a smirk. His eyes stay locked on me.
The heat of his stare prickles against my skin, making me squirm in my seat. I try to focus, acting like nothing is wrong. But it’s hard to ignore the game he’s playing.
One by one, my colleagues introduce themselves, everyone waiting for the next move.
Finally, it’s my turn. I take a deep breath, “I’m Alethea Zoe Carter, and it’s nice to meet you, sir.”
He tilts his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “Hmm, interesting, Ms Carter,” he says, his eyes scanning me as if trying to memorize every detail. “The beauty and the brain behind the app, right?”
My heart misses a beat.
“I’ll commend you, Miss Carter, you’ve got both the brains and the beauty.”
I bowed my head slightly, with a polite smile on my face. “Thank you, sir,” I reply, doing my best to sound calm.
Once everyone has introduced themselves, I stand up slowly, as I walk toward the presentation screen.
My hands shake slightly as I click the remote, and the PowerPoint slides light up in front of the board of directors.
I take a deep breath, but the fluttering in my chest only grows stronger. Xavier’s gaze feels heavy, but I push myself to stay focused.
I open a bottle of water, my hands unsteady as I take a sip, hoping it will settle my racing heart. It doesn’t help much, but I swallow hard, determined not to show my nerves.
Despite the tension, I know this is my moment to prove myself.
“The app is called Wellify,” I begin, my voice calm, “and it aims to change how people approach wellness by offering a complete platform for fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle management.”
I look around the room, meeting the eyes of the board members as I continue.
I move through the slides, explaining its mission, unique features, and what makes it stand out from the competition.
I start to find my rhythm. The words come more easily, and the vision I’ve worked so hard to create feels real as I share its potential with the room.
“The global health and fitness market is expected to reach $1. 1 trillion next year. Wellify is on track to capture 5% of that market within the first two years.”
I move to the next slide, gaining confidence as I explain how Wellify stands out.
“What makes our app different is its ability to offer personalized fitness plans, nutrition tracking, mindfulness tools, and social sharing for community support.”
I continue, highlighting the app’s key features. “It includes workout routines, nutrition planning, goal-setting, and progress tracking. We also integrate with wearable devices to keep users motivated.”
As I reach the next slide, I point to the app’s interface. “Our app has an easy-to-use interface, customizable dashboard, and personalized recommendations.”
I move on to the business model. “Our model is subscription-based, with extra revenue from in-app purchases, advertising, and partnerships with fitness studios and gyms.”
The marketing strategy follows, and I continue “We’ll increase our reach with social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, content marketing, and app store optimization to stand out in a competitive market.”
Finally, I wrap up with the launch timeline, financial projections, and risk management. “With a strong marketing plan and solid features, we expect significant growth in revenue and user engagement.”
As I click on the last slide, the room bursts into applause. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
I force myself to focus on the board as Xavier’s intense gaze locks onto me. Making it hard to concentrate, but I push through, trying to stay calm.
“How will you differentiate Wellify from other health and fitness apps?” Xavier asks, with his eyes locked on mine.
It feels like he’s trying to see through me like he’s peeling away my confidence.
I swallow my throat tight. “The difference lies in our all-in-one platform, personalized fitness plans, and social sharing features,” I reply, trying to sound steady even though my nerves are creeping up.
“We cater to all users, from beginners to experienced athletes, and build a supportive community.”
The room falls silent. Xavier’s smirk fades, and I allow myself to breathe easier.
“Thank you, everyone, for your attention,” I say, stepping down from the stage.
I walk back to my seat and look around. The board members are nodding in approval, and for the first time in a while, I feel proud of myself. I’ve come a long way to get here, and I’m proud of the woman I’ve become.
Thankfully, the meeting finally wrapped up after a series of back-to-back questions.
I can honestly say I was more than prepared to answer them, but now, I’m exhausted.
“I’d like to thank you all for your contributions, and this marks the end of the meeting,” Xavier says.
I quickly pack my things, eager to get out of the room, but as I make a move toward the door, his voice halts me in my tracks.
“Alethea,” he says, and suddenly, all eyes are on me.
“What the hell is he doing?” I mutter under my breath, frustration bubbling up inside me.