The billionaire hates me

Chapter3

Georgiana walked into the meeting room. Her heart racing with anticipation and nervousness. The room was already loud with activity. Carlos was standing near the center of the room, talking with a group of people. Seeing him there, she felt a sense of relief and comfort. It was reassuring to have someone she knew in such a high-stakes environment. And also, it made Georgiana's heart skip a beat every time she was with Carlos.

However, despite her own impressive role as head of Marketing, she was still just an employee compared to Carlos being a billionaire.

As she approached, Carlos turned his attention to her and immediately there was a warm smile on his face.

“Georgiana, you made it. I’m so glad you’re here but are you feeling better?.” He asked, his tone genuine.

She on the other hand simply nodded her head.

"That is good. Come on, let me introduce you to everyone.” He said.

Georgiana’s anxiety began to ease. She followed Carlos and he introduced her to the key figures in the room.

“This is Mr. Thompson, the President of the company.” Carlos said, guiding her towards an older man with a commanding presence.

“And this is Ms. Evans, the CFO.” He went on and on and Georgiana other hand was kind of nice being around him. He has such an inviting presents to him and just like back when there were in high school and college, he always made her feel collected.

However, each introduction was accompanied by a handshake.

"Thank you for introducing me to everyone. I feel much better right now." She said walking away from there, and he smiled at her genuinely.

Immediately, Carlos pulled out a chair for her at this beautiful rectangular, conference table. Georgiana took a seat.

"This is not me trying to intrude, but I noticed you seemed a bit down earlier when you saw Arthur.”

Georgiana’s smile faltered slightly as she thought of Arthur.

“Oh, it’s nothing really,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“I just... don’t have the best feelings about him. I’ve read quite a bit about him in the papers and articles, but that’s all.” She said completely lying to him.

Carlos’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Don’t let him get to you then. He is capable of that.” He advised. His thick voice a small whisper.

“I’ve never been a fan of Arthur either. I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with him. It’s all about the money for him, nothing more. Stay professional and keep your distance.”

Georgiana raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Carlos’s words he was bistowing on her.

“Really? I thought that with wealth, people might have more... affection, you know? Like some kind of kindness or mutual respect.” She joked with him.

Carlos chuckled softly.

“Ah, the myth of billionaire camaraderie. There’s always love, especially with someone like Arthur. But it’s often not the kind of love you’d expect. It’s more about power plays. The less you get involved, the better.” He said and she couldn't help but agree.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sharp sound of the meeting room door being pushed open. And right then Arthur Miller walked into the room.

His presence commanding immediate attention. His voice, when he spoke, was as rough as ever.

“Please, everyone, take a seat.” He instructed. The room fell silent as people complied.

Georgiana’s heart sank as she saw Arthur approach. Despite the years that had passed, his voice had not changed. She felt her heart recent really fast. Carlos noticed the shift in her demeanor and then turned to look at Arthur, confused.

Arthur’s eyes scanned the room as he was making his way to his chair and that is when his eyes landed on Georgiana. Arthur was quick to notice the smile Carlos had given her and something shifted within him.

Arthur felt his blood boil seeing them together. But when he glanced back at Georgiana. Perhaps there was a hint of peace seeing her there. He felt his heart beating, slightly different.

But before he sat down, and the atmosphere shifted. Both Carlos and Arthur were locked in a silent battle of wills. History between Arthur and Carlos was well-known. A longstanding rivalry between their families.

Arthur’s dark eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened visibly.

Arthur’s gaze shifted to Georgiana.

“Thank you all for coming,” He said. He made an effort to acknowledge everyone, including Georgiana.

Mr. Roger, who was about to present their new alcohol brand came forward. The room was filled with partners, employees, and consultants, all eager to hear the details.

Mr. Roger, a young and confident employee stood up from his seat and moved to the center of the room. His presentation was well-prepared and thorough. Covering everything from marketing strategies to production methods. As he spoke, the audience listened intently, with many taking notes.

Georgiana's assistant was taking notes too. Georgiana had set up her laptop in front of her and occasionally she was glancing at the sample bottle of alcohol placed on the table. She was impressed by how it looked. The bottle was sleek and elegant, with a silver finish and a slightly translucent color. It looked like a work of art.

She wanted to see for herself and correctly. But as Georgiana moved forward to try to reach for the bottle and examine it more closely, she realized that it was too far away. Her small hands struggled to grasp it, and she made a sudden movement toward it, which caught Arthur’s eye.

His gaze shifted from Mr. Roger to Georgiana, who was still reaching for the bottle.

The room was large, and the table was quite wide. Carlos, noticed Georgiana’s difficulty and quickly moved to help. He got up from his seat and crossed the room and Arthur was already holding the bottle in his hand to pass it to Georgiana. But right at the moment Carlos came and stood right in front of Arthur. Both men locked at each other like they were going to kill each other.

Nevertheless, Arthur, being a gentleman gladly passed the bottle to Carlos.

Carlos immediately took the bottle and immediately walked back to Georgiana. Handing the bottle to Georgiana.

"Here you go," Carlos said with a reassuring smile.

Georgiana looked up at Carlos, her face lighting up with gratitude. Her eyes sparkled, and she gave him a warm smile. Carlos couldn’t help but smile back, and the two shared a brief but meaningful glance.

Arthur’s mood shifted when he saw the exchange. He clenched his jaw, clearly annoyed by the attention Georgiana was giving Carlos. It was evident to everyone that Arthur was not pleased with the close proximity between the two.

Georgiana, on the other hand, returned to her notes, trying to ignore the tension in the room.

She couldn’t shake off the feeling of Arthur’s eyes on her. It had been years since they had last seen each other, and the sight of him brought back a flood of memories. She remembered his gaze, his demeanor, and the way he had made her feel. It was unsettling to see him again.

Arthur’s frustration was loud. He stared at the presentation materials, his mind racing. He had always been critical and meticulous, but seeing Georgiana again stirred something deeper. His anger toward her was evident, but it was mixed with a strange sense of nostalgia. Despite the years that had passed, he remembered her smile and the way her face turned red with embarrassment. Seeing her again was both a surprise and a burden.

The presentation continued, and eventually, Mr. Roger concluded his speech. The room erupted in applause, with partners nodding in agreement. The presentation had been well-received, and many were impressed by the proposed strategies.

"That was brilliant," one of the female partners said enthusiastically.

"If we implement this program as outlined, I’m confident we’ll surpass all the competition this year. Our sales will soar."

Most of the partners agreed, settling back into their chairs with a sense of relief. The tension in the room eased as people began discussing the details and potential next steps.

One of the partners then addressed Georgiana.

"Now that we have Miss Smith on board, the marketing efforts are sure to succeed. The more visibility we get, the better our chances. And who better than Miss Smith to lead this?"

Georgiana looked up, a small smile forming on her lips. She was pleased to hear such praise, especially after all the hard work she had put into her career. She had earned several awards in her previous job, and it was gratifying to see her new company recognize her value.

Arthur, however, remained quiet. His silence was noticeable, as he was known for his demanding nature and high standards. The room held its breath, waiting for his reaction.

After a moment of silence, Arthur finally spoke.

"I couldn’t agree more. Miss Smith is a valuable addition to this company."

His comment was unexpected. Arthur rarely praised anyone, and his words carried weight. Everyone in the room was surprised to hear him speak so favorably about Georgiana.

Georgiana met Arthur’s gaze, and the exchange was charged with unspoken history. There was no gratitude in her eyes, only a cold, simmering resentment. Their eyes locked for a moment, and neither spoke. The silence between them was thick, making everyone in the room feel uncomfortable.

But Arthur kept his eyes on her and she as well kept her eyes on him.

They both had come to understand that this was only the beginning of the history that never finished.