Chapter 14: The Tension
The meeting room was filled with the faint hum of the air conditioner and the rustle of papers as Zara and Xavier sat across from each other, both trying their best to keep things professional. But their personalities, sharp as ever, kept clashing.
"You're not hearing me, Xavier," Zara said, leaning forward with a slight smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "This design isn't going to work unless we make some changes. You can't just slap a few high-tech gadgets and call it a day."
Xavier's jaw tightened, but his cold exterior remained. "I'm not the one who asked for your opinion on it, Zara. The specifications were clear. I'm working within those boundaries."
Zara's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she kept her tone steady. "Well, maybe those specifications are outdated. If you want something innovative, you have to step outside your comfort zone."
The two locked eyes, and for a brief moment, it was as if they were no longer in a business meeting, but two people at odds with each other. Zara took a slow drag from her cigarette, watching the smoke curl up into the air with a sense of satisfaction, as if she was in control of the tension in the room.
"You always do this, don't you?" she taunted lightly, letting the words hang in the air. "Acting all high and mighty like you know better, but only people who've been through the struggle, people who've had to fight their way through life, understand what it's really like."
Xavier didn't flinch. "You're testing my patience," he replied, his tone edged with irritation, but still controlled.
"Oh, I know," Zara responded with a smile, exhaling the smoke in a slow, deliberate motion. "But that's what makes it fun, doesn't it?"
The silence that followed hung heavy, both of them caught up in their own thoughts, trying their best to avoid being consumed by the undercurrent of animosity between them. But it was inevitable. Their differences were glaring, and neither was willing to back down.
Finally, Xavier sighed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We may need to go on a business trip to view the site where the project will be carried out. I'll arrange everything. You'll come along, of course."
Zara's face fell into a frustrated frown, and without missing a beat, she let out a low, almost inaudible groan. "Another trip? Great. Just what I need."
She pushed herself away from the table, gathering her things with an almost dramatic flair, clearly fed up with the meeting. As she turned to leave, she shot Xavier one last look—half irritated, half amused.
"You know," she said in parting, "if you're expecting me to behave like every other 'perfect businesswoman' who just does what she's told, you've got another thing coming. I'm not like the rest."
The door slammed shut behind her as she exited, leaving Xavier sitting at the table, his fingers tapping against the wood in thought. He couldn't quite figure her out.
Her response was unprofessional, yes, but there was something about the way she acted that made him wonder if maybe she wasn't just another one of those women who crumbled under pressure. Zara Winters was different. The way she challenged him, the way she spoke—he couldn't decide if it was arrogance or just confidence.
And in the end, that was what confused him the most. Was she like all the others, just playing a game? Or was she something entirely new, something he had yet to understand?