#119 “Megan’s Eating It Up, Hook, Line, and Sinker.”
In the swanky conference room at Enlighten Press Alexander, Kyle, and Megan gathered around the polished table, notebooks, and documents scattered everywhere. Leland, Megan’s father, sat at the head of the table, eyeing the trio with a scrutinizing gaze.
Megan, eager to kick off the meeting, flashed a confident smile and started explaining her grand plan of collaborating with Stone Enterprise. She went on about synergies, and market expansion that made some board members nod in agreement, while others exchanged skeptical glances.
Leland, with his bushy eyebrows knitted, interrupted, “Hold on a minute, Megan. Are you sure this collaboration is the right move? Stone Enterprise has its own set of controversies. We don’t want to get tangled up in some corporate mess.”
Megan bit her lip, momentarily taken aback by her father’s skepticism. It was clear that this wasn’t the smooth ride she expected.
Alexander leaned back in his chair and chimed in, “Mr. Leland, I understand your concerns, but I assure you, this collaboration is a game-changer. Stone Enterprise is on the upswing, and this partnership will benefit Enlighten Press immensely. Trust me, I’ve done my homework.”
Leland squinted at Alexander, his skepticism lingering. “Homework, huh? I hope you’re not leading my daughter into uncharted waters, Alexander.”
Alexander smirked, “I only lead in the right direction, Mr. Leland. This collaboration will elevate Enlighten Press to new heights. You’ll see.”
Megan, grateful for Alexander’s support, jumped in, “Dad, please. Alexander’s got this. It’s a win-win for us, and he’s been a crucial part of making this happen.”
Leland studied Alexander for a moment, then sighed, “Alright, but I’m keeping a close eye on this. If anything goes south, you’ll be answering to me, Alexander.”
Alexander nodded, acknowledging the unspoken challenge. “Fair enough, Mr. Leland. I’m confident this collaboration will exceed your expectations.”
As the meeting progressed, Leland, couldn’t resist questioning the details. ” And how exactly do you plan to handle Stone Enterprise’s controversies, Alexander?”
Alexander was prepared to address the concern head-on. “Mr. Leland, every company has its skeletons. What matters is how we leverage this collaboration to create a positive narrative. We’ll navigate those waters carefully, ensuring Enlighten Press only comes out stronger. Of course, in order for me to be successful, you must be as transparent as possible with me. I don’t want any surprises and I will expect your cooperation. To maneuver around the trouble spots, I must first be aware of what they are.”
Leland raised an eyebrow, partially convinced. “You realize that you are asking a lot of me by asking for such information, Alexander. My daughter’s future is on the line here.”
Alexander smiled, displaying a sincerity that wasn’t lost on Leland. “I understand, Mr. Leland. Megan’s success is my success. We’re in this together. I think with my proposal of marriage you may be sure of my intentions.”
The meeting continued with more discussions and plans for the collaboration. As they delved into the details, Alexander’s strategic prowess shone through, earning him Megan’s gratitude. She can’t stop smiling the whole meeting.
The conference room, once filled with doubt, gradually transformed into a space buzzing with the excitement of potential success, all thanks to the unexpected collaboration orchestrated by Alexander and supported by the dynamic trio – Alexander, Kyle, and Megan.
*
When the meeting was over Megan was eager to follow her father to find out what he thought about the matter. This allowed Kyle and Alexander to remain alone.
Kyle, wearing a wry smile, couldn’t resist a bit of teasing.
“Alexander, my man, that performance with Megan was top-notch. You’ve got everyone convinced you’re head over heels for her. Bravo!” Kyle’s tone dripped with playful sarcasm.
“You know how it is, Kyle. Gotta play the part. We’re putting on a show, after all.” Alexander replies.
Kyle laughed, slapping Alexander on the back. “Exactly! And what a show it is. Megan’s eating it up, hook, line, and sinker. But seriously, do you ever get tired of being the charming hero?”
A flicker of hurt passed across Alexander’s eyes, but he masked it with a smile. He understood that Kyle’s hint was directly related to the time he helped Sophia in London. He didn’t want to seem like he was doing it for every woman he found interesting. He was doing all this for Sophia because he loved her and wanted her to succeed.
“It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. And I’ve got a reputation to uphold.” retorted Alexander calmly at the biting remark.
Kyle leaned in, lowering his voice for effect. “Speaking of reputations, how’s your standing with Sophia these days? Last I heard, she’s not your biggest fan.
11
This time, Alexander’s smile wavered a bit, the mention of Sophia hitting closer to home. “The important thing is that Sophia gets the information she needs, and then we’ll see.”
Kyle nodded, noticing the subtle shift in Alexander’s demeanor. “Ah, the game of relationships. It’s like a soap opera, and you, my friend, are stealing the show.”
Alexander played along. “Well, someone’s got to keep things interesting. Now, what about you and Evelyn Grimms?”
