The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 73

Laila’s POV

The networking mixer had a presentation component as part of the event, so I worked hard that night to finish preparing a kind of promotional slideshow for my company. The presentation also included some plans for various types of companies I knew would be in attendance, so the potential collaborators could see how my company could best benefit thein.

The presentation seemed cohesive. Even though I had done it in a hurry, I was proud of how it was.

I couldn’t let Sheila get into my head and mess me up. I knew I was good at this job. Yes, I wasn’t the original Vanessa Harper, who had founded this company, but over the years I had learned how to fill her shoes.

I was good at this job, I just had to prove it to everyone else.

After saying goodbye to Ava, I headed to the hotel banquet room where the mixer was taking place. It was a nicer hotel, a few hundred dollars a night kind of place, so the carpet was new and the walls spotless. Light fixtures overhead were crystal and sparkling.

The banquet hall itself was massive and well–catered. Some servers were walking around with trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The room was bustling, with business owners, marketers, and tradespeople. I knew many of the people in the room already, though there were some new faces I was eager to meet and hopefully win over.

I knew I would have to be fast and effective, be in the next moment, I spotted Sheila. She was dressed moderately

professional – except for the button up shirt beneath her tailored blazer. She’d opened so many buttons on that shirt that I worried the world might be in for a show if she leaned over.

Undoubtedly that was the intent, as many of the business owners here today were older men. Already some of their appreciative eyes were on her.

I had dressed conservatively, and was proud of that. I didn’t want to win over anyone because of my feminine wiles. Talent and capability was what was going to win the day, because that was ultimately what was going to earn the money.

Most of our deals were done over the phone or through email/A low–cut blouse might win the initial handshake, but it wasn’t going to bring in the money once the business contract started to take effect.

Unfortunately, Sheila also had the skills to match.

But I couldn’t give in to worry here. I had talent. I just needed to show it.

Looking around the room once more, I stopped when I spotted Jason. I knew he would be here, but actually seeing him made me

r pause.

He looked like hells. Had he lost weight? He seemed listless, lethargic, his eyes dull and his shoulders weighed down. His face was pale, his cheeks sunken. He was almost an entirely different man from the last time I saw him.

It made my heart squeeze in my chest.

At that moment, he turned and happened to glance my way. For a brief moment, our eyes locked.

I couldn’t look away.

He said my name, “Vanessa,” but I was too far away to hear him.

I couldn’t help but think of his recent apology and how downtrodden he seemed. He seemingly had accepted that I wasn’t Laila. This should have been a relief. Maybe it was. Mostly, I didn’t know how to feel about it.

My thoughts and feelings were in a jumble, my heart aching with no relief in sight.

With this kind of confusion in my head, and with everything else going on weighing me down, I thought it would be easier just to push Jason out of my thoughts and not think of him.

Chapter 12

This, of course, was much more difficult to do when he was standing there staring at me.

He took a step toward me. He stopped when the chairman of the event started speaking into the microphone.

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Chapter 74

“Thank you everyone for coming to today’s event. Some of you already know each other, but there are many new faces here today. We encourage you all to mingle, exchange your business cards, and hopefully make those network connections that could trigger the next great boom for our local economy.”

At this, everyone clapped politely.

“At this time, however, we request that everyone here take their seat at the front, facing the podium. We have many presentations today with several breaks throughout the day. Thank you very much.”

I was handed a schedule by one of the workers of the event that showed my presentation would be given in the second half of the event. Sheila would be giving hers first. I had no idea how she managed that. The chairman and I had known each other for years. Had Sheila really wowed him that much?

Sitting through Sheila’s presentation, I noticed some overlap with my own, but because she had gone first and there was a gap until it was my turn, I had the time to mentally restructure what I wanted to say. Perhaps going first wasn’t the boon I had initially thought it was.

When it came to be my turn, I was prepared and gave a smooth presentation. There were some confused faces at first, likely regarding there being two different presentations for the same company, but by the end, I had won them over.

“How charming,” one of the businessmen told me after my presentation, during one of our mingling breaks. “I never would have expected two good plans from the same company. You both covered such different things. Did you plan for that?”

“No, actually,” I said. “But the company is versatile enough that –”

“Forgive me,” Sheila said, adding herself to the conversation. She shot me a cool look before warming as she looked at the businessman. “I’m the one you want to talk to.”

“Oh?” the businessman said, his smile falling as his brows rose.

“Yes, unfortunately, Vanessa here has had some personal matters that have led her to be irresponsible. The board was discussing just a few days ago to remove her,” Sheila said. “You might as well just talk to me, as any contract you start with her will find its way back to me when she slacks off and ignores it.”

“Oh…” the businessman said. His friendly demeanor toward me changed in an instant, and he was looking at me with hesitation and dislike instead.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, ready and willing to put doubt on all sheila was saying.

Yet, before I could utter one word, Jason appeared at my side.

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