The Miracle of You

The upscale restaurant was bustling with the lunchtime crowd, the clinking of cutlery and low hum of conversation providing a backdrop to the crisp white tablecloth and shining silverware.

The place was pretty fancy, Camille had to admit. She had seen her share of fancy restaurants over the years thanks to Christian’s extravagant tastes, but this one had the best interior she had ever seen.

It had a cozy and elegant feel, with gold, dark red, and cream shades used for the color scheme. Large, fancy chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and beautiful, eye-catching paintings adorned the walls.

The tables were nicely set, and there was plenty of space between them so the guests wouldn’t feel crowded. There was also a pianist at the small podium playing soft music in the background, the soothing melody making the anxiety in her heart ease a little.

In the middle of the restaurant, there was a large, fancy wooden bar where they made various drinks. They also had an impressive collection of wines behind a glass wall.

“Like what you see?” Christian remarked as he took the menu, eyes scanning the contents. “I told you that this is the best restaurant in the city.”

Camille belatedly realized that she had been staring at the surroundings for quite a while now. Snapping out of it quickly, she turned her head back to her boss and bowed her head.

“I apologize for my momentary distraction,” she said stiffly before taking out a small notebook from her purse. She always had this with her in case she needed to take notes or to skim through her to-do list. Being the secretary of Christian Callahan, she needed to be prepared for every instance and be as organized as possible. “Since we are both present at this moment, shall we discuss the new product launch?”

“Later,” Christian said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You should pick up your menu and order something. It won’t do for my secretary to starve all day.”

Camille resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Gee, how thoughtful of him.

After they placed their orders, she opened her notebook and got her pen ready. Ever since the two of them had entered the restaurant, she had been feeling a little anxious.

It was silly, to be honest. There was little chance that someone she knew – past or present – would walk by at that fateful moment and recognize her. Each table was just far enough away to provide a semblance of privacy, and each nearby guest was absorbed in their own business, eating fine food, chatting with their companions, and showing off their glamorous luxury items.

Besides, she and Christian were currently sitting in a corner of the restaurant, which made them almost invisible to everyone else thanks to the placement of the walls and furniture.

‘Get your head on straight, Camille,’ she scolded herself. ‘Now’s not the time for sentimental thoughts. Don’t let your guard down. Ever.’

Not even the undeniably good food was enough to make her relax. When she finished eating in silence, she glanced at Christian and saw that he was still eating.

In a leisurely manner, so to speak, as though they weren’t currently on a tight deadline.

Just what in the world was he thinking?

There was no denying that Christian was good at his job. Even though he seemed reckless and irresponsible sometimes, he always pulled through whenever it counted. It was as if he knew exactly the right time to be serious in work matters and when to be lackadaisical.

At the same time, as his secretary, Camille found it difficult to predict his moods. It was like waiting for a time bomb to either defuse or explode the next moment. If there was anyone in the world Camille couldn’t read at all, it was definitely Christian Callahan.

‘Let’s hope that things will go well with the R&E deal this month,’ she hoped.

In times like these, immersion in work was always the best solution. More of a distraction, but still effective for her. Anything to take her mind off her silent fear.

“I can tell that you want to discuss something,” Christian suddenly said, not even sparing her a glance as he continued to eat his food. “Out with it.”

She recognized that tone. It meant that he was ready to talk about business.

Good.

“We’ve got the manufacturing and distribution lined up,” she began. “Our R&D team is fine-tuning the prototypes, but the marketing strategy needs to be compelling. Since it’s a crowded market, it’s essential for us to stand out from the rest.”

“All right,” Christian said calmly. “Then, regarding our unique selling proposition, why should customers choose our product over the competition? What’s our story?”

Camille started jotting down notes. “I think that our story should revolve around innovation and sustainability. Highlight the eco-friendly materials we’re using and our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint.”

“Hmm. Sounds promising.” Christian took another bite of his steak. “Once it’s finalized, let’s leverage our existing partnerships to get the word out. I also want you to reach out to our industry influencers and get their support.”

“Understood, sir.”

“In addition,” Christian added, pausing to sip his glass of water, “we should consider expanding our presence in the international market.”Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

Camille nodded. “I’ve already prepared a list of potential partners and distributors in various regions. We can start discussions as soon as you give the green light.”

“All right.”

After settling the bill, the two of them got up from their seats and headed towards the exit.

‘You see?’ Camille thought to herself, feeling her muscles loosen considerably. ‘Nothing happened. You were worrying for nothing. Besides, anytime now, we’ll be able to leave this place-‘

Then her thoughts instantly came to a halt.

Because somebody just entered the restaurant.

And it was someone she knew very, very well.

Unconsciously, she paused in her steps, staring wide-eyed at the man who was currently walking towards their direction.

“Noah…?” she breathed out.

It seemed that she wasn’t so lucky today, after all.