Chapter 3: The Spark
The day of the meeting with the client had finally arrived. Ava stood outside the conference room, her heart racing with anticipation. She took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress and mentally preparing herself for the challenge ahead.
As she entered the room, she saw Ethan already seated across from the client. He looked confident, his eyes locked onto hers with a hint of amusement. Ava's competitive nature flared up, and she smiled sweetly, determined to outdo him.
The meeting began, and Ava presented her proposal with poise and conviction. She highlighted the unique marketing strategy and additional services that her team had come up with, emphasizing how they would give the client a competitive edge in the market.
Ethan listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers. When it was his turn to present, he spoke with authority, his words dripping with confidence. Ava watched him, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed his every word.
As the meeting drew to a close, Ava felt a sense of tension building between her and Ethan. It was as if the air itself was charged with electricity, waiting for one of them to make a move.
The client asked questions, and Ava and Ethan took turns responding. Their answers were evenly matched, each one trying to outdo the other. Ava could feel the tension between them growing, the competition between them palpable.
Finally, the meeting came to an end. The client thanked them both for their presentations and promised to make a decision soon. Ava and Ethan stood, their eyes locked onto each other.
"I think that went well," Ava said, her voice cool and confident.
Ethan smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I think you're right," he said, his voice low and husky. "But I have a feeling that this isn't over yet."
Ava raised an eyebrow, her competitive nature flaring up. "Oh? And why's that?"
Ethan leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because I have a feeling that we're just getting started."
Ava's heart skipped a beat as she met Ethan's gaze. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them crackling with electricity.
And then, without thinking, Ava reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Ethan's eyes followed the movement, his gaze lingering on her hand.
Ava felt a spark of attraction, her pulse racing with excitement. She knew that she had to be careful, that she couldn't let her feelings get in the way of the deal.
But as she looked into Ethan's eyes, she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. It was as if the competition between them had ignited a fire, a flame that threatened to consume them both.
"I should go," Ava said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yes, you should."
But neither of them moved. They just stood there, frozen in time, the tension between them palpable.
And then, without thinking, Ethan reached out and touched Ava's hand. It was a gentle touch, but it sent shivers down her spine.
Ava looked up at him, her eyes locked onto his. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away.
"I'll walk you out," Ethan said, his voice low and husky.
Ava nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. She knew that she was playing with fire, but she couldn't help herself. She was drawn to Ethan, despite the competition between them.
As they walked out of the conference room, Ava felt a sense of uncertainty. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that she was in for a wild ride.