In Cooper's corp.
“What do you think about our plans for this project launch?” asked the project lead, standing before everyone in the conference room.
The average height man watched as the chairmen and his colleagues whispered to one another. However, he made sure his gaze never fall on the president's seat.
“It looks to me like you have a lot planned before your deadline. I would suggest you push your deadline back, so you have time to run a successful advertising campaign” Mr. Robinson Green, one of the largest shareholders in Cooper's corp. affirmed and suggested.
“I respectfully disagree with you there, sir. The priority is to launch before the holidays, so we do not want to move this deadline” The project lead, Adams Hill, contradicted respectfully before stealing a glance at the president who had a cold look all the time.
He was sitting in the owner's seat with his back leaned in the chair. His gaze was solely lingering on the projection screen while his fingers were gently on the table rhythmically as if he was thinking about something.
Of course, he was thinking about something. Since the meeting had commenced, Noah Cooper's mind had traveled to somewhere far away, he had tried to restrain himself many times, but his unruly mind wouldn't budge. So, he just let his mind be and his gaze on the projection screen, exhibiting what was in his mind, Jasmine Nelson.
“Mr. Cooper, how do you think we should move forward with this project? As you know, we are expected to present it to our clients next week” One of the board members spoke out his mind after a long moment of contemplation of words.
Staring at his emotionless face for his words, Adams Hills' sweaty hands had gathered in a fist as he stood planted in a spot, waiting for his remark.
Ever since the case with JK finance and the board members had accused Noah of losing the great deal out of care, he had become as cold as ice towards them and his recent attitude made them cringe.
“It looks like we've run out of time, so I guess we'll finish here” Finishing his few casual words frigidly, he rose to his feet majestically and then turned to the door, without waiting for any of their opinions.
Immediately after he was out of the room, a wide smile broke out on his lips as he retrieved his phone from his pant pocket, intending to place a call through Jasmine.
“Miss Jasmine is here to see you, sir,” His assistant's voice interrupted his action. He looked up from his phone screen to Mrs. Antonio's face.
“Where is she?” he asked with a beam in his voice. His eyes were bright and beautiful, they looked like a crescent moon.
“In the reception, sir,” Mrs. Antonio answered back simply.
“Oh my gosh, Mrs. Antonio! How could you let her be in the reception instead of my office?” Noah half yelled and Mrs. Antonio almost cower in fear, bringing her head down.
And without any further ado, he scampered through the hallway to the elevator, passing by two female employees who bowed chivalrously upon seeing him, but he paid no heed to them.
Inside the elevator, he stared at his reflection through the metal surface and quickly readjusted his hair, and also smoothed out his eyebrows.
He couldn't be less happy. Jasmine had come to see him as if knowing that he badly needed to see her at that moment.
In the reception.
Jasmine checked out her face on her phone screen for the umpteenth time to be sure a speck of dirt or stain hasn't skimmed to her face.
However, while she was at this, the receptionist had been staring at her for so long, thinking in her opinion that perhaps Jasmine was here to flirt with the president.
The clicking sound of Noah's business shoes prompted her to pull her gaze from Jasmine's figure, then to the elevator direction.
Seeing the bright smile on Noah's face and the way he had rushed to where Jasmine was sitting explained everything she needed to know and realizing the happiness behind the smile, a slow smile crawled onto her lips as she readjusted on her seat.
“I miss you, baby, and just when I attempted to call you, my assistant told me you're here,” Noah explained with a carefree smile while holding Jasmine's hands.
Jasmine could only smile, feeling a crazy joy in her heart. She was bloody glad to know that Noah has been looking forward to seeing her as much as she does.
“Come on, let's go to my office,”
Grinning, Jasmine pulled back a little and reached out to grab the lunch box that has been beside her before Noah came in.
Noah's smile grew deeper as he slowly collected the box from her and bringing his mouth to her ear, “You are a darling, you know,”
His breath passed through the hair around her ear, it seemed he was flirting with her.
Jasmine felt slightly itchy from his flirty advance, but forced herself to restrain.
Looking up at his face, she put her hand into his and they both proceeded to the elevator.
All this time, the smile that was playing around the receptionist's lips never diminish, but increased instead.
She really admired the love those two shared and to think that they could express their affection publicly, it means a lot.
“Is that really the president?” this sudden voice seemed to bring the receptionist back to reality.
She looked in her right-hand side direction to see the female accountant standing and resting her hand on the long rectangular desk.
“Of course, yes,” the receptionist answered with a heart-warming smile, stealing a glance at their back view disappearing into the elevator.
In an instant, the accountant's face contorted to a deep grimace, “And do you think the lady truly loved him?”
It was the receptionist's turn to frown now, she scoffed scornfully, “What do you mean, Sarah?”
Sarah darted her eyes around carefully before proceeding, “Haven't you heard that Mr. Cooper is a single father?” she asked in a voice barely more than a whisper.
The receptionist shrugged off, “Sure, I have. And so, what?” her tone was quite sharp.
“So, are you telling me that a lady in her right senses would genuinely love a single father?” Sarah pressed on with a frown.
“Love don't care, Sarah. Whether you're a single mother or father, or even a cripple, it doesn't matter, all that matter is love. If you're truly in love with someone, then you wouldn't mind even if he's a mere beggar from the street,” The receptionist tutored carefully.
“Whatever, but over my dead body will I ever fall in love with a man who has a kid already,” Sarah forbade and began to retreat to her office.
“Then you shall remain single forever,” the receptionist retorted, eliciting a deadly glare from Sarah.
She ducked her glare and laughed sheepishly.
Noah sat on a single couch in the designated area in his office, his gaze wrapping around Jasmine's face, who was bringing out the food flasks and arranging them on the tea table in the middle.
It seemed she was not aware of Noah's intense gaze on her because after she was done, she looked over at his face to tell him that everything was ready, only to caught him staring at her.
She felt her face flushed terribly with color, and she slightly lowered her head.
Noah gently reached out his arm and held her wrist, and then made her sit on his thighs.
“Why are you so pretty, Jasmine?” he asked in a soft yet husky voice, reaching out and twirling a stray strand of her hair in his fingers and then pinning the strand of hair behind her ear.
“Come on now, let's eat,” Jasmine urged and endeavored to get up from his thighs, but Noah quickly pinned her back to his lap, confining her movement.
“Staring at your beautiful face all day without eating is enough for me,” his lips gradually approached hers and his breathing caused her to shiver all over as if a torrent of electricity had pierced through her skin and spread to her legs and arms.
His loving eyes were like the scorching sun in a tropical dessert that she felt so hot, and she couldn't find a word to reply for a long while.
“So would you please grant this powerless man his wish to keep looking at your face?” his voice was very low and had no confidence in it.
As he spoke, one of his hands cruised all the way down to her waist, along her spin.
His hand that was on her waist raised her shirt and slid across the skin on her waist, it was delicate and smooth as if a baby's skin. He thought, if he just used a little more strength, it would leave a mark on it.
Unable to hold back herself any longer, Jasmine dipped her head, even more, closer and took his lips in a long kiss.
Noah reciprocated immediately. He was brutal, seeming to demand the very breath from her lungs, leaving no space for her to breathe.
She soon noticed that she was about to be smothered to death by him. She forcefully disentangled from the wild kissing, sensing that something else would come up anytime soon.
Noah's face sank, he was not ready to let go. He thought that he was just getting started.
They both panted heavily for a while before erupting in laughter.
“I love you, Jasmine,” Noah pronounced, raising his hand slowly and smoothing out her messed-up neckline.
“I love you too, baby. Can we please eat now?” Jasmine asked, giving him her cutest puppy eyes.
Meanwhile, Noah's face had become red, and even his neck was blushed.
“Instead of Noah, can you just call me baby?” he grinned, revealing his perfect white dentition.
Jasmine chuckled, “Aurora is the baby, not you, Mr. Cooper,” she corrected.
Frowning, “Come on, I told you I don't like to be called Mr. Cooper by you,” Noah pouted.
Jasmine pursed her lips and wrapped her hands around his neck, “How about darling, do you like the sound of that?”
His face lit up again, “Of course, sweetheart. I totally love it,” he conceded with a song in his voice.
Jasmine laughed the more, “So can eat now, darling?”
“Yes, sweetheart, but you'll have to feed me,” Noah said, blinking his eyes cutely like a kid who was demanding candy from his mother.
Jasmine just smiled and nudged his arm playfully, and then reached over to carry one of the food flasks.
“You're going to miss Alicia, aren't you?” Jasmine questioned while feeding him some sweet and sour pork.
Noah admitted without any hesitation, “Of course. Alicia is such a good girl and I already asked her to never hesitate to reach out to me whenever she needs my assistance,”
In Mrs. Antonio's office, she couldn't sit for long, neither sit for long. She was just pacing back and forth in her office, looking so troubled.
She has been like this since the moment Jasmine and Noah have been together in his office.
Furthermore, she stopped her pace and looked onward as if thinking of something and suddenly, a slow smile crept into her face.
She turned back toward her desk and quickly snatched her cellphone from it, and then strode out, her heels making a clicking noise.
Just before reaching Noah's office, the door swung open, reflecting both Jasmine and Noah, charming smiles plastered on their faces.
She quickly put on a bright smile and approached them.
“You're already leaving, Miss. Jasmine?” she asked nicely.
“Yes, ma'am,” Jasmine answered with respect.
“It's so good to have you here and if you don't mind, can I have your contact?” she asked.
“Sure,” Jasmine said as she collected the phone from her and input her digits.
After collecting back her phone, she looked over at Noah's face and asked, “I hope you didn't mind too, Mr. Cooper,”
“Of course, not, Mrs. Antonio,”
Noah said with a genuine smile and thereafter put forward some pace along Jasmine.
Watching their retreating figure, there was no smile on Mrs. Antonio's face anymore, just endless cold.