Chapter Twelve
So the meeting started and Arianna's place was shifted to the other side of Laurence much to Alvin's displeasure. He tried his best to talk to her but Laurence didn't allow him to. The meeting went on and Arianna was busy the next twenty minutes noting down the important points.
"Sir, there have been quite a few complaints about our Andromeda collection," said Ms Jowell, who headed the designing team. She was in her mid-thirties, wearing thick rimmed spectacles with a tight bun on her head.
"What complaints Ms Jowell? Elaborate please," asked Laurence.
"The clasp of the chains have been giving women problems. So their popularity has been going down," said Ms Jowell. Laurence stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Get me a sample of the Andromeda collection, Ms Cooper as well as a sample of our bestselling collection, The Queen of Hearts, " said Laurence to Ms Jowell's assistant, Ella Cooper who was in her early twenties and glared at Arianna all the time. She rushed out to do as asked.
She came back ten minutes later with a few samples from both the collections. Laurence sat staring at the designs. Even Alvin stared at the designs. They had given the best lobster clasp possible, then why did they get the complaints? "Any suggestions Ms Jowell?" Asked Laurence and Ms Jowell shrugged.
"We could replace them with another type of clasp, sir?" She suggested. Laurence considered her suggestion.
"Which do you suggest?" He asked her.
"The hook clasp, maybe?" She suggested.
Arianna looked at the designs, "I think the pull tab is too small to operate with long fingernails or acrylic fingernails. Most women sport these fingernails on special occasions when they usually wear expensive jewelry, " she said, staring at the expensive chain. She had seen Isabella struggle with such jewelry many times. "So maybe if we have tall pull tabs, the problem could be solved," she said and Alvin clapped his hands.
"Awesome, where did you find her bro?" He exclaimed much to Laurence's disapproval. Ms Jowell glared at Arianna as if wanting to throttle her.
"It's an absolutely ridiculous suggestion. Tall pull tabs would look so out of place, " she said with a huff. Even Ella Cooper scowled at Arianna, awfully jealous of her.
"I'm sorry, I just saw my friend struggle so I said it. I personally don't have any experience with it," Arianna mumbled while looking ashamed of herself. Ms Jowell was a very accomplished woman. She was capable and headed a full department while she was just a school dropout. She wasn't in a position to contradict her.
"When you didn't have any experience with it, you should have kept your dumb suggestions to yourself Ms Willis. I don't how you sneaked your way into this prestigious company but anyhow stay away from me," she said, gritting her teeth with anger.
"That's enough Ms Jowell, " yelled a furious Laurence, standing up and banging his fist on the table. "When you don't have any proper suggestions yourself, you should be open to customer feedback. Arianna just voiced her experiences and drew our attention to a minute detail which all of us hadn't even thought of. We should applaud her instead of insulting her," he spoke furiously.
"Sir, I was just," Ms Jowell started to speak but Laurence simply held up his hand to stop her from speaking any further.
"Arianna hasn't sneaked into my company by having sex with me if that's what you're indicating. Her dedication and hardworking nature has earned her this job although she's just eighteen. She's balancing work and studies together which is commendable. If you want her to stay away from you there's one way. Hand me your resignation in the next ten minutes," he finished as an astounded Ms Jowell simply gaped at him.
"You don't mean that," she said in disbelief.
"I do. I'm giving you ten minutes. Go back to your department and mail me your resignation. Also if anyone else has the same thoughts about Arianna you're most welcome to follow suit," he ordered sternly. Ms Jowell got up and picking up her stuff left the room after giving a malicious look at Arianna.
"So let's continue with the meeting," said Laurence as everyone stared back at him, stunned beyond words. Arianna felt so guilty that Laurence lost an important employee because of her. Why did he have to dismiss Ms Jowell? What would everyone think of Arianna now?
"So Alvin, we will have tall pull tabs with lobster clasp for all our chains. Is that clear?" Said Laurence and Alvin nodded, a knowing smile on his face.
"Ms Cooper, you may assist Alvin now since Ms Jowell's been dismissed," Laurence said and Alvin stared at Ella Cooper with interest.
"Yes sir," she said with a poker face.
The meeting continued and Arianna refrained from speaking up. She simply noted down the minutes of the meeting on her tab. The meeting was over and Laurence started speaking to the customer support head, Frederick Thomas. Alvin approached her with a smile.
"What are you doing at lunch?" He asked.
"Working, " she answered as she realized then that she had forgotten to bring her lunchbox from home. Aunt Henrietta wouldn't be happy with her.
"What? My baby brother doesn't give you a lunch break or what?" Asked a grinning Alvin while Laurence glared at them from where he stood with Frederick.
"Of course he does," she said quickly.
"Then, I'll come over to get you at 1 o'clock. It's lunchtime for all here at Sparklez," he said but before she could object, Laurence's voice echoed and boomed inside the conference room.
"Arianna and I have a lunch meeting with the CEO of Queensgate Jewels today, " said Laurence, grasping hold of Arianna's wrist and pulling her along. "Come on. We don't have all day to flirt," he gritted out. Arianna balanced her tab in one hand and went along with him but his hold on her wrist didn't loosen. Everyone stared at them with curiosity and Arianna felt like vanishing into thin air. On her way out she saw the triumphant grin on Alvin's face. What was going on between these two cousins?
She had no idea about any lunch meeting with some CEO? It wasn't there in his schedule. Feeling too confused, she just went into the elevator with Laurence. He didn't once look at her or leave her wrist and she was more confused by his behaviour. The tensed silence and his erratic breathing made her nervous.
The elevator opened onto his floor and he puller her along. "Sir, you're hurting me," she said softly but he didn't listen to her. He simply dragged her into his room and locked his door, much to her dismay.
She stared at him wide-eyed. Would he now throw her out of her job? "Why do you need to flirt with every man who shows an interest in you?" He asked impatiently, pulling her by the wrist straight into his arms. Arianna's chest hit his hard torso by the sudden action. She was lost in his blue eyes which gazed back at her, changing to a shade darker.
"I didn't flirt sir," she said quietly.
"Why don't you flirt with me?" He asked in a pained voice. Arianna stared at his face blankly in surprise. His arms went around her waist and he imprisoned her to himself. His hand went up to her face and he traced her cheek with his index finger, travelling down her jawline, leaving goosebumps on her neck and arms.
"Sir, please," she whispered closing her eyes as a tremor ran down her body at his torturous touch. "Let me go."
"Why do you talk about me all the time, Aria?" He asked, his finger trailing to her lips as he brushed them with his thumb, his fingers holding onto her chin.
"I I d don't, " she stammered uncontrollably.
"You don't want to be in my arms? You don't want to flirt with me? You don't want to think about me. Why Aria? You don't like me at all, " he said softly, leaning towards her and brushing his lips against her earlobe.
Arianna's head stopped working at his nearness and she lost all control of her senses. "That's not true. I like you," she admitted. He stilled beside her at her confession. His hand tangled into her hair and he lowered his head and smashed his lips to hers. His tongue glided across her lips, tasting and feeling their softness. He softly bit onto her lower lip and she gasped. He took the opportunity and plunged his hot tongue into her sweet mouth. Arianna's hands went around his shoulders as her legs felt like jelly. His hot tongue chased hers, tasted every corner of her mouth like nectar. He groaned when her fingers touched his soft hair. It was a passionate and rough kiss and both were lost into it. Laurence was frustrated when she didn't kiss her back.
"Kiss me Aria," he growled impatiently breaking the kiss.
