First Meeting (2)

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in," I said, my voice even.

The door creaked open, and my eyes shifted from the file in front of me to the figure stepping inside. A young woman—graceful, composed—walked in with an air of quiet determination.

"Good afternoon, Mr. White. My name is Keifer Samuel. We had a meeting scheduled for two, but I got delayed… I'm really sorry about that, and I truly appreciate you giving me another chance," she said, her voice clear and sincere.

For a second, I forgot how to speak.

She was... captivating. That's the word. Her hair fell in soft waves down to her waist. Her eyes were a striking blue—almost ethereal—the same shade as the simple sky-blue dress she wore. The Chinese collar highlighted the graceful length of her neck. She wasn't trying to impress anyone, but the elegance she carried was impossible to ignore.

I felt my throat tighten slightly. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. For a moment, silence settled awkwardly between us.

My PA, Robert, broke it. "Ms. Samuel, we've been expecting you," he said gently, gesturing to the chair in front of me.

"Thank you, Mr. Pattinson," she replied with a soft smile.

Wait. They know each other?

I glanced at Robert with a questioning look.

He leaned toward me and spoke in a low voice. "Sir, she's the one who handled Mr. Reed's emergency this morning. I believe that's why she was late."

Hmm.

"Ms. Samuel, you have fifteen minutes to present your proposal," I said, nodding toward her. I already had some idea of her potential from the reports Robert had given me—but I wanted to see how she handled herself under pressure, with no prior prep. That told me more than any resume.

"Thank you, Mr. White," she began. "Actually, my proposal isn't revolutionary… but the approach is different. As we all know, many treatments for common diseases are too expensive for the average middle-class family—let alone those below that line. I want to change that."

I leaned forward slightly. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"By developing affordable medicines for those diseases and making them widely available in the market," she replied without hesitation.

Interesting. "Go on."

"We'll use ancient medical practices and herbal formulations to minimize production costs. These ingredients are mostly available locally and don't require extensive processing."

I nodded slowly. "But there are already herbal medicine brands out there. What makes yours different? Why would customers choose your product over the ones that already exist?"

She smiled confidently. "Two reasons. First, these medicines will be released under a new subsidiary of White Pharma Inc.—which already has market trust. Second, our cost efficiency will let us offer them at a price point unmatched by our competitors, without compromising on quality."

It was a smart answer.

"Do you have a detailed plan to support this proposal?" I asked.

She reached into her bag and handed me a neatly bound file. "Yes. I've included full projections—sourcing costs, market competition, potential revenue, risk analysis, and even a backup strategy."

I flipped through the pages. It was meticulous. Professional. Thoughtful. Every angle I could think of was already accounted for. She had prepared for this like it meant everything to her.

I looked up. "This is impressive, Ms. Samuel. I think we should move forward. Let's meet again soon to sign the contract—your brains and my investment."

Her eyes lit up. "Thank you, Mr. White."

I gestured toward Robert to draft the main agreement terms. "We'll do a profit split at a 30-70 ratio—70 for the company. I'll provide the funding, you'll lead the formulation process. The company will handle management and operations, so you can focus on research and development."

She hesitated, then raised a hand gently. "Mr. White, if I may—while I understand and appreciate the offer, I'd also like to invest personally in this venture. And as a partner, I would like to have an active role in the management process."

I blinked, taken aback. She wanted to invest and participate in management?

"You're aware," I said carefully, "that management decisions in a corporate environment require experience."

She met my gaze without flinching. "Yes. But you'll still have the final say in all decisions. I simply want to be involved—not sidelined."

She had guts. That was becoming increasingly clear. And it was... refreshing.

"All right," I said slowly. "How much are you looking to invest?"

"Five hundred thousand dollars," she answered without hesitation.

I was quiet for a moment. That was not a small sum. She wasn't bluffing—she was serious, and I could see it in her eyes.

"Very well. In that case, we'll adjust the agreement. With a fifty-fifty investment split, profits and ownership will also be equally divided."

Her expression flickered—just for a second—but then she nodded. Composed, poised.

Every little expression, every flicker of emotion across her face… was starting to pull me in more than I expected. It wasn't just her beauty or confidence—it was her mind. Her presence. Her quiet fire.

This girl… she wasn't ordinary.

And I was intrigued.