CEO.

A Day Later.

The boardroom was buzzing with energy as Jacqueline stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The room was filled with familiar faces—Dad, Grandpa, Emily, and Mark, who gave her a small nod of encouragement from his seat at the table. But there were also strangers, shareholders, and top employees she didn't recognize, all here to witness her inauguration as the new CEO of Bendilani Group.

Jacqueline took a deep breath, smoothing the front of her tailored blazer as she made her way to the head of the table. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, their expectations heavy in the air. But she held her head high, her expression calm and confident. She'd spent quite a long time preparing for this moment, and she wasn't about to let anyone see her sweat.

The ceremony was brief but formal. Dad gave a heartfelt speech about Mom's legacy and how proud she would have been to see Jacqueline take the helm. Grandpa followed with a few words of wisdom, his voice steady but his eyes glistening with emotion. And then it was Jacqueline's turn.

She stood, her hands resting lightly on the table as she addressed the room. "Thank you all for being here today. This is a huge moment for me, but it's also a huge moment for the Bendilani Group. My mom built this company from the ground up, and I intend to honor her legacy by taking it to even greater heights. I know I have big shoes to fill, but with the support of this incredible team, I'm confident we can achieve anything."

The room erupted into applause, and Jacqueline allowed herself a small smile as she sat back down. She glanced around the table, her eyes landing on Mark, who gave her a subtle thumbs-up. Emily was grinning from ear to ear, clearly proud of her. And then, as her gaze swept the room, she noticed him.

He was sitting near the back, his posture relaxed but his expression attentive. He looked young—maybe 23 or 24—with sharp features and confident air about him. His dark eyes met hers for a brief moment, and Jacqueline felt a flicker of something she couldn't quite name. Curiosity? Attraction? She wasn't sure, but it was enough to make her look away quickly, her cheeks warming.

The rest of the meeting passed in a blur, and before she knew it, the ceremony was over. As everyone began to file out of the room, Jacqueline caught Emily's arm. "Hey, girl. Who's that guy? The one sitting near the back?"

Emily followed her gaze, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Oh, him? That's Aaron Kato. He's one of our rising stars in the marketing department. Kenyan-born Ugandan, brilliant, and ridiculously good-looking. Why? Did he catch your eye?"

Jacqueline rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "Don't be ridiculous. I was just curious."

"Uh-huh," Emily said, her tone dripping with skepticism. "Curious, huh? Sure, baby girl. Keep telling yourself that."

Jacqueline shot her a look, but Emily just laughed, patting her on the shoulder. "Relax, boss. It's okay to notice someone. You're human, after all."

"I'm the CEO now," Jacqueline said, her tone firm. "I don't have time for… distractions."

Emily raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Distractions, huh? Sounds like someone's already smitten."

"I am not smitten," Jacqueline insisted, though the way her heart skipped a beat when she glanced back at Aaron said otherwise. "Now, can we focus on work, please?"

Emily held up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But just so you know, I'm keeping an eye on this. CEO or not, you deserve a little fun."

As Jacqueline gathered her notes and prepared for her first official meeting as CEO, she couldn't help but steal one last glance at Aaron. He was talking to one of the shareholders, his smile easy and his gestures animated. There was something about him—something magnetic—that she couldn't quite shake.

Just as she was about to look away, Aaron glanced in her direction. Their eyes met, and for a split second, Jacqueline felt her breath catch. Then, to her surprise, he excused himself from the conversation and started walking toward her.

Jacqueline's heart skipped a beat. She quickly straightened her blazer and tried to look busy, flipping through her notes like they were the most fascinating thing in the world. But her mind was racing. *Why is he coming over? What do I say? Do I look okay?*

"Ms. Bendilani," Aaron said as he approached, his voice smooth and confident. "Congratulations on your new role. It's an honor to finally meet you."

Jacqueline looked up, forcing a polite smile even though her stomach was doing somersaults. "Thank you, Mr. Kato. It's nice to meet you too."

"Please, call me Aaron," he said, extending his hand. His grip was firm but not overpowering, and Jacqueline couldn't help but notice how warm his hand felt against hers.

"Aaron, then," she said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. "And you can call me Jacqueline."

Aaron smiled, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. "Jacqueline. I have to say, your speech was inspiring. It's not every day you see someone step into such a big role with so much confidence."

Jacqueline felt her cheeks heat up, and she quickly looked down at her notes. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from someone who's clearly making waves in the marketing department."

Aaron chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I'm just doing my part. But I have to admit, it's exciting to be part of a company with such a strong vision. I'm looking forward to seeing where you take us."

Jacqueline nodded, her mind scrambling for something intelligent to say. "Well, I'm counting on people like you to help us get there. Teamwork is key, right?"

"Absolutely," Aaron said, his smile widening. "Speaking of teamwork, I'd love to sit down with you sometime and discuss some ideas I have for the marketing strategy. I think there's a lot we can do to elevate the brand."

"That sounds great," Jacqueline said, her voice a little too high-pitched. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "Emily can help set something up. She's amazing at coordinating schedules."

Aaron nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I'll make sure to reach out. Thanks, Jacqueline. And again, congratulations. I'm really looking forward to working with you."

"Likewise," Jacqueline said, forcing another smile as Aaron gave her a small nod and walked away. The moment he was out of earshot, she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"Well, well, well," Emily's voice came from behind her, making Jacqueline jump. "Look who's got a new admirer."

Jacqueline turned to face her, her cheeks burning. "Girl it's not like that. He was just being professional."

"Uh-huh," Emily said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Professional, sure. That's why you were blushing like a schoolgirl."

"I was not blushing," Jacqueline insisted, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. "And even if I was, it's none of your business."

Emily grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "Oh, it's totally my business. You're my best friend, and I haven't seen you this flustered since… well, ever."

Jacqueline groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Can we please focus on work? I have a company to run, remember?"

"Fine, fine," Emily said, holding up her hands in mock surrender.