Chapter 2: Smart move Mr. President!

11:38am Roxanna's POV: Wednesday 17th June 2020

The conference room hummed with quiet tension; the air thick with unspoken expectations. The impromptu nature of the meeting had everyone on edge, and I could feel the weight of it pressing down on her shoulders. I glanced to my left, where Terra sat, her nails drumming lightly against the polished mahogany table.

"You're too quiet," Terra murmured, leaning toward me. "Aren't you even the slightest bit excited to finally see the new president in action?"

I arched a brow. "Excited? This is corporate politics, not a grand unveiling."

Terra smirked. "Oh, come on. Carlton Nakamura is six-foot-something, impeccably dressed, and unfairly handsome. A little eye candy never hurt workplace morale."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the small smirk tugging at my lips. "I'd rather judge him on his leadership skills, thanks."

"You can do both," She whispered just as the door swung open.

Director Nakamura entered first, exuding the quiet authority of a man who had built an empire. His presence alone commanded silence, and the murmurs in the room died instantly. Behind him, Carlton Nakamura stepped in, his tailored navy suit a perfect contrast to his father's more traditional attire. His posture was poised, his face unreadable, but there was something in his gaze, something sharp and measured.

I exhaled slowly. Okay, fine. Maybe Terra had a point.

The CEO cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, this meeting was called to discuss an urgent transition in leadership. Director Nakamura will be stepping back from day-to-day operations. Effective immediately, Carlton Nakamura has been elected as the new president of ALO Group of Companies."

Silence. Heavy, expectant, and laced with the undeniable energy of change.

Director Nakamura's voice was firm as he spoke. "Carlton has been trained for this role his entire life. He understands the complexities of our industries, the responsibilities that come with leading ALO, and the vision we have built over the years. I trust him to uphold the values that define us."

Carlton, until then a quiet observer, finally stepped forward. "I understand that this is unexpected for many of you. Some of you have known me since I was a child, others only as an executive moving between our subsidiaries. But let me be clear—this is not just about legacy. I intend to lead with purpose, not privilege. ALO is a conglomerate that must innovate, adapt, and grow. That will be my focus."

The CFO leaned back in his chair; arms crossed. "With all due respect, Mr. Nakamura, leadership is about more than intent. The board will expect results."

Carlton met the challenge head-on. "Then I'll deliver results. But let's not pretend ALO is infallible. There are cracks, inefficiencies, areas where we could do better. This transition isn't just about stability—it's about evolution."

I felt a flicker of intrigue. He wasn't just his father's shadow; he had his own fire. That, at least, was a promising start.

The CEO cleared his throat again. "To facilitate this transition, we will be holding a company-wide get-together. This will give President Nakamura an opportunity to meet and engage with the staff on a more personal level. More details will be sent out soon, but we encourage everyone to attend. And that will be all for today's meeting."

Terra nudged me under the table. "Told you. Tall, hot, and now ambitious? We're in trouble."

I fought a smile. This was going to be interesting.

12:05PM

It was finally lunch time. Gosh, it's just been 5 hours of work and it already felt like a day. Who knew being a chief sustainability officer could be this draining. Just then, my phone rang. I picked it up

"Hey you… it's time for lunch." Terra reminded me

"Yeah, I know… wanna meet at Scapes? We've got to taste their new fries combo."

"Oh hell yeah," She giggled and the line went dead.

I grabbed my keys and headed down stairs, slipping an airpod in my ear. As I walked through the hallway, I got to the sustainability team's office. For a moment, I considered checking in—but no, that would look weird. That immediately brought my mind back to the pending issue. Immediately I felt a bit of uneasiness in my stomach. Having to deal with so much work in the company was starting to have a negative effect on me. I pray mum doesn't find out.

Wait! Mum.

Crap, I haven't called my mum in a while. She's gonna be so mad at me.

I stepped into the parking lot and moved to where I parked my car. Just as I reached it, something caught my attention—soft, muffled sounds. They were faint but I could hear them. It was from two people. They were coming from a hidden corner inside the parking lot close to a sleek black Mercedes-Maybach S680. As I got close, it became clearer, The hushed murmurs turned into something unmistakable!

 As I peeked in, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Oh my God! Terra was going to lose her mind.

There, tangled in a heated embrace, was our newly elected President. His lips locked with a woman's—pressed against the side of his luxury car, completely lost in the moment." It was his first day, and he was already making out in the parking lot? This was so out of line. I wasn't surprised though; he was just too hot to resist. If I were he's girlfriend, I wouldn't mind congratulating him with a kiss on his first day.

But… who was she?

I squinted, trying to get a better look at the woman's face. She wasn't familiar. Not an employee, then? That was a relief.

Before I get caught and probably lose my job, I quickly walked away so they wouldn't notice me.

I got into my car, gripping the wheel hard as I reflected on what I just saw.

Well, he was so lucky I wasn't a psycho. There was nothing stopping me from making a video and using it to blackmail him.

At Scapes…

I sat at the restaurant table, drumming my fingers against the polished wood surface, my patience thinning by the second. Where was Terra? She was supposed to be here by now. I glanced at my watch—12:30. My lunch break was slipping away, and I hadn't even taken a bite. Frustrated, I picked up my phone to call her, my stomach tightening in hunger and mild irritation.

Just as my finger hovered over the dial button, the entrance door swung open. A gust of cold air from outside rushed in, carrying with it an unexpected chill. Reflexively, I lifted my eyes, hoping it was Terra finally arriving.

But it wasn't.

Instead, my breath hitched, my heart riding into my throat. President Carlton entered the restaurant, his suit neatly tailored as always. Beside him, walking closely, was the same woman I had seen him with in the parking lot. I looked at the woman more closely. Her features suggested she might be Japanese, though I couldn't be sure.

I froze.

A rush of thoughts stormed through my mind. What were they doing here? Of all places, why this restaurant? And, more importantly, had they seen me earlier when I caught them? Was that why they were here now?

My pulse pounded in my ears as I sat as still as possible, hoping—praying—they wouldn't notice me. But I couldn't stop staring. Carlton's presence alone was imposing, but there was something unnervingly intimate in the way he moved with her, as if they existed in a world entirely their own.

They took a table near the window, close enough for me to hear the subtle murmur of their voices but too far to catch every word. The woman laughed softly, her fingers brushing his wrist before she leaned in slightly. Carlton, for all his usual composure in meetings, seemed relaxed—his expression was unreadable but engaged.

I swallowed hard; my appetite now completely gone. This was too much. I needed to leave, but at the same time, I couldn't move. A part of me wanted to stay, to see what this was about, to confirm if what I saw earlier meant more than just a fleeting moment of passion.

I picked up my phone again, desperate for Terra. She had to come now. But as I dialed, the call didn't go through. "Not reachable." The words on the screen taunted me.

Where the hell was she?

Minutes passed, each second dragging like an eternity. Just when I was about to try again, the door swung open once more, and this time, it was her.

Terra rushed in, slightly out of breath, her long dark hair tousled from the wind outside. She scanned the restaurant quickly before spotting me and making a beeline to our table.

"I am so sorry!" she said, sliding into the seat opposite me. "Mr. Morales caught me right after the meeting. He wanted to discuss something brief, but, well... you know how that goes." She gave me an exasperated smile, her shoulders slumping. "I should've texted."

I nodded absently, my mind still preoccupied with the unexpected presence of Carlton and his mysterious companion. Terra followed my gaze and frowned slightly. "What's wrong?" she asked, lowering her voice.

I hesitated, unsure of where to begin. But as I watched Carlton lean in even closer to the woman, something in my gut twisted.

"I'll tell you in a second," I muttered, my fingers curling around the napkin in my lap.

This lunch had just become far more complicated than I'd anticipated.

Here's a more dramatic rephrasing of your passage:

"Roxannaaa!... You're scaring me!" Terra hissed, her voice laced with unease. "Did someone follow you?"

She hadn't noticed President Carlton yet. I turned to her, my heart pounding.

"I caught President Carlton in the parking lot," I blurted before I could stop myself.

Her eyes widened. "Huh?"

I swallowed hard. "Ughh! I saw Carlton... kissing someone in the parking lot." The words tumbled out, and I let out a heavy sigh.

"Whatttt?!" she shrieked, slamming her hands onto the table. Heads turned, eyes locking onto us.

"Terraaaa! He's sitting right there!" I hissed, smacking her arm.

"Wait, wait… What do you mean he was kissing someone?... like lip to lip?" She asked like what I said before didn't sink into her head.