Chapter Thirty-Six

On Monday morning, the hustle and bustle of city life surrounded Peter as he navigated his way through the crowded streets on his way to the office. The sun was shining, but the atmosphere was charged with a typical Monday energy as people rushed to work, cars honked, and coffee shops buzzed with activity.

At the Mars Corporation, the atmosphere was equally busy. Peter entered the sleek glass building, greeted by the sounds of phones ringing and the chatter of his workers. As CEO, he was already mentally preparing for a packed schedule ahead, filled with meetings, project updates, and looming deadlines.

Meanwhile, Stella was already at her office sorting through Peter's emails, prioritising urgent messages while flagging important documents for his attention later. She made notes on her notepad, ensuring she wouldn't overlook any critical appointments or deadlines.

Peter walked straight into Stella's office, holding a leather briefcase in one hand and a tablet in the other. He greeted her with a warm smile. 'Good morning, Stella,' he said, his eyes flicking briefly over her notes. 'What's on the agenda?'

'Good morning, Sir!' She paused, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. 'I would've brought everything to your office if you'd called. And even if I wasn't there, Chijioke would have still reminded you of the details.'

'That's right, Stella,' Chijioke's voice chimed in through Peter's smart earpiece, its tone light and playful. 'But let's be honest, he didn't come here for the details. He came to admire your beauty... or maybe your smile.'

Peter chuckled softly, a genuine laugh escaping before he could stop it. 'I just wanted to see you, Ella,' he admitted, realising that not seeing her over the weekend had left him missing her.

Stella couldn't help but notice the amusement on Peter's face. Though she couldn't hear Chijioke, it was clear from his expression that the AI had said something that made him laugh.

'Ah, see? I was right!' Chijioke added with simulated triumph. 'Next time, Sir, just send flowers. It's less suspicious.'

Peter shook his head, still smiling. 'Noted, Chijioke,' he muttered under his breath, knowing Stella could see but not hear the exchange.

Stella raised an eyebrow. 'Chijioke's in a good mood this morning?'

Peter smiled. 'Something like that.'

Stella cleared her throat, her tone switching back to business. 'You have a meeting with the departmental heads at ten, lunch with the board at noon, and I've arranged a video call with the marketing team at three.'

Peter nodded, glancing over her detailed list. 'Perfect. I'll need the board presentation ready by lunch.'

'I've already compiled the slides with your notes.' She handed him the folder, their fingers brushing briefly as he took it. Her eyes caught his for a moment before returning to her work.

As he prepared to leave, Peter glanced at the coffee station in her office. He picked up a steaming mug from the counter, filled with freshly brewed coffee, before heading into his own office.

The sweet scent of the coffee followed Peter as he entered. Magnus stood nearby, holding a tablet with the day's initial brief.

'Morning, Sir Peter,' Magnus said, handing him a quick summary. 'Here's a rundown of what needs attention before your ten o'clock meeting.'

Peter nodded, taking a sip of the coffee he had brought with him. 'Thanks, Magnus. Let's get started.' He scanned the summary, his gaze pausing at a few items.

'Magnus, let's prioritise the marketing update for later. I'd like a bit more on their strategy points for this quarter.'

Magnus nodded, taking notes on his tablet. 'Of course, Sir. I'll prepare an extended brief and have it ready before your three o'clock video call.'

Peter smiled approvingly. 'Good. That'll do for now.' He gestured towards the door. 'I'll call if anything else comes up.'

Magnus nodded and exited, leaving Peter to dive into his preparations, while still enjoying his coffee.