Page 34 of My Bestie's Billionaire Dad

But I can't let it get to me: I have an important meeting to prepare for.

I take one glance in the mirror and give myself a pep talk.

I got this. I'm a boss bitch and I eat businessmen for dinner.

As I'm placing a few last bobby pins to keep my hair pinned back, Hunter knocks on the door and I jump. I turn as he walks in, his eyes running a quick scan over my body. He's in a black business suit, looking every inch the powerful man that he is. His gaze is intense with a hint of softness.

"You ready?"

I nod, unable to find my words. He gestures with his hands for me to follow him and I do.

The yacht's engines hum to silence and I can feel the lurch as we make contact with the dock. Hunter leads the way, a hand touching my back as we move from the yacht onto solid ground. The marina is buzzing with life, but it all seems to fade away as I walk. I'm only focused on the meeting.

We make our way to the dock's exit where a sleek, black car is waiting for us. Hunter opens the door for me and I slide into the cool leather seat. He takes his seat next to me and the driver pulls away from the curb, the ocean whizzing by through the tinted windows.

We approach the conference center. It's a massive, modern building, all glass and steel. The conference room is on the top floor, with panoramic views of the ocean. It's breathtaking. The room is already bustling with activity when we enter. Everyone is in their seats around a large, round table. As we take our seats at the head of the table, I take one last deep breath.

This is it.

"Hunter, why don't you kick off the meeting?" Robert Romero, the CEO of Maven & Moresby, gestures to Hunter.

Hunter nods, clears his throat, and begins, leaning on the table for emphasis. "Good morning, everyone. Let's get down to business..."

Throughout the meeting, Hunter and I worked in tandem, commanding the room. As he would make a point, I would jump in to provide supporting evidence.

I would occasionally stand back and watch Hunter do his thing. He is so brilliant. When he speaks, everyone listens.

But sometimes, he is too smart for his own good. What he says doesn't always land with people and I can see it in their faces. I take it as my invitation to help clarify and bring an element of simplicity to the table.

"What Hunter is trying to say in a roundabout way is that this strategy reduces both costs and risks... and puts you in the right locations."

Hunter smirks at me. "Exactly."

The room breaks out into murmurs of agreement and nods.

But that's not the thing I love most about Hunter. He understands me equally as well. When I get stuck or nervous or start tripping on my words, he's somehow always there to guide me back.

"Could you clarify the impact of this strategy on our operational efficiency?" The question catches me off guard and my mind starts racing as I try to find a response. I must have been quiet longer than I realized. Hunter jumps in.

"Maya knows these numbers like the back of her hand, but allow me to jump in here." He interjects, flashing me a quick, encouraging smile before turning back to the room. "What she's been detailing is a strategy that will streamline your operations, freeing up resources for further growth and expansion. Maya, would you like to add anything to that?"

His words offer me a lifeline and I find my footing again. I can't help but shoot him a grateful look before continuing, "Exactly what Hunter said. The goal is to create a more efficient operation which will lead to improved services and productivity."

The room breaks out in conversation, discussing the aspects of the strategy that Hunter and I have outlined.

After a while, everyone quietens down and Romero, sitting tall at the other end of the table, clears his throat. "Well, I must say, this has been enlightening. " His eyes shift between Hunter and me. "I appreciate the level of detail that went into this strategy. It seems quite promising."

Hunter smiles at him, "Thank you, Romero. We believe it will drive the largest growth for Maven & Moresby."

I chime in as well. "And we'll be there to support every step of the way, ensuring the plan rolls out smoothly."

Romero grins, standing up from his chair and extending a hand across the table. "Tomorrow morning, we will meet again with a final decision. I look forward to it."

Hunter and I shake his hand and the meeting ends. We make our way out of the conference room, back to the car outside. The ocean breeze hits me again as we walk toward the car, reminding me that I'm somewhere far from home. He opens the door for me before climbing in himself and I can't help but smile.

As the car pulls away from the curb, Hunter finally relaxes into the seat beside me. One of his arms stretches along the back of the seat behind me. His body is close to me and I can't help but lean a little into him. I catch a whiff of his cologne, a rich, woody scent that I've come to associate with him. It's comforting.

"We nailed it today!" I finally break the silence.

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