Chapter 14
The missed chance
Casey: [[ So even you have such days, who would have thought...]]
....
Casey sat in a cafe just across her office building, different from the one she frequents with her friends.
She stared at the road through the glass floor to ceiling windows, the emotions in her eyes changing every once in a while.
Myriad of thoughts crossed her mind all at once, her gaze dimming.
"Casey... Casey." Her name like distant echoes rang in her head.
Her eyes wandered for a while, before finally settling on the source of the voice.
Slowly, clarity replaced the dullness in her eyes. Her voice a little shaky, she replied with a low tone, "team leader, what's wrong?"
Aurora stared at Casey with squinted eyes, " are you alright? You seemed weird a while ago." She asked with a worried tone.
This time Casey seemed to have recovered as she responded with a smile, " you worry too much. I'm fine. Just lost in thoughts, that's all."
Although still suspicious, Aurora decided to drop the topic. " Okay. Let's go."
"Okay."
.....
Just after stepping out of the elevator, both ladies were welcomed with Cleo's anxious call who stopped in front of them, she had her hands on her knees, with heavy breathing,it looked like she had just ran a marathon. She looked up with misty eyes, her hands remained on her knees and shallow breaths escaped her lips.
Aurora and Casey both stared at each other with puzzled expression. After just a minute, Cleo seemed a bit better, with shallow breaths, " we're having very important guests. It is said that even the CEO will be present." She had an anxious look on her face while she spoke.
"The various teams are already at the conference room. I've been looking all over for you." She reported, her gaze on Aurora. After she was done, she glanced at Casey, before her gaze settled on Aurora once again.
Aurora who had already recovered from her surprise didn't waste anymore time, she proceeded to her desk and picked up her material, after which she and her entire team headed to the conference room along with Casey who followed closely behind.
....
In the conference room,
The place was filled with whispers from various teams, the subject of their gossip resonated around the reason for the gathering, the supposed important guests whose presence required even the CEO to show up for the gathering.
Casey sat at a seat in a corner. Her eyes scanned the room, a little nervous.
From the look of things, it was obvious that the upcoming meeting was important and also not one that was held everytime. She grasped her notepad, her heart prepared to gain the best from today's opportunity.
Shortly after, the CEO arrived. Immediately he stepped into the room, silence enveloped the place. His arrival caught Casey's attention, her expectant gaze became one of surprise because the one who walked in was a senior she had met some time ago in college, and following closely behind was Jason and Stella, and a bunch of others.
In seconds, everyone had settled down allowing the meeting to commence immediately.
Turns out RJI was preparing for their upcoming annual premium release, which happened to be a necklace, "chasing dreams" designed by one of their most outstanding designers.
Casey's gaze remained glued to the screen where the picture of the necklace was being displayed. At first glance, it seemed like a simple design, nothing new, but the more she stared at it the more drawn she felt. It was a necklace with the figure of a bird at the end and what seemed like water splashes or dust surrounding it. In short, the picture looked crude. One could very easily mistake the necklace as some random, no big deal, everyday necklace, but for some reason, she couldn't shake off the feeling that beyond such simplicity, the design hid more to it.
Just as she had imagined, the others in the conference room also seemed to have the same thoughts as her. Staring at the projection screen, almost everyone's face hid expressions of doubt, which Stella very easily noticed. Although an upcoming company, she had originally believed in the company's standard, so she decided to visit to test the waters, but it would seem she was wrong.
This project was of major importance to her and so she couldn't afford to be casual about it. Since they were unable to figure out the rarity, uniqueness and value of the necklace, then there was no need to wait further.
After exchanging some pleasantries, she stood up to leave. Jeffrey hid the disappointment in his eyes and decided to walk her out. He knew that Stella's trial today was only out of respect for him and the standards he pursued in his business. The so-called elite teams he'd always been proud of, today proved to be nothing special. Jason glanced at Casey whose head was lowered, staring at her notepad intensely. He couldn't tell if she was serious or if it was her way of avoiding him. The look in his eyes changed, today's visit wasn't in vain. If he hadn't come today, he never would have found out that she was here. Determination painted his expression, and he walked out, his zeal as firm and steady as his steps.
Shortly after his exit, Casey looked up, staring briefly at the door, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. Of course she knew he was the one who was staring at her, still she couldn't muster the courage to look up. But that wasn't her focus at the moment. Her gaze swept through the crowd, and she knew that this wasn't going to end here.
RJI, for whatever reason had come to their doorstep offering them the project of creating an advertisement for the annual premium release of the company, yet, not only did everyone keep quiet offering no suggestions, they also cast gazes of doubts, leading to Stella's disappointment.
What one would have thought to be the chance of the century, an opportunity more rare than the blue moon was passed by, just like that. Even if there were doubts about the product, it would have been best to keep quiet about it, at least until the company's representatives had gone. Any way, there was nothing left to say, what will be will be.
It will be a difficult task to create an advert on a product you barely understand. Perhaps, this was for the best.
.....
Jeff stood in silence with Jason by his side as they both watched the cars disappear into the distance. After exchanging a few words, he left as well, deciding not to linger.
No one in the company left that day without getting an earful. Immediately work was over for the day, she left.
...
Just as Casey got home, she noticed Xavier's car, which meant he was back as well, and quiet early too. Perhaps even workaholics run away from work as well.
Truth is, she didn't really feel interested in finding out, all she wanted to do was to rest. But heaven wouldn't let her. Just as she stepped in to the house, the Butler walked up to her, informing her that Xavier was sick.
"What!!!" Her thoughts were in disarray not knowing what to do or say. She could hardly believe it. Ironic, the one who made torturing her his sole purpose in life was now grasping the other end of the stick.
"You didn't see this coming did you?" She thought to herself, her gaze lingering in the direction of his room.