23

Krystal sat in the conference room unable to pay attention to all that was happening around her and things they were all saying.

She couldn't get her mind off what Andrew had wanted to say the day before even though he had gotten an urgent call from the company and he had to leave.

He wasn't able to tell her at that moment and before he got back home, she was asleep.

"Krystal!! Krystal!!" Collins called and she jolted out of her thoughts.

She turned to look at him.

"The Leadway company would be here in 30 minutes," he explained.

"How is that possible! You told me our pitch was still in the afternoon," she said confused.

"Yes but their representative called now that the first pitch had been canceled," he said and Krystal wondered what had happened.

She knew the first pitch was supposed to be by Andrew's company. She was worried about what could have happened.

She hadn't even thought of it much when she had realized that they were both going to be presenting their pitches. She had made up her mind to be fine with whoever got it.

"Alright, I think we should just tidy up what had been planned before," she said.

They did a few rehearsals and the the people from Leadway came exactly when they said that they would.

They sat and then within a few minutes after introduction of everyone. They started the pitch.

At first Krystal had been nervous. It was the first time she was doing something like this and being the lead in it also.

"Thank you very much for the beautiful pitch," a representative from the Leadway company said and then Collins and Krystal went back to sit.

"I am glad you loved it," she said and hoped for the best.

Her dad had told her earlier how he had been really proud of her and loved the efforts she was putting into making the company great.

She didn't want to disappoint him. After everything that happened with Collins, doing something like this for the company would at least make him understand that she knew what she was doing.

She loved his validation and even though sometimes it was exhausting and all. She loved to see him proud and happy that she did something well.

"I think we are going to go with you. We loved the pitch and we see great prospects in this new product. We are ready to invest."

Krystal smiled widely.

"Thank you so much, we won't disappoint you," she said and then stood to exchange handshakes with the representatives."

"We will send our representatives to reach out and draw a contract."

Krystal excitedly hugged Collins after the representatives left. She had been so excited that she couldn't keep it in.

Before Collins could say anything, Krystal picked her bag, about to leave to go home.

"We should go out to celebrate," he had said before she stepped out.

She turned to look at him.

"I think I should go home now. I have an event to attend with Andrew later this evening," she had said.

Collins was looking for every possibility to have her alone with him. His plans were not falling in place as fast as he had thought.

He knew how much Krystal liked him and even after choosing Andrew over him at the wedding, he still feels she didn't really mean it and still loves him.

"The Biancaandrew's party?" He asked.

Bianca was one of the politicians in the state and she had invited some of the elite's to party with her in a close cocktail party.

"Yes," she responded.

"I guess we will see there then," he said and she wished he wouldn't come.

She didn't like the tension between the both of them and all.

She left the office and got back home after a few minutes.

Andrew had texted that he would be a bit late at work as he had a couple of things to do but she should get dressed already.

So, immediately she got home, she got into the shower and then she decided to pick a cloth from her closet.

"Alexa, play me "I wanna dance with somebody"" she said and she increased the volume to the highest.

She was dancing and singing along at the top of her voice that she hadn't noticed when Andrew had opened the door and walked into the room.

He smiled as he watched her dance happily from the door.

He loved that part of her, well at that point, he liked every part of her. Still isn't acknowledging the feelings he was feeling for her but he knew he had a soft spot for her.

"Krystal!!" He called and she hadn't even heard him the first time.

"Krystal!!" He called again louder and immediately she turned.

She switched off the music and was panting from all the dancing she had been doing.

"I didn't see you come in,"

"I didn't want to disturb your dancing. It was intriguing," he said moving closer to where she was standing.

"You're intriguing," he said.

She smiled. Not knowing how to respond to such compliments.

They stared at each other, the tension between them growing by the second. 

Krystal turned her gaze away from him.

"We should better get going if we do not want to be late," she said.

Andrew changed into something else and within minutes, they were down in the car going for the event.

"Leadway came earlier than they should have for the pitch," Krystal said to Andrew who was sitting next to her at the backseat as the driver drove.

"That's great. Probably they were too excited and couldn't wait to hear your pitch," he said.

She turned to him and now both of them were staring at each other.

"They said the company they were supposed to see that morning canceled."

"Ohh well," Andrew said turning his gaze to the other side.

"You know you didn't have to cancel."

Andrew turned back in her direction.

"You needed it more than I did," he said.

"You didn't have to do that for me. I would have accepted any outcome that came with it."

Andrew smiled.

"You're hardworking, I have seen you in the middle of the night preparing for this pitch and I know how much you want it. You deserved it and I didn't help you get it. You did all the work."

"How did you know we got it?" She asked.

"Because I know you would have. There was no doubt about it," he said.

Andrew was the only person that had this kind of confidence in Krystal and it melted her heart. She was glad that someone thought so highly of her.

She remembered how Collins always constantly looked down on her while she was married to him and how he had almost made her quit her job because she slowly drowned the low self esteem and imposter syndrome.

She hadn't felt so powerful before and accomplished.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Andrew asked.

"I don't know. For being a good person," she said and he laughed.

"It's all good."

They got to the event in a few minutes and when the car stopped.

The driver immediately came down and opened the door for the both of them to get down.

He held onto Krystal's hand and ushered her in. They were both so cute together as everyone took a glance at them as they got into the place.

"Andrew!!" A man called as they entered

"Mr Charles," Andrew said greeting the man.

"And I am sure you know Krystal, my wife," he said with all pride.

"Yes, I do. How is your father? He won't be joining us this night?" He asked.

"No, he won't. Says he needed some rest," she responded.

"Tell him I said hello," he said before going away.

They greeted some more people as they walked further in. It was easy for both of them since they both dealt with people in the same class of wealth.

There was no need for adjustment from anyone. The only thing Krystal noticed were the subtle glares from some girls whom she felt had crushes on Andrew.

She wondered if she wasn't as pretty and that was why the glares were much. She knew it wasn't because they were richer because her dad practically was one of the richest.

Her self esteem was still low from all Collins had put her through and she always saw herself differently.

"Those girls won't stop staring," she said and Collins turned to look in the direction Krystal was looking at.

A girl waved sexily at him and he turned away.

"They are probably wondering what you're doing with an ugly girl like me," she said.

"Ugly?"he said and laughed. But he realized she didn't and immediately stopped.

"You're serious?"

"Or why else would they do that."

"Or they are wondering why I am with such a pretty girl and how they can't match up to her." He said.