Acting all Strong
Jo walked with me toward the board meeting, practically bouncing on her toes as she chatted.
“So, have you thought about what you’re going to say to them?” she asked, glancing at me sideways.
“I have it under control, Jo,” I replied, holding my folder tighter.
“Of course you do,” she said with a grin. “You’re amazing. I just—ugh, I’m so excited. This research facility is going to be groundbreaking.”
I smiled despite myself. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We still need the full backing from the investors.”
“Oh, they’ll back you,” Jo said confidently. “Who wouldn’t? You’ve got the brains, the vision, and let’s face it, you look like a total boss in that blazer.”
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
We reached the conference room, and Jo gave me a quick thumbs-up before slipping away. I stepped inside, greeted by a table full of board members and investors, all of whom turned to me with expectant smiles.
\---
The presentation went smoothly. I outlined the facility’s progress, the advancements we’d made, and the timeline for our upcoming projects. The investors seemed impressed, nodding along as I spoke.
“And with this next round of funding,” I said, gesturing to the graph on the screen, “we’ll be able to move into the clinical trial phase for the experimental drug. This could revolutionize treatment options for patients worldwide.”
“Dr. Laurent,” one of the board members said, adjusting his glasses, “the data you’ve presented is promising. But can you elaborate on the potential challenges you might face during the development process?”
“Of course,” I said, launching into an explanation about regulatory approvals, logistical hurdles, and contingency plans.
The discussion was engaging, with several members chiming in to ask questions or offer insights. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of pride and hope for the future.
Until the door opened.
I glanced over, my words faltering as a young receptionist stepped inside, holding a massive bouquet of white lilies and pale pink roses, along with a small box of chocolates balanced precariously on top.
“Dr. Laurent,” she said nervously, her face flushed. “These just arrived for you.”
The room went silent, all eyes turning to me.
“What is that?” one of the board members asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Flowers,” I said flatly, my cheeks warming.
Jo suddenly appeared in the doorway, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Oh, those are gorgeous! Who are they from?”
“I... don’t know,” I said, though I had a pretty good idea.
The receptionist set the bouquet and chocolates on the table in front of me, her gaze darting between me and the investors. “There’s a card,” she added before hurrying out.
Jo, ever the opportunist, swooped in and snatched the card before I could stop her. She read it aloud with a dramatic flair. “For someone who deserves a bit of beauty in her day. R.V.”
I closed my eyes briefly, willing myself not to lose my composure. “Jo, give me that.”
She handed me the card with a sly grin. “R.V., huh? I wonder who that could be.”
The investors exchanged amused glances, one of them chuckling softly. “It seems someone has an admirer.”
“Can we focus, please?” I said, trying to redirect the conversation.
“Of course, Dr. Laurent,” one of the board members said, though his smile suggested he wasn’t entirely ready to let the moment go.
I shoved the card into my folder, avoiding Jo’s knowing gaze. She lingered in the doorway for a moment longer before finally disappearing.
\---
The meeting wrapped up shortly after, and the investors left with polite goodbyes and promises to follow up soon. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling deeply.
Jo reappeared like a shadow, her grin wide enough to rival the Cheshire Cat. “So... R.V., huh?”
I glared at her. “Don’t.”
“Oh, come on,” she said, sitting on the edge of the table. “White lilies and pink roses? That’s romantic as hell. And chocolates too? Rowan Vaughn has a soft side!”
“Jo,” I said warningly.
She held up her hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. But you have to admit, it’s sweet.”
I stared at the flowers, my emotions conflicted. “It’s unnecessary.”
“Is it, though?” Jo asked, tilting her head. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like he’s trying to make an effort. Maybe you should hear him out.”
I scoffed, gathering my things. “This isn’t about effort. This is about... I don’t even know what this is about.”
“It’s about a billionaire trying to impress a badass doctor,” Jo said, hopping off the table. “And honestly? I think he’s doing a pretty good job.”
I shot her a look, but she just laughed, walking out of the room with a bounce in her step.
I stared at the bouquet for a moment longer before grabbing it and the chocolates, muttering under my breath. “Unbelievable.”
Still, as I carried the flowers back to my office, I caught myself glancing at them with a small, involuntary smile. The white lilies were beautiful, delicate but strong, and the pink roses added a softness that tugged at something in me I didn’t want to name.
By the time I shut my office door, the blush had crept up my neck and onto my cheeks. I set the bouquet on my desk, giving it one last look before pulling out my phone.
The text from Rowan was still there, waiting.
“Good morning. I assume you survived the rest of yesterday.”
I exhaled slowly, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.
What could I even say to that? A snarky reply? A thank you for the flowers? A question about why he’d sent them in the first place?
Finally, I typed: “Thank you for the flowers and chocolates. They’re beautiful.”
I stared at the message, debating whether to add anything else. After a long moment, I hit send and set the phone down, feeling strangely lighter.
Not even a minute later, my phone buzzed.
“I’m glad you like them. You deserve it.”
I shook my head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Smooth, Rowan. Real smooth.”
\---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork, but every time I glanced at the flowers on my desk, a small, unfamiliar warmth settled in my chest.
Jo popped her head into my office at one point, wiggling her eyebrows when she saw the bouquet.
“Still acting all strong and unaffected?” she teased.
“Leave, Jo,” I said, pointing toward the door.
She laughed, but I caught her grinning as she walked away.
\---
Later that evening, as I was packing up to leave, an email notification popped up on my screen.
Subject: Nomination Announcement – Medical Excellence Awards
I blinked, opening the email quickly.
It was from a prestigious organization, informing me that I’d been nominated for their annual award in recognition of my research and contributions to medicine.
For a moment, I just stared at the screen, my heart pounding.
“An award,” I whispered to myself, a slow smile spreading across my face.
It wasn’t just an award. It was validation. A re
minder that all the late nights, the sacrifices, the struggles, they weren’t for nothing.
Jo’s voice echoed in my head: “You’re amazing.”
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