When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 65: End of meeting

Chapter 65: End of meeting

Zinnia’s heart pounded in her chest as she sat in her chair, the weight of her new role settling on her shoulders. Today had been one of the most important meetings of her career. She had to prove herself, not just to Victoria Chen, but to the entire company. Her father’s legacy was on the line, and now, so was hers.

She had practiced her speech over and over, but now that the moment had come, doubt crept in. Could she really live up to her father’s name? The memory of him standing tall, confident in every boardroom meeting, weighed heavily on her.

The meeting room was large, filled with the soft hum of conversation. Victoria Chen sat across from Zinnia, her expression unreadable. Known for her sharp mind and tough questions, Zinnia knew this would be no ordinary negotiation.

"I’ve seen your father navigate through tougher markets," Victoria continued, her voice steady. "Why should I trust that you’ll be able to handle this?"

Zinnia steadied herself, took a breath, and met Victoria’s gaze. "I’ve watched my father build Lopez Digital Studios from the ground up," she said, her voice strong. "I’ve seen the sacrifices, the long nights, and the passion that fueled every project. Now, it’s my turn to carry that forward."

Her hands trembled slightly under the table, but her eyes never left Victoria’s. "This isn’t just another project to me. It’s my family’s legacy. And I will give it everything I have."

There was a brief silence, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Victoria’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying her. Zinnia held her breath, waiting for her response.

Finally, Victoria leaned back in her chair and nodded slowly. "That’s what I needed to hear."

Relief washed over Zinnia, but she kept her composure. The first hurdle was cleared, but the day was far from over.

"We’ll need to finalize the contracts by next week," Victoria added. "Can you handle that?"

Zinnia’s heart raced, but she nodded. "Yes, I’ll make sure everything is ready."

Victoria gave a small nod of approval. "Good. I look forward to working with you."

The meeting wrapped up soon after, and as Zinnia stepped out of the room with Marcos, her head swam with everything that had happened.

"How do you think it went?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

"You did great," Marcos assured her with a smile. "Victoria Chen doesn’t say things lightly. You impressed her."

Zinnia exhaled slowly. "I hope so. I was nervous the entire time."

Marcos chuckled. "You didn’t show it. Your father would be proud."

They walked down the hallway, and Zinnia felt a strange sense of calm. This was her world now, her responsibility. Marcos led her toward her new office, which was next to her father’s. The space was familiar, yet foreign.

When she stepped inside, Zinnia paused. The office was beautiful, modern, with sleek furniture and large windows that let in plenty of light. A large desk stood at the center, polished and pristine, and the bookshelves behind it were already filled with industry reports and legal documents.

It was clear her father had planned this for a while. Every detail was thoughtful, from the framed family photo on the wall to the desk setup that mirrored his own. Zinnia felt the weight of his expectations again, but there was also a sense of pride.

"This is where you’ll be making your mark," Marcos said, leaning against the doorframe.

Zinnia walked over to the desk and ran her fingers along its surface. "It feels strange," she admitted. "I’ve always seen my dad in here. Now it’s mine."

"You’ve earned it," Marcos replied.

The rest of the day was a blur of meetings, introductions, and stacks of paperwork. Marcos helped her navigate the company’s structure, going over key projects and who was in charge of each one. They reviewed the marketing strategy for the next quarter and discussed possible collaborations with new partners.

By the afternoon, Zinnia’s head was spinning, but she knew she had to keep going. Every decision she made now carried weight, and she couldn’t afford to slip up.

When the day finally ended, Zinnia leaned back in her chair, exhausted but satisfied. She had survived her first day, and things had gone better than she expected.

The drive home was quiet, the city lights flashing past her as she replayed the events of the day. She wondered if her father had felt this way when he first started. The pressure, the uncertainty. But she couldn’t dwell on that now. There was too much at stake.

As she walked through the front door, the familiar warmth of home wrapped around her. Samuel was on the couch, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.

"Zia," he greeted, standing up. "How was your day?"

Zinnia dropped her bag on a nearby chair and sighed. "It was... intense. But I think it went well."

Samuel crossed the room, concern evident in his eyes. "I’m sure you did great. You always do."

She smiled at him, grateful for his support. "Thanks. I hope so."

After a moment, Zinnia glanced at him. "Actually, I could use your help with something."

Samuel raised an eyebrow. "Company stuff?"

"Yeah," Zinnia said, rubbing her temples. "I’m going to be stepping in more with Dad stepping back. I’ll need all the advice I can get."

Samuel nodded, his expression serious. "I’m here. Whenever you need me."

Zinnia felt a surge of gratitude. She knew she could rely on Samuel, but there was still something hanging in the air. A tension neither of them had addressed.

"I appreciate it," she said softly.

Later that night, on the other side of the city, Lily sat in her room. She glanced at her phone, typing a quick message to her secretary. "Arrange a meeting with the branch CEO tomorrow. I want an update on our operations."

Her eyes narrowed as she hit send. There was more going on than Zinnia knew, and soon, everything would come to light.