Merging of souls

In the opulent auction house, the air is electric with anticipation. There is a sea of masked bidders who are obviously famous and influential artists or business men. Two people stand out - their eyes locked on the prized emerald stone necklace. Vincent, a ruthless businessman,and Lillian,a cunning entrepreneur, are determined to claim the rare piece.

As the bidding war escalated, their pseudonyms - "The Phoenix" and "The Vixen" - became synonymous with fierce competition. But when Lillian's bid falls short, Vincent holds a victorious smile as the audience applauds . The emerald necklace is presented to him as he notices his rival glaring at him through her mask as she accepts defeat. Vincent notices his rival standing up heading for the exit. He rushes after her , his deep voice low and smooth" excuse me miss, may I have a moment?" Lillian halts and turns to face him, staring fiercely into his eyes. Vincent's smile is subtle, avoiding eye contact with Lillian. "I wanted to present you with something". He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the emerald necklace, its gemstones glinting in the light. Lillian's eyes flicker to the necklace, her expression unreadable. "What is this",she asks in a neutral voice. "A symbol of my respect, Miss. I have never come across someone who bids the way you do. I have to say that I am very impressed by your skills". Lillian's eyes narrows through her mask as she gazes at the necklace, her mind racing with doubts. "Why would you give me this, Mister, just like that", her voice laced with skepticism. "Like I said, it's a symbol of my respect and appreciation for your skill. You know, this is a place dominated by men and any woman who wants to win a bid for herself would have a hard time. Many are not even allowed to bid publicly. I don't know how you were able to make them permit you, but I'm very impressed. You gave a hard fight while bidding,so you definitely deserve this", Vincent says in a sincere voice. Lillian's eyes searching for an hidden agenda in him, "I'm not naive, Mister. I know how the business world works. You don't give expensive gifts without expecting something in return." Vincent's expression remains sincere and without a word he places the necklace on her hand and walks away. Lillian is very surprised at the man's gesture, but still suspects that he would look for her in the future to ask for a favor.

Time passes and Lillian comes to accept that the man was just really sincere and she regretted not being able to thank him.

Today is a very big day for Lilian. She stands and stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her attire exudes aura. She is wearing a tailored black pantsuit, the jacket fitted to accentuate her shoulders, with a crisp white blouse underneath. A statement piece of jewelry, a bold silver necklace and a pair of elegant earrings, add a touch of elegance to her outfit. Her black pumps are high-heeled, yet comfortable enough to wear throughout the day. Her hair, naturally curly, is styled in a sleek, low bun, and her makeup is subtle, yet it enhances her natural features. "I can do this. I have been preparing for months. I will make dad proud again". She says to herself assuringly. She walks to her work space in her room and takes her laptop. She begins to review the content of the meeting she will have with the director of arts and culture in Los Angeles. Anxious thoughts begin to swarm her mind again as she goes through the slides. Her mind wandered to her competitors, the CEO of Hanscorp, Vincent Hanstrup and the CEO of easel and Co, Mackenzie Roderigo. A few weeks ago, she asked her personal assistant, Bella, to get her some information about Vincent. According to what Bella told her and a few regular chit-chats with her cousin Rani, Lillian couldn't deny the fact that Vincent is indeed a brutal business man with an impeccable record. Lillian tries to shake the thought out of her head before she starts to lose focus and confidence. She picks up her phone to search for Vincent. "This is so not my thing, but I need more information about this Vincent guy". She says to herself as she taps the search icon. "He is all hype and no substance. Bella must be crazy for making me worry over nothing. My team and I are the real deal, building something meaningful ,while he's just trying to keep up appearances and public image. How can all his pictures be of his business meetings and interviews? Wow, not even a single scandal about him when he is this famous. Still, he stands no chance against me." Lillian feels anxious, but she quickly puts her phone in her bag. "I hope the director deems me fit for this project". She says as she inhales and exhales deeply. Lillian packs her laptop and other important documents into her bag and goes downstairs, heading for the door. "Aren't you going to eat breakfast, Miss Lillian?" Miss Kathy calls out from the kitchen. "I have no appetite now, I'll eat later," Lillian assures Miss Kathy. She rushes out of the kitchen with a sandwich and places it in Lillian's hand. Lillian smiles warmly, " thank you". Miss Kathy assures her, "you're a brilliant business woman, and your proposal will be top-notch. I have seen your hard work and dedication to your job, and I believe you have what it takes to make the project a success." Lillian nods as Miss Kathy's words warmed her heart. Miss Kathy responds with a bright smile. She watches Lillian until she enters the car and it zooms off. Miss Kathy is like a mother to Lillian, who lost her mother at a very tender age. She has a round face, a smattering of freckles across her nose and short curly hair. Her kind heart and gentle spirit are evident in her soft features and compassionate eyes. Miss Kathy was employed by Mr Arturo, Lillian's father, a few weeks after Lillian's mom died. She truly loved Lilian like a mother would love her child. She is always there to offer a listening ear and comforting words whenever she needs it.

Soon Lilian arrives at the company, Art verse, which was built by her father, Mr Arturo. She is now the CEO of the company not because she is the only heir, but also because she is talented and has a passion for art and innovative thinking. At the age of twenty, Lillian was able to land a successful project, displaying leadership and creative direction throughout the process. Her father continued to nurture her and made her the CEO. Lillian is now twenty-five years old and quite famous. She is among the top 10 most successful young CEOs. She is also the only female in this rank and her father could not be more proud of his daughter. Lillian really enjoys working at the company which covers projects on product design, art installations, exhibition and creative consulting. Lillian enters the conference room where all the heads of departments are seated. They all greet Lillian as soon as they see her, showing their regards and respect. Lillian takes her seat and arranges all she would need. Soon the director of art and culture in Los Angeles enters the conference room. Everyone exchanges greetings with him and the meeting begins.

Lillian stands confidently in front of the conference room, takes a deep breath and begins her presentation in a clear and concise voice, "ladies and gentlemen, esteemed director of arts and culture, I am thrilled to present the Art verse proposal for the prestigious project, ' the urban renewal center design'. Art verse has a comprehensive plan to revitalize the various neglected urban areas , incorporating public art, landscape design and community engagement". Lillian clicks the remote and shows her team's impressive designs and concepts on the screen as she walks through the vision and highlights the unique aspects.

The director listens intently, his eyes scanning the room with interest, acknowledging the fact that it is evident Lilian and her team put in a lot of work for the project. He is impressed by how Lillian addresses every concern and question with poise and professionalism. Lillian ends the presentation, and she knows she has given it her all. "Thank you ,Miss Arturo. Your proposal is impressive, and we'll be in touch soon to discuss it further." Lillian exhales, a mix of relief and excitement running through her veins. She knows she is one step closer to landing the project. After she escorts the director to the lobby of the company, her phone rings. She sees the caller is her father, and she smiles and picks up the call, " Hello dad." She says. " How did my baby girl do?" Mr Arturo asks with concern in his voice. Lillian squeals, " killed it as usual". Mr Arturo smiles and says , "that's my girl, you'll definitely get the contract because you are talented and capable". Her heart is filled with pride as she replies, "I learned from the best ''. With joy radiating from his eyes and the serene contentment in his soul he replies, "you surely did. I'm proud of you, Lili, and I want you to always be happy". Lillian smiles sheepishly, " I will be happy when I get this project". If only Lilian knew her father was thinking when he made that statement. Mr Arturo knows that he will not always be around as he advances in age. He wishes that Lilian would meet someone who would love and support her as much as he does. Lillian's voice cuts his thoughts short as she asks, " any news about Hanscorp and 'you know who". Mr Arturo can clearly imagine the sparkle of competitive spirit in her hazel-brown eyes. He sighs at his daughter's competitive spirit. She got it from him anyway he says in his mind. Mr Arturo adjusts his voice to a business tone, " there's news spreading that the director of arts and culture was pleased with the Hanscorp development plan. I've got to acknowledge the young man behind it, Vincent. He really is diligent, and I also heard that most of his projects have gained momentum". Lillian's voice rose, her voice dripping with determination, "Vincent might think he is a threat, but I'll show him what a real CEO looks like. He can't compare my power of innovation, the strength of my team and the unyielding spirit of a true leader which I am".