Chapter 8 I've had enough

The meeting with the board was set for 10:00 AM, and the room felt like a pressure cooker. I could feel the heat of their gazes as I stood at the front, presenting the progress we'd made on the hotel's upcoming expansion. Every slide I clicked through was another layer of stress, another detail to get right.

But it wasn't just the board I had to worry about today.

Elliot sat across the table, arms crossed, his sharp eyes trained on me. The tension between us was almost palpable. I couldn't tell if he was angry or simply waiting for me to mess up. Either way, I could feel the weight of his gaze like a challenge. He didn't think I could handle this on my own, and I could tell that he was waiting for me to slip up.

Every word that left my mouth felt like a test, and with each passing second, I grew more nervous. I was used to presenting, but I wasn't used to presenting under the weight of Elliot's scrutiny. The usual support I got from Mark and the rest of the team didn't feel like enough when Elliot's disapproval hung over everything I said.

I clicked through another slide, detailing the budget forecast for the next quarter. But before I could continue, Elliot spoke up.

"Clara, I'm not sure we've accounted for some of the contingencies. We should be more thorough in outlining potential risks. You can't just leave them off the table. It's too risky."

His voice was calm, but I could hear the edge beneath it. I had known this was coming. I had known he would challenge everything I said, every decision I made. But it still felt like a slap to the face.

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure. "I've accounted for every risk, Elliot. Everything is in place. We're prepared."

His eyes narrowed. "Are you really? Because, from where I'm sitting, you're glossing over some serious issues. You can't afford to miss anything."

I could feel the weight of the board's eyes on me, all of them waiting for me to crack under the pressure. I was about to respond when Mark jumped in.

"Let's all take a step back here," Mark said, his voice cutting through the tension. "Clara's presentation is solid. We'll go over the details in the follow-up meeting. But right now, let's focus on the bigger picture."

I bit my lip, forcing myself to focus on the rest of the slides. Mark was trying to smooth things over, but I could feel Elliot's presence like a storm cloud hanging over everything. Every question he asked, every comment he made, seemed designed to undermine me. To make me second-guess myself.

The meeting dragged on, with Elliot continuing to play devil's advocate at every turn. He didn't give an inch. And no matter how much I explained, no matter how confident I was in my answers, he pushed back. It felt like he was trying to get me to admit I wasn't ready for this-like he wanted me to fail.

When the meeting finally ended, I felt a strange mixture of relief and anger. I had gotten through it, but it hadn't been easy. I was exhausted, mentally drained, and more frustrated with Elliot than I'd ever been before.

As the board members filtered out of the room, Mark gave me a quick pat on the back.

"Good job, Clara. You handled that well."

I barely nodded, my mind still on the battle that had just taken place. I was about to gather my things when I heard Elliot's voice behind me.

"We need to talk."

I didn't turn around. "I'm not in the mood for one of your lectures, Elliot."

He walked up beside me, his presence overwhelming. "This isn't about a lecture. This is about you thinking you can do everything on your own."

I rolled my eyes, finally facing him. "What is your problem, Elliot? Why do you always have to second-guess everything I do?"

He took a step closer, his expression hard. "Because I don't want to see you mess this up. You can't just charge ahead without thinking about the consequences. You think you can handle everything on your own, but you can't. You need to listen to me."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don't need your help, Elliot. I can handle this."

He exhaled sharply. "You're not listening. I'm not trying to take over. I'm trying to keep you from making mistakes that could ruin everything."

"I don't need saving," I snapped. "I'm not some charity case, Elliot. You don't get to walk in here and tell me how to do my job."

The words hung in the air between us, a challenge that neither of us was willing to back down from. I knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to make me doubt myself, make me question whether I was really ready for this. But the more he pushed, the more I dug my heels in.

"I don't care if you think I'm making mistakes," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "I'm doing this my way. You can either trust me, or you can leave me alone."

Elliot stared at me for a long moment, his jaw clenched. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."

I took a deep breath, stepping away from him. "I don't need you to make things easier for me, Elliot. I need you to trust that I know what I'm doing."

For a moment, it looked like he was going to argue more. But then he just sighed, his expression softening slightly. "You're not the only one with something to prove, Clara."

I didn't respond. I didn't need to.

---

I sat in my office long after everyone had left, staring at the presentation slides that now seemed like a pile of useless paper. My head was spinning, and the last thing I wanted to do was go home. But it wasn't just the project anymore. It was him. It was Elliot. And as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't stop thinking about him.

His words echoed in my mind: You're not the only one with something to prove.

What did that even mean? Was there more to Elliot than I'd thought? What was he hiding?

I was about to pick up my phone when a message notification popped up on the screen. It was from Mark.

We need to talk. Come to my office. It's urgent.

My heart skipped a beat. What now?