Page 41 of Beautiful Rose
I get lost in his soul piercing gaze. I don’t know how long we stand in that corner, staring at each other. Maybe five seconds, five minutes… maybe ten.
A strange, hoarse voice breaks our moment, and Zander’s lips pull up in an affectionate smile.
I turn around to find Zane Teager standing behind me, looking at us with a bemused smile.
“Zand-d-der, who’s-s your friend? Int-t-troduce me.”
It didn’t go unnoticed by me how Zane framed his sentences in a few words.
Zane is tall, even a few inches taller than Zander. Contrary to Zander’s serious features, Zane has a soft and compassionate face. I’ve seen the three brothers on the internet several times now, but the online pictures do no justice to their stunning features. I have no doubt their birth parents were beyond beautiful.
“Marr, this is my brother Zane, and Zane, this is Dr. Marlin. She is a lead data scientist here in Cherrywood.”
“Nice to m-m-meet you, Marr. Due to some reas-s-son my brother can’t s-s-stop smiling s-since you walked in.” Zane’s lips curl up as he bumps his shoulder with Zander’s.
I enjoy watching them. Over the weeks, I have heard so much about Zach and Zane from Zander, it feels like I already know them. Maybe it’s the reason I don’t feel my usual uneasiness around him.
“Nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Zane’s eyebrows rise in surprise. “I mus-s-st confess, I haven’t heard much about-t-t you. My brot-t-ther kept you a secret.”
The smile on my face drops hearing his words.
Doesn’t Zander want anyone to know about me? About us?
But immediately, Zander clears his throat and gives me his soft dimpled smile. Slaying the monsters of my insecurities, he says to his brother, “I wanted to introduce you and Zach to Marr in person this evening.”
As always, his words make my heart flutter in delight, giving me jitters of happiness.
We walk further into the room to Kristy and Oscar when there’s an announcement on the stage. Zander is introducing Kristy to Zane while the event organizer addresses the crowd. After delivering the welcome note, she invites Zander on stage.
Giving me a discreet smile, he makes his way through the crowd. His stride is confident and controlled. I briefly pull my gaze away from him to notice the admiring eyes of men and women fixated on him as he takes the mic and starts to speak.
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us on this wonderful evening. Four years ago, my brothers and I came up with the idea of Elixir Inc. It was our dream to revolutionize the world of pharmaceuticals. Little did we know, we would be opening our second office a year later in this charming town. Over these years, several people joined us in our journey. And it’s their hard work, your hard work, that has turned our dream into a reality.”
Everyone bursts into applause as Zander finishes his speech.
My clapping hands pause when I feel someone new beside me and find Zach Teager standing next to me. I’m seized by startling numbness when I realize I’m surrounded by Zander’s brothers, Kristy, and Oscar.
Familiar people. Friends or future friends.
“What’s up with him today? If he smiles any more, he might get stretch marks,” Zach drawls, breaking my reverie.
My lips twitch up in a smile. The middle Teager is notoriously famous for his sense of humor.
“Zach, meet Ms. Marlin and-d-d Ms. As-s-sher,” Zane introduces us to Zach. “You might have already s-seen them in the conference calls in the past month.” As we are shaking hands, he adds, “Marr is-s-s a very good-d-d friend of Zander’s.”
A look passes between the two brothers, but only for a second before Zach smiles. “It’s nice to meet you, ladies.” He cocks an eyebrow toward me. “So, Ms. Marlin, you are our tech genius in Cherrywood. My sales and marketing team is smitten by your work.”
I shy away from his inquisitive gaze, but Kristy replies on my behalf.
“Rose is certainly a tech genius. We are so proud to have her with us.”
Before our discussions run further, Zander starts announcing the awards.
A middle-aged manager with salt-and-pepper hair from human resources receives the outstanding leadership award. A woman around my age dressed in a gray skater dress steps onto the stage to collect a customer service award. There’s no mistaking the pink in her cheeks as she takes the trophy from Zander.
Who wouldn’t fall for that face, and more importantly, the person behind it?