Chapter 92 Did You Make A Mistake
Christina couldn’t help but feel a flush of warmth spread through her at Nathaniel’s playful tone, even as she tried to maintain her composure. She’d just received an unexpected surprise—a mountain of food, courtesy of Nathaniel, and his call was adding an unexpected layer of awkwardness to the whole situation.
As she ate, she could sense her colleagues’ eyes on her through the door, their whispered comments adding to the strange tension in the room. She tried to ignore them, focusing instead on the food, which was surprisingly delicious—though the situation was anything but ordinary.
After taking a bite, she glanced at the video call again, where Nathaniel was watching her with a faint smile on his lips. His eyes twinkled with mischief. “How’s the food, Christina?” he asked, his voice soothing, almost playful.
“It’s great, actually. Thank you.” Christina gave a soft, genuine smile, trying not to let the unusual circumstances get the better of her.
But before Nathaniel could reply, Caroline’s voice interrupted from the other side of the office. “Ms. Steele, the rest of us haven’t had lunch yet. Shouldn’t we be starting the meeting soon?”
Christina’s brow furrowed slightly. Caroline, who had been one of the most vocal skeptics about her appointment, was clearly trying to undermine her authority, but it didn’t faze Christina. She’d dealt with tougher situations before. Still, the moment felt awkward, as if the room was holding its breath.
“I’ll be right there, Caroline,” Christina replied calmly, her voice steady. “We’ll start the meeting as soon as I finish eating.”
The bodyguards, who had been quietly standing by the door, turned to nod, as if expecting the exchange. “Take your time, Mrs. Hadley,” one of them said with a polite smile, adding weight to the surreal situation.
Christina couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, despite the tension. Mrs. Hadley. The title was still so new to her, and yet, it had already become a constant part of her life.
She continued eating, albeit more slowly now, feeling the eyes of her team members linger. It was impossible to ignore the undercurrent of judgment from the employees in the office—especially Caroline, who still seemed rattled by Christina’s unexpected appointment.
Finally, after a few more moments of eating in awkward silence, Christina wiped her mouth and set her fork down, her thoughts already shifting to the meeting. “Alright,” she said, standing up. “Let’s get started.”
She walked into the conference room, where the rest of the team had already gathered, though their chatter had died down when they saw her enter. Christina didn’t waste time. She got straight to the point, outlining the priorities for the upcoming months, the fashion show, and the internal competition that would set the tone for Radiant Corporation’s new direction.
As the meeting went on, Christina’s confident yet calm demeanor began to have an effect. While Caroline still looked tense, a few of the others seemed to soften, if only a little. Christina didn’t care for their initial resistance. What mattered was getting things done.
Later that afternoon, as the meeting wrapped up and the employees filed out, Christina sat back in her chair, exhausted but satisfied. It’s just the beginning. She had a long way to go before winning over everyone, but so far, she’d held her ground.
She checked her phone and saw another message from Nathaniel. “How did it go? Any trouble?”
Christina smiled and quickly typed a response. “It went well. There’s still some resistance, but I’ll manage. Don’t worry.”
She paused for a moment, considering her next words. “Thank you for the lunch. It was a nice surprise.”
Nathaniel’s reply came almost instantly: “Anything for my wife. Just don’t let them push you around.”
Christina’s heart fluttered at the words. She hadn’t quite adjusted to the idea of being married yet, but Nathaniel’s words always seemed to settle her unease, as though she didn’t have to face everything alone.
As the day wore on, the looming pressure of taking charge of Team B hung over her, but Christina felt more prepared. The support from Nathaniel and her own determination made her believe that she could turn things around, no matter how much the team might resist her presence.
That evening, after a long day of overseeing the fashion show preparations, Christina finally collapsed onto the couch at home, exhausted but satisfied. Nathaniel was there, sitting beside her, his warmth offering her a sense of peace after the chaotic day.
“How was it, really?” he asked softly, his hand resting gently on hers.
Christina turned to him, offering a tired but genuine smile. “It was… challenging. But I think I’m getting the hang of it. Just need to keep moving forward.”
Nathaniel nodded, his fingers brushing her hand reassuringly. “You’re doing great. You know that, right?”
Christina squeezed his hand back, the reassurance of his words a balm to her frayed nerves. “Thanks. I just need to stay focused.”
Nathaniel smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “You’ve got this, Christina. No matter what comes next, I’m here.”
For the first time that day, Christina allowed herself to breathe. The world felt a little less overwhelming with Nathaniel by her side, and for the moment, that was enough.