Sienna's hands clenched under the table, but she said nothing, trying to keep her expression as calm as usual.
Angie continued, "Given the importance of this event, we should assign someone with more capacity and experience." Her words were polite, but the meaning was clear: she didn't want Sienna to get the task.
Sienna remained silent.
Riley frowned slightly.
Mia glanced between them.
Benjamin, however, did not react immediately. Instead, he looked at Sienna, then back at Angie.
"Sienna has handled multiple high-profile reservations successfully," he said calmly.
Angie's expression tightened almost imperceptibly.
"So, I'm confident she has what it takes." He added in his soft tone, only making Angie's expression even grimmer.
Silence fell again. But this time, it was heavier.
Sienna lowered her gaze again, her thoughts racing. 'Damn it, Benjamin! Why are you doing this…? This isn't helping me, alright? You've put me in a pressured spot openly.'
At this moment, she could feel like every pair of eyes in the room was on her.
The meeting continued, but Sienna barely heard the details. She only knows that her new assignment to take care of the CEO of Sterling Capital is already settled.
Still, Sienna feels uncomfortable. She could feel the gaze from both sides.
On one side, Benjamin's gaze feels quiet, steady attention.
And from the other Angie's sharp, cold gaze.
She could only sigh and try to ignore the negative thoughts as she focused on the important task for the event.
After a few more minutes had passed, Benjamin finally closed the file in front of him. "One more thing," he said.
The room fell silent instantly.
Sienna's heart tightened as she looked at him.
His gaze landed directly on her. "After this meeting," he said calmly, "I'd like to speak with you privately. The rest can leave the meeting room..."
Angie's expression turned completely cold.
Riley stiffened.
Mia's eyes widened slightly.
And Sienna. She could only sit there, her mind going blank. Because she knew, this meeting was no longer just about work.
...
The meeting room gradually emptied as each person quietly slipped out, their footsteps and voices fading behind the closed door.
Sienna remained seated. The room became silent. The kind of silence that made every small movement feel louder than it should be.
She didn't move, her hands resting lightly on her lap. At the same time, her thoughts were still caught somewhere between the meeting and what had just been said at the end of it.
"Sienna..."
Benjamin's voice instantly made her tense up.
Sienna turned toward him and saw him still sitting in his chair, his posture relaxed and his expression calm, as if the weight he carried during the meeting had been lifted the moment everyone else left.
There was something different about him now. Something less official. Less distant. It feels more personal.
"Yes, sir?" she asked, her voice careful.
Benjamin looked at her for a moment before speaking again.
"Do you know the CEO of Sterling Capital?"
The question caught her off guard. She slowly shook her head.
"I've only read about Mr. Zachary Sterling on the internet," she answered honestly. "But, I've never met him in person."
She had seen articles, headlines, and business reports about the Sterling Group. Names, achievements, influence—those were things she knew.
But the CEO of Sterling Capital himself? He was more like a shadow in those stories, someone rarely seen, someone who didn't step into the public eye often.
Benjamin nodded, as if that answer confirmed something he had been thinking about. There was a brief flicker of something in his eyes. Relief.
Sienna noticed it, and it made her feel even more confused.
Before she could ask anything, Benjamin pushed his chair back and stood up. The soft sound of it sliding against the floor seemed louder in the quiet room.
He began walking toward her.
Instinctively, Sienna stood up as well, her back straight, her hands falling naturally at her sides.
He stopped just a step away from her. The distance between them made her uncomfortable.
Benjamin smiled. It was the same warm, controlled smile he always wore. The kind that made people trust him, admire him, and feel at ease around him.
But Sienna didn't feel at ease. Not at all.
"Alright," he said gently. "This is a big assignment for you." His gaze held hers, steady and unhurried. "Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, sir. I will do my best," Sienna replied. Her voice was calm, measured, exactly how it should sound. But inside, something tightened.
Then, without warning, Benjamin lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder.
Sienna froze.
The touch was light. Almost casual. But it didn't feel that way to her. It felt deliberate.
Her fingers slowly curled against her palm as she forced herself to stay still, to not react, to not slap him in the face.
'Stay calm, Sienna. This man is your big boss.' She tries to calm herself.
Benjamin leaned in slightly. Not enough to draw attention. But enough for Sienna to instinctively shift her head away, just a fraction, as if her body reacted before her mind could stop it.
He noticed.
Instead of stepping back, he smiled and said, "I trust you, Sienna... You will shine in this project. This is another chance I give you," his voice gentle.
"Thank you, sir..." she answered, her gaze lowering for a moment.
From this distance, Benjamin Foster appeared more defined. The sharp features, neat appearance, and quiet confidence that came so naturally to him.
As the General Manager of a five-star hotel, he was still young, only in his mid-thirties. Successful, respected, and handsome, he was the kind of man many women would automatically admire for his looks alone.
But Sienna felt none of that. Because she knew something that mattered more. He was married.
That fact alone was enough for her to draw a clear line in her mind, no matter how much and how many times he tried to blur it.
Benjamin's smile deepened slightly, as if he enjoyed the quiet tension between them.
"Sienna," he said softly, "do you have time to have dinner with me tonight?"