(Few Days Later. In a conference meeting)
As Anabel was giving her speech, Sylvester, a medium-profile businessman, was sitting at the back of the auditorium with his arms crossed. The conference had drawn in some of the most brilliant minds from the state, and Anabel was one of them.
His eyes were fixed on the stage, watching Anabel's speech. She was taking the podium with a confident stride. Sylvester found himself captivated with her excellent command of speech. Not just by her ideas, but by her very presence. There was a certain spark in her, an undeniable energy that commands attention.
Ever since she witnessed Anabel's action on Zacklid's group launching day, he had been looking forward to meet her, which was the main reason he came to the conference meeting. He had done research about her and had gotten all the information he needed. HER REAL IDENTITY. Thanks to his boys, who worked it out without wasting time.
When the event came to an end, Sylvester made his way to the front of the auditorium to meet Anabel, the main reason he came to the conference.
He exchanged greetings with some high-profile people, but his focus was on Anabel.
"Hey, Miss Anabel." He called, and Anabel stopped and turned to know who was calling her. "A minute, please." He added while walking towards her.
"Any problem?" Anabel asked as she stared at the handsome man who called her.
"I've been longing to meet you. I can say that your presentation was truly exceptional." He said, extending a hand. "My name is Sylvester. But you can call me Silver."
She looked up, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. "Thank you. I'm glad you found my speech impactful."
"I didn't just find it impactful." Sylvester replied with some trace of enthusiasm in his voice. "I was blown away. Your ideas have the potential to revolutionize the field of technology." He added, causing Anabel to smile.
"That's what keeps me going. The pursuit of groundbreaking knowledge."
"I'm a businessman, and I will love to have some time with you." He offered, "Over a drink, perhaps? If you don't mind."
Anabel raised an eyebrow. "A drink, huh? That's a bold move, considering we just met."
Sylvester chuckled. "Miss, I'm a man who knows what he wants. And right now, I want to explore the brilliant mind behind those speeches. There's a lot I need to learn from you."
She laughed. "Alright, I'll bite. But just one drink, and don't try to charm me into revealing all my secrets."
"Oh, I make no promises." Sylvester teased with a grin. "But I will take that as a challenge."
Anabel playfully rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. "Fine, I like your vibe. Meet me at Keystone hotel bar in an hour. Don't be late."
"I keep time." He replied, and Anabel left. As Sylvester watched her walk away, he felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a trace of nervousness. He had always been confident in his intellect and charisma, but there was something about Anabel that threw him off balance.
Maybe it was the way she carried herself with such poise and authority, or the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke. Whatever it was, Sylvester knew he was in for an intriguing evening.
The next hour passed in a blur of anticipatory energy. Sylvester arrived at the hotel bar just as Anabel was taking a seat.
"Wow, right on time," she remarked, raising an eyebrow in approval.
Sylvester slid onto the stool beside her and ordered a whiskey. "I told you I would be punctual."
"I can see. So where were we?"Anabel asked.
"First, I would like to say that your speech was...invigorating."
"Invigorating?" Anabel repeated with a teasing tone.
Sylvester shrugged and grinned. "I like to invent words. It's a side effect of being around someone as brilliant as you."
Anabel's eyes sparkled with amusement. Sylvester was getting into her without much effort. "Well, I will take the compliment. But let's focus on why we are here. First, I will like to know. What brought you to the conference?"
Sylvester leaned back, assessing his surroundings with a calculating gaze before settling on Anabel once more. "I'm always on the lookout for innovative ideas to implement in my own technology projects. But after your speech, something entered into my heart. I think I fell in love. You are a type of lady I've been looking for. I couldn't hold back.
Anabel didn't see that coming. She thought he wanted to talk about business. How would he be talking about love and feelings to a divorced pregnant woman?
"And here I thought you just wanted to get me drunk and pry all my secrets out of me. Honestly I thought you wanted to talk about business." Anabel said.
"Yeah, business is part of it. But let's be real, the secrets I'm most interested in uncovering aren't hidden in your exploits. They're the whispers of your heart."
Anabel's breath hitched, her expression shifting from playful to something more guarded. "Sylvester, I...we hardly know each other."
He reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist in a gentle, reassuring touch. "Maybe that's true, but I feel like I've known you my entire life. The way you speak, the fire in your eyes… it all resonates deep within me."
"Stop thinking too much. Don't deceive yourself into thinking it's anything more."
"Maybe you are right." He said with a soft voice. "But can't we at least explore this...feeling for a little while longer? See where it leads?"
"Can we talk about business? I'm not in the mood to talk about love or anything related to it. If you know who I am, you won't be talking about love in front of me."
"Why?" Sylvester asked even though he knew every damn thing about her. He knew she was divorced, and she is a billionaire heiress. He also knew that she was pregnant.