The executive conference room of Dennis Group was abuzz with anticipation. Veronica had arrived early with the other secretaries, already settled in her seat for a good ten minutes while they awaited the arrival of the company's CEO.
When Cullen finally strode into the room, the atmosphere shifted palpably. His tailored charcoal suit accentuated his broad shoulders, and his confident gait commanded immediate attention. Miranda, seated beside Veronica, drew in an audible breath. Her eyes widened with undisguised admiration, following Cullen's every move as he took his place at the head of the table.
"Good morning, everyone," Cullen's deep voice resonated through the room, officially commencing the meeting.
Miranda leaned over, her voice a barely contained whisper against Veronica's ear. "Mr. Dennis is really handsome!"
Veronica, who had only briefly glanced up when Cullen entered, kept her focus on organizing her notes. "Mm," she responded noncommittally, her fingers already poised over her laptop keyboard.
Miranda gave Veronica a curious look, momentarily surprised by her colleague's indifference to such an attractive man. Then understanding dawned on her face – of course, Veronica was married with a child. She would naturally be immune to Cullen's charms.
Throughout the two-hour presentation on the company's latest architectural venture, Miranda found herself repeatedly distracted. Her gaze drifted to Cullen's strong jawline, his elegant hands gesturing as he spoke, the intensity in his eyes when discussing profit projections. She barely registered the actual content of the meeting, lost in a daydream of what it might be like to work directly under his supervision.
Meanwhile, Veronica's fingers flew across her keyboard, meticulously documenting every significant point, organizing information by relevance and priority, and adding contextual notes for later reference. Not once did her gaze linger on Cullen longer than professionally necessary.
As the meeting concluded, Cullen was the first to exit, his departure followed by a collective exhale from the room. Miranda remained slightly dazed, her heart still fluttering with the aftereffects of being in Cullen's presence.
"Ms. Murray," Bradley approached Veronica's workstation, his hand extended. "The notes?"
Veronica transferred the file to him with a few efficient keystrokes. Bradley scanned through the comprehensive document, eyebrows rising slightly.
"Not bad. Good work," he commented, genuine approval in his voice.
"It's nothing," Veronica replied modestly, already organizing her materials to return to her desk.
After Bradley departed, Miranda suddenly realized she'd absorbed almost nothing from the meeting. Embarrassment colored her cheeks as she turned to Veronica. "Could you possibly send me your notes? I was a bit... distracted."
When the file appeared in her inbox, Miranda opened it and immediately felt her head throb. The document was filled with architectural terminology she barely recognized. "Ms. Murray, did you study architecture?" she asked, bewildered.
Veronica shook her head. "No."
"Then how do you know so many industry terms?"
"I found some books on my own and learned a bit, but it's only surface-level knowledge," Veronica explained, her tone matter-of-fact.
After years of supporting the diverse portfolio of Dennis Group investments, Veronica had made it a personal mission to understand the basics of every industry they touched. Architecture, pharmaceuticals, technology—she had studied them all.
"Really?" Miranda's eyes widened. "Have you looked into medical books as well?"
After just two days working alongside Veronica, Miranda was beginning to understand how this young woman had risen to head the secretarial team. It wasn't favoritism or luck—Veronica was genuinely exceptional at her job.
"Which books have you read?" Miranda asked, suddenly eager. "Could you send me a list? I'd like to check them out when I have time."
"Sure, I'll send it to you later," Veronica agreed.
By lunchtime, Veronica had curated a selection of titles that would provide Miranda with a solid foundation without overwhelming her. She sent the list via email, watching as Miranda's eyes grew wider scrolling through the fifty recommended books.
The afternoon brought a shift in their routine. At three o'clock, Cullen had scheduled a meeting with an important client, and Bradley approached Veronica's desk with a specific request.
"Could you make a few cups of your coffee? I'll bring them to the meeting room myself," he said.
Miranda, overhearing this exchange, couldn't hide her surprise. "You make Mr. Dennis's coffee?" she asked Veronica once Bradley was out of earshot.
"Yes, occasionally," Veronica replied, already moving toward the break room.
Miranda followed, curiosity evident in her expression. She noticed that while Veronica made the coffee, Bradley insisted on delivering it himself. This arrangement struck her as deliberately orchestrated—perhaps Cullen preferred keeping his administrative staff at a distance.
"Have you never personally delivered coffee to Mr. Dennis?" Miranda probed gently.
Veronica measured coffee grounds with practiced precision. "Not exactly. Sometimes, if Bradley or the others are busy, they'll ask me to bring it in."
A spark of opportunity flashed in Miranda's eyes. As someone who enjoyed drinking coffee but had never bothered learning to prepare it properly, she suddenly saw a potential opening.
"Ms. Murray," she began, her voice sweet with eagerness, "could you teach me how to make coffee the way Mr. Dennis likes it? Just in case I'm ever asked to help."
Veronica paused, recognizing the transparent attempt to find ways to interact with Cullen. But what did it matter to her now? She had already resigned herself to maintaining a strictly professional relationship with him, had already given up any hope of something more.
"Sure," she responded with a small smile. "I'll show you his preferences."
After all, sharing this knowledge cost her nothing. If anything, it was one more step in detaching herself from the personal connection she once felt to Cullen Dennis.