The Secret Island
CHAPTER 92:The Recovery

Celine had worked with countless executives and talented individuals, and she found out that after working with different types of people, there were people who were considered great workers because they knew how to work smart. Another type is people who are naturally gifted, and then there is Martin. He deserves his own category.

Celine knew prior to deciding to partner with him that he was a capable man in every sense of the word. But after one month from the day that he agreed to sign the contract with her, everything happened so fast. Everything that Martin did exceed her expectation.

Since that day, he asked to spend two weeks traveling to her factories, met her designers, and called in a marketing consultant. He even flew to Paris and then Japan and also Dubai to meet up with retailers and suppliers. He studied the market and came up with a plan for business expansion as well as product ideas that would fit different markets. He reviewed all of the company's finances and our client list.

All that in two weeks. And then he walked into her room with a plan.

Celine didn't exactly pay him upfront. Martin refused that type of deal anyway. He said if he was to work with her and grow the company together, he would refuse to take any salary. Instead, he would buy shares of the company, and he just wanted the dividend from the end-of-year profit. He said he was confident we would grow and the business would be profitable beyond her imagination.

She was surprised and didn't believe him. He just asked her to wait and see the result after a year.

Martin gave all of the final say to her. He did all the research, the pros and cons of things, and his recommendations. But in the end, it would be her stamp of approval that gives any project a go.

The category of talent that Martin was in, in her view, was scary good. She admired him more than she let on.

She realized it was because she loved to work. She loved to work just like boys love to play games. Every time she saw him working on his computer and making calls in the office, she saw him smile when he thought of new ideas. Later she realized that was a sign that he had found a new plan for us to become even more profitable.

"Martin, a new work desk will arrive today. I think my desk is really getting too small for the two of us." That was what was funny about our work conditions now. Celine's work desk was big since it was an executive desk, but since Martin was working on the opposite side of the desk, the space was significantly reduced. We had been working very closely together for a month. Too close, she thought.

The handsome man sitting in front of her just smiled in response. He was so much happier than the serious man she remembered. He was full of confidence and vigor. Martin was full of life after he had been working with her. His whole persona seemed to change somewhat. It is personified in the way he dressed up. He didn't choose a stuffy suit anymore. He had to go see our clients today, and he chose to wear a plain white shirt and jeans. He said we were almost like a startup, and the work culture had changed. There was no need for him to wear suits unless it was a truly official meeting.

"Aw... darling, you shouldn't have bought it." He closed his laptop and turned all his attention to her. His smile was still so bright that it took her by surprise. She still didn't get used to him being so happy all the time.

"We just work together on this desk like a co-working space, no? Like some startup companies, I once saw. I think it's kind of chill. We are still a startup, after all. Maybe we should change the work culture."

"Hmm..."

"And besides..." She looked at his smile, and she thought that she really didn't get used to this version of him. He was almost like a stranger when he was this happy.

"If I have my own desk, then I can't be this close to you." He reached his hand across the table and briefly held her hand. The act was brief because he quickly went back to focusing on his laptop and left her blushing. Celine's face was bright red. She didn't know who this Martin was.

Although Celine appreciated the positive change in him, she almost got a heart attack every time he was being this sweet.

Martin was very professional at work. Sometimes, he might say a few sweet words to her, but nothing overly romantic. He smiled more times in one month than she ever saw him smile.

It was a strange feeling for Celine. Every time she saw him enjoying work and smiling at her like this, it was almost as if she was falling in love with him all over again.

"Celine. It's almost time for us to go see the client. Let's go?" He got up and wore the blazer she tailored for him. One hand was holding a laptop, and another hand was extended to her in the hope of holding her hand.

He had been professional at work, but there were small things like this that made her realize that he wanted to have her close.

"You are blushing again." He commented, and she refused to look at him.

"I'm not blushing!" She refused, and Martin could only laugh.

"When you blush, you always deny it and raise your voice just like this." He commented and smiled broader.

"I don't know! You just have to drive me to the client site, okay?"

"Fine. Fine. You are not blushing; I don't see you blush at all."

Then Martin thought of the schedule for the evening.

"Oh, which restaurant was it that we need to go see your friend for dinner this evening?"

Celine totally forgot that she had a dinner appointment with her friends.

"I will check, but it's really close to the client site. We could just stop by after the meeting."

We had been officially together for months, and her friends were dying to meet Martin. So, she finally yielded to her friends' request to see her boyfriend.

"You don't have to worry about this evening, alright? I will behave well. Your friends will definitely like me. I hope anyway." He smiled at her and went back to focusing on driving. Celine forced a smile back.

She didn't know what was bothering her. She was worried and didn't know why.