Suddenly, I Am Rich

The next two days passed faster than either of them expected.

Gray still had meetings and calls to handle, but the bulk of the Jet2 preparation fell smoothly, with Mara leading the charge.

They divided the work without saying much.

Mara focused on the deck and the research, while Gray handled the numbers, projections, and call briefings.

Occasionally, Mara would ask him some questions, and Gray would glance up from his laptop with an answer.

I guess it was the advantage of working with a friend. There was no awkwardness between them, just pure work. It was fun and surprisingly easy.

At one point on Thursday afternoon, Mara even called Jet2's team directly to confirm a few final terms. Gray had listened to the conversation from his chair, pretending not to eavesdrop, but quietly impressed by how professional she sounded.

By the time Friday arrived, the presentation was locked in. The printed copies were also clipped neatly into folders, and everything was ready.

Even though Jet2 was the first to make a proposal, Gray also wanted to prepare a presentation of his own to better position himself in the negotiations and gain a clearer standing in the deal.

They had agreed earlier to leave right after lunch, so they'd get to Jet2's headquarters early and avoid getting late. The two of them knew how important this was.

"Do you want to drive?" Gray asked, sliding a paperclip across his desk.

Mara snorted. "Do you want to die?"

"Good point." Gray tossed the keys back into his drawer. "We'll take my car then."

It was a little after 1 PM when they stepped out of the office.

The sun outside was brutal. Still, it didn't stop Mara from wearing a fitted black blazer over her button-up and slacks. She looked sharp and almost too formal for the meeting. Gray also wouldn't lose to that.

Gray was wearing a three-piece suit. His hair was styled, and on his wrist was a shiny watch that he had bought a few days ago.

Jet2's main headquarters were a few minutes away from them. They were just a new rising business, so their building still looked new and clean.

Still, despite that, Jet2 wasn't just any business.

It was a rising titan.

They were known for shipments, handling logistics, and running a powerful online platform where customers could order practically anything. Jet2 had grown fast over the last five years.

They had millions of users and warehouses across the country. They also had strategic partnerships with couriers and local sellers.

If this deal went through, it would push Gray's grocery to a whole new level. That's why he took the proposal seriously.

And now, as they pulled into the underground parking lot, Gray glanced sideways at Mara, who was flipping through the pitch notes one last time in the passenger seat.

"You good?" he asked, already tugging at his collar.

"Good?" Mara glanced up, smirking. "I'm amazing."

Gray let out a soft laugh, then turned off the engine.

"Alright. Let's go then."

They stepped out of the car and made their way into the building. The automatic doors opened with a soft hiss as they stepped into Jet2's main lobby.

Immediately, cool air swept over them. The shift from the heat outside to the coldness from the building's air-conditioned interior was almost enough to make Gray exhale in relief. He adjusted his cuffs, his eyes flicking upward as he took in the space around them.

The lobby was spacious and modern, with polished tile floors, tall glass walls, and a high ceiling that made the whole place feel open and minimal.

The receptionist's desk was set toward the left. It was sleek and white, with a large screen behind it displaying Jet2's rotating list of services and partners. The company logo hung on the center wall in brushed steel.

The lobby wasn't flashy, but it looked spacious and clean. It was just like the company's reputation.

Mara stepped beside him without a word. Her arms were still loosely folded around the folders they were carrying. Her eyes wandered across the lobby with the same level of quiet observation.

She didn't look nervous. If anything, she looked focused, as if already walking through the meeting in her head.

Gray glanced at her briefly before they continued forward. It still hadn't really hit him how long it had been since they were last in the same room like this. Working side by side. Living in the same timeline.

But maybe that was something he could think about later.

Right now, they had a deal to close.

A man approached them from the far side of the reception. He was dressed in a charcoal-gray dress shirt tucked into formal slacks, with a discreet earpiece hooked around his right ear.

His ID badge clipped to his waist labeled him as "Operations Assistant." He was probably in his late twenties.

"You must be Mr. Adams and Ms. Smith?" the man asked them respectfully as he reached to them. "We've been expecting you. I'll lead you to the meeting room."

"Thank you," Gray replied, offering a small nod.

They followed the man across the lobby and through a side corridor lined with frosted glass offices. Gray's footsteps echoed lightly on the floor as they walked. Every now and then, an employee would nod and smile at them, as if welcoming them.

The hallway curved slightly before opening into a smaller wing with several labeled meeting rooms. Their guide stopped at one of the doors, Meeting Room 4A, and pulled it open.

"This is your room. The executive team will join you shortly. Thank you for coming here, sir."

"No problem." Gray stepped in first while Mara was right behind him.

The room was modern and bright, with a long rectangular table, eight leather chairs, and a large digital screen set into the wall at the far end. On the table were two pitchers of water, a small tray of glasses, and a few neatly arranged coasters.

It was empty but not intimidating.

"I'll leave you to get settled," the assistant added politely, before letting the door swing gently shut behind him.