Piper
I come out of the bathroom and head back to the reception area. I cannot get the guy I saw out of my head. Why did he look so familiar?
I'm seated on the couch scrolling through my phone when a middle-aged lady with short blonde hair comes up to me. "Piper?" she guesses before offering me her hand.
"Yes ma'am" I smile as I reach for her hand. I give her a brief shake while she apologetically explains what took her so long to come down. Apparently, they were trying to prep a temporary space for me until a long-term space is available.
We head over to the elevators. Gloria shows me the public elevators that we are to use and the private one that sits off to the side is for the CEO only. She tells me our floor is on the 20th floor. I'm excited to see the views from up there. . Ever since I was little, I loved going to the office with my daddy. He worked on the 25th floor of his company and the view always left me in awe. It makes me miss my parents. I need to make time to return to Cali to see them. We step onto the elevator as a couple more employees crowd on. Gloria hits the button, and we are zipping upwards to my new future.
As we step off the elevator and I pan around to take it all in. Most of the floor is cubicles in the center of the space with mediocre size offices lining the walls on the outside. On one end is an employee lounge, restrooms for our floor and a well-equipped copy room. On the other end are 2 massive corner offices with a large conference room situated in the middle. It's functional and spacious.
Gloria leads me to the back wall and shows me the cubicle I will be working in for now. It's situated closer to the conference room. She helps me get set up on my computer and gives me a list of paperwork to complete by lunch. Apparently, this paperwork is important. I chuckle as I remember her words "This paperwork has to be done. If you want to get paid, that is." I love her sass. It reminds me of Ang.
I make a mental note to text or call Ang on my lunch break and give her the details. She's drying to know how many hotties I work with. I swear she is like a dude. She has sex on the brain more than anything else.
Gloria leaves me to it. I have this paperwork to fill out then they are having me dive right in. I'm supposed to have a briefing with the CEO today so we can start collaborating on a big project they are bidding. I'm excited and nervous at the thought.
I spent a better part of the morning finishing my on-boarding paperwork, so I can get paid as Gloria said. But my mind keeps wandering back to the familiar guy in the lobby. I wish I could have got a better look at him. I will my thoughts away, I am ready to finish this up so I can go to the bathroom and grab some lunch. The girl next to me leans over the cubicle "Hey, I'm Jocelyn. Are you the new hire everyone is buzzing about?".
It kind of throws me for a loop. I'm not sure why I would be anything to buzz about. I am relatively new to this town, I know hardly anyone, aside from Ang, and my life is very boring. I pride myself on staying away from drama as much as possible.
I takes me a minute to respond, and I am sure my surprised expression relays my thoughts "I am not sure why they would be talking about me" I trail off.
"Oh my God. I didn't mean that in a bad way! I just meant everyone around here is just jealous that you get to work with the CEO" she says as she waves around the room. "A lot of us have been here forever and we have never got to even meet him. He is very private".
I relax a little as I realize I may have just misjudged her. She seems nice enough, and God knows I could use some friends around here. I have got to quit jumping the gun on everyone. My past has conditioned me to think the worst of everyone. I lamely attempt to smooth it over "Oh no. I didn't mean that to come off rude. Maybe we can just start off again, I'm Piper". She waves it off as a misunderstanding and invites me to have lunch with her. She shows me around some of the other floors and introduces me to a couple more co-workers on our floor before I head back to my desk to meet up with Gloria.
Gloria shows up like clockwork. "Hey! How are you settling in?" she asks. She reminds me of a mother hen, always following her chicks around, keeping them in line and making sure everything is going as smoothly as possible. I really like her.
I tell her about my morning so far and how everything has gone well so far. I convey my excitement for the upcoming project and my ideas for it. She just beams at me "I think you are going to fit in just fine around here". I can feel the sincerity in her words. It has a calming effect on my heart.
We head to the elevators. Gloria turns to me "The CEO is on the 29th floor. When you are working on this particular project with him or any others assigned to this project, you will always do presentations in the conference room up there". I nod in agreement before following her onto the elevator.
My stomach is in knots, and I feel as though I might spontaneously combust from excitement. Silence envelopes us as the elevator ascends with a small ding as we pass each floor. As the doors slide open, we bound off the elevator. There is a receptionist desk perched in the middle with the big logo behind it in fancy metal lettering that says Hart Enterprises.
Gloria smiles at the receptionist and introduces me "Clara, this is Piper. She is the new hire in the marketing department". Clara gives me a half smile and lets us know to wait in the conference room and Mr. Hart will be with us shortly. She seemed a bit frosty but maybe that was just me. I have got to get out of my own head if I want to have a future!
We round the receptionist desk and pass some large, tall wooden double doors. I can only assume that must be the CEO's office. . We continue down a hallway before we come upon a large room with glass all the way around it. Having an audience for presentations has never bothered me but now I find myself panicking for no reason.
Gloria pushes the door opens and motions for me to sit to the right of the CEO's chair. My back is to the door, and it makes me all that more nervous but I'm in no position to argue with her. I need this job.
I can hear the clock ticking on the wall, papers being shuffled out in the office and then it hits me….
That smell! I turn around and feel as if the wind is knocked right out me …
***
Cole
As the door closes on the elevator, I chalk the mystery woman up to wishful thinking. It can't be her right? I shake my head and try to clear my thoughts. What is wrong with me? I wasn't even this obsessed with Courtney but there is just something about that girl. I have to get back on track here. I have a ton of work to do and no time for this.
I arrive at my floor. I step off the elevator, leaving everyone behind as I beeline for my office. I page Andrew and ask him to come down. It doesn't take long before he is pushing through the doors.
"What's up man" he announces as he plops on my couch like he owns it.
I have felt so good all weekend, let off the steam I needed and now I feel like it's all coming back to haunt me. When did my life become such a shit show? I growl "Did you tell that girl your name?".
Andrew winks "Nope, but I did have to settle for her screaming a couple curse words instead!". He seems highly satisfied with his answer but then realizes I am agitated. He studies me for a minute before he asks, "What's this about?".
I turn to gaze out the window. Brushing my hands through my hair, I respond "I swear I saw my girl in the lobby this morning".
Andrew snickers before replying "Dude, that would be a whole new level of fucked up if she works here".
No shit Sherlock…
He walks over next to me before clapping me on the shoulder "I'm sure it's just your imagination. I'm pretty sure those girls don't run with the crowds we do." I know he is trying to comfort me, but I still feel like something is off. I can't shake the feeling that she gives me.
I send Andrew on his way so I can attempt to clear my head and finish working. Most of my morning was spent in vain though. I can't seem to get that girl out of my head. Her smell, her long, flowy locks and those eyes. I have dreamt of those eyes every night since Friday.
What is it about her?
I mentally remind myself that I'm not ready for anything and that this was just a hookup. I'm obsessing over something that was never mine, something I never wanted to be mine past Friday. Get it together man.
I power through my morning. I have tons of paperwork to finish, contracts to sign and countless conference calls. I don't even have time to stop for lunch before Clara barges in and reminds me that I am meeting with the new hire in five minutes for project collaboration. I finish what I'm doing before I head out of my office.
Clara greets me at her desk and follows me to the conference room. As I round the corner, I spot her. She is sitting with her back to me, hair is wrapped up neatly. She's a vision. Just like I remember her.
My feet are propelling me forward faster than my brain is registering. I rush through the doors and her smells intoxicates me. She stands from her chair and spins around.
I feel like all the air if knocked out of my lungs and I can only murmur "You…"