'So he might be a secretary.'
The top floor was for the President's secretary. I looked at Andrew, the man like him who excluded a strong and powerful personality and aura, should have a good amount of work experience. He being a secretary of the president was a very natural thing that came to my mind.
I just smiled as I looked outside to check when Jane was coming. But to my surprise, I could not see Jane outside at all, which came as a surprise because she would always be here. looking at me smiling, even if she is outside talking with a boyfriend, she would always wave her hands at me through the glass windows.
I was wondering what happened when I looked down and saw Jane's message popping up.
[I was called in the office, and had some emergency documents to review. Can you pack the cake and bring it to me?]
I sighed as I typed, [okay]
I took the plate in my hand and got up.
Andrew observed my movements and asked me, "What happened? Your friend is not coming?"
I shook my head as I made my way out. "She has some work. I'll just get it packed."
----
As we walked towards the building I could feel that Andrew was keeping his pace low. His legs were long and yet he was walking at my speed.
My eyes were glowing as I lifted them to face him. Even the side face is something to admire. He was a perfect definition of a gentleman. When we reached the building, he opened the door for me.
Although this was not the first time anyone has done this as it was very common practice, it was something that everyone did here. But I felt like I was connected to this man.
Maybe I have a crush on him. Who knows?
Andrew is handsome. He's a gentleman and looking at him he might have a good work ethic. Someone who will not pull a lady down, someone who would push his significant other to achieve great things.
I didn't know where the confidence towards him came from but I just felt that he was such a man.
I walked towards the elevator that everyone used as Andrew walked towards the private elevator that was reserved for people on the top floor.
I smiled at him as I said. "Thank you for everything today. I hope we do meet some other day."
Andrew nodded as his lips curled up. He softly replied, "We will meet soon."
It was a very natural thing to say. And yet I highly doubt that it would come true. I walked into my elevator as the door closed. as the elevator started moving up my brain started finding excuses.
Can we really meet again? I know there was a very little chance of it happening. The people who worked on the top floor would rarely mingle with anyone else because of the work pressure they were under. They didn't have free time to just go and meet some random person they had just befriended.
With the sudden realization, I knew that I would not be able to meet Andrew again soon and that made my heart sad. It was something, it was a feeling like maybe something bad was happening. A slight pain of disappointment.
I still had a lot of work so I pushed the thoughts back. I looked at the clock and realized that I still had an hour to work.
I could not imagine that I had so much discussion with Andrew in a small desert shop for an hour. I turned around as I looked into the elevator mirror. I could see my face heavily blushing as I shook my head.
There was no use in thinking about it now. I had a meeting to attend and people to prove that I was capable. I took a deep breath to clear my mind and soon I was on my feet walking towards the office once I had reached my floor.
As I walked in I saw Jane working on her computer. I placed her wrapped cake on the table as I took a look.
"What is all this?" I asked her in confusion. It was the project she had worked on last month. "Why are you doing this again? Wasn't it done and over with?"
Jane looked up as her eyes were filled with sadness. She sighs as she almost said in a crying eye. "The president wants to look at every document and every project that we have worked on, every concept on how we came up with the idea, and everyone's contribution in that."
Jane shook her head as she continued "I don't know, it's all too much I don't remember how I came up with the idea's one month prior I do know that I've written it down but I cannot take this in front of the president and say that this is how I got it." Jane pushed a paper in front of me where she had drawn some drawings. It was like a mind map. She tried to create every link of every possibility to come up with a solution.
Although it was not properly written, there were coffee marks on it but it was an accurate one.
I could understand what Jane was getting at. This paper could not be presented to the president. To be honest none of the papers could be presented to the president. We had to give a complete documented proof.
I sat on my chair as I opened my computer. I looked around and everyone was in high tension. I felt a little guilty. I turned around and whispered in Jane's ears.
"I think it's all my fault."
Jane shook her head and she strongly denied it.
"It's not your fault. It's Ella's fault. If she wouldn't have taken people's ideas and portrayed them as her own this would not have happened. It was not your fault that the president was there and he asked her the question. And trust me, Rose, no one is going to blame you as well. Everyone has seen the video. It was Ella who clearly said that she had come up with all these things and yet she was unable to answer how she came up with it.
My eyes were filled with tears as my breath hitched. I nodded my head.
Jane was always there for me, giving me the right advice, supporting me as a friend. Even though we have hardly known each other it felt like we were best of friends for years.
-----
Soon the board of directors' cabin was filled with people. I walked behind Mr. Fitz, a little shakingly. I've never had this experience before.
Although I could talk with people normally but in front of higher ups. I was a little nervous. And to be honest, I feel that it's natural to be nervous. They were people with high authority, they were people who have invested the money, and the people that could decide on my faith.
I was afraid but I did not minimize my existence yet. If I was not attentive enough to grab their attention today, I would not be, ever. It was a realization that I came upon as soon as I entered. Everyone was staring at me as if a new prey had entered into the den willingly.
I smiled at everyone and nodded respectfully. I sat beside Mr. Fitz as I looked around. The presidential seat was empty. The man was not here. I wondered when he would come but soon a voice came from the screen.
"If everyone is here we may start." The president's voice came through as everyone sat straight. I looked at the screen but it was black. The man was not visible.
My mind was a little confused. If the president was in the company, why wouldn't he come to attend the meeting? It was a very unusual behavior. Maybe he had more work to do after all it was his first day but then wouldn't it make more sense if he would come here personally?
I could not wrap my head around people with power. It was very difficult for me.
Everything started and slowly all the team leads and departmental heads started giving the reports. It started with a finance report from the last 3 years and so forth.
To my surprise, Ella wasn't there. The only person from the marketing department was Mr. Fitz, the head of the vice president of the marketing team. But I pushed the thought back and concentrated on the reports.
When it was my chance I tried to explain everything we have in mind, the ideas for the beverage company, every offer I could possibly imagine couples and singles would like to have on Valentine's day.
I don't know what others' reaction was, but everyone was looking at me. It was a little nerve-racking and to be honest I messed up.
I was lost for words and at some point, even my words were shaking as I spoke. But yet, I pulled through and I was happy for myself that I did.
I sat down as I looked around everyone's gaze was on me. I simply smiled at them and looked at Mr. Fitz who nodded his head as if he was proud. Seeing the smile on his face brought a genuine smile to mine. This is what I wanted from a mentor, a person who would give me a pat of encouragement.
When the meeting was done a few people walked up to me and told me I had a good job and that I should have been discovered prior to this. I was happy when I got the compliments. It was as if I had accomplished something that really belonged to me which I did with my own hard work.
I walked back as I saw Jane's twinkling eyes looking at me, "So, how did it go?"
Jane's voice was full of excitement and I could feel that she knew something before I told her. Jane was holding her phone and then I realized maybe the words had already spread on the non-official group.
"It was great, it was actually good. I didn't know I could do it but I've pulled through."
Jane laughed, "I knew you would pull it off. I trust you. You are a talented girl. Are you staying tonight? Did Mr. Fitz ask you to work on the project from today itself?"
I shook my hand as it turned on my computer. "No, he told me I should rest and enjoy today because tomorrow it will be a hella hectic day."
Jane's eyes were filled with evil. "Let's hang out tonight? Let's go for some drinks and chill. We both need to lay off this work pressure."
It was true that we both needed to lay off pressure. To be honest, some people might not understand us, but once you work a lot and you do have an upcoming assignment you really don't have a lot of time to just relax. Although my relaxation day is usually staying at home and watching TV or maybe just lying in bed, I knew that Jane liked to party and it wouldn't hurt if I went somewhere and observed the couples. After all, it was valentine's week and their love was everywhere.
"Let's do it. You tell me where we need to go. How about Sia A?" Jane asked as she raised her eyebrows. It was a new pub opened recently with great reviews.
I smiled as I nodded, "Okay. Let's do this."