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As I round the table to gather my things, I hear Matthew, our General Counsel, chuckle. I turn around to see him and Addie standing near the window talking. The smile she is giving him is positively radiating with warmth and he looks like he has just seen a fucking unicorn or something. What an idiot. I’ve never liked him.
I don’t know why I am acting like this. He is her client. She is just being nice and I don’t really have any right to care who she smiles at. If I told her what a mess my life was she would run a mile. I don’t have time to deal with a princess who probably doesn’t know anything but luxury and easy street. She wouldn’t understand my family and the situation with Henry.
I grab my bag and head out without bothering to wait for Matthew.
September 8, 2014
It is the first day of the rest of my life. At least that is what I am telling myself as I step off the unbelievably crowded train at Canary Wharf. I steel myself for my first day working out of Simon’s office. I have dressed to kill. I am wearing all of the things I consider my armor. Black pencil skirt, black one button blazer with a white silk camisole underneath, knee-high boots with a pencil thin high heel, my second splurge after I got this job, sheer black tights, and a black Chanel satchel.
These are just material things, but they speak of power and achievement. I need to fake it until I make it. I always keep my make-up minimal for work. But today I am wearing a dark red lipstick. I am prepared for battle.
Last week, I spent the entire meeting taking notes, following the conversation. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.
Yet, I couldn’t keep my mind from wandering to Simon. From remembering the things he had done to me just the night before, to the way he had then decided he hadn’t wanted to see me again. I’d sat in that meeting still able to feel the chafe of his stubble on my thighs. My nipples were still sore from how hard he had sucked them. And I had to sit across the table from him and act like I didn’t care.
After the meeting, he had walked right up to me, starting to apologize. It took every ounce of my will to pretend I didn’t even know what he was talking about and walk away from him. God, it hurt when he shook my hand. I had wanted him. Even then. I was so angry at myself for it. But I have endured a lot worse. I steeled my emotions and forced myself to walk away to talk to their attorney instead.
When Simon left the conference room, I released the breath I had been holding for an hour. The rest of my morning was spent trying to regain my composure.
The “ding” of the elevator in the lobby of Simon’s office building brings me back to reality and I step inside to ride up to the twenty-fifth floor.
When I step out into their beautiful reception area, the floor to ceiling windows afford me an expansive view of the city and the snaking, glassy green froth of the River Thames. It is breathtaking. I am a relative newcomer to this city and I am still not used to seeing, on a daily basis, images that I’d only ever seen on postcards and on television. So, I gawk.
I hear a low, masculine chuckle behind me and turn to find Matthew, Montiva’s General Counsel, stepping off the elevators behind me.
“Impressed?” he asks.
“Yes.” I admit with a smile, “I am. It’s beautiful. This will be a great view to start the day with.” I continue as I turn back to gaze out of the window.
“Yes, it will.” He says and I turn back to find him looking at me.
I flush, not at all comfortable with his remark. I flash a small smile and make my way over to the reception area. He falls into step beside me.
“I am actually glad I met you here. I meant to get here ahead of you to make sure your office was set up.”
“I am usually a little early.” I return with another small smile.
We reach reception which is armed with no less than five women who all could be sisters. They are all blonde with blue eyes and perfectly made up faces. They are seated, but from what I can tell they’re all wearing the same very expensive navy blue skirt suits. One of them has her unfriendly eyes turned to me.
“Good morning—” I begin, determined not to let them intimidate me.
She immediately interrupts me. “Miss Dennis, good morning. We have been expecting you. Your office, room 2510, is ready. Your phone has been set up and your computer is being installed right now. Here is your access key and your pin number for the dining hall and fitness room.” She says all this in an unhurried yet efficient tone.
She doesn’t wait for me to acknowledge her statement before she turns her head to Matthew. When she does, her expression completely changes. It becomes one of respect and adoration. “Good morning, Mr. Roddam. Mr. Phillips called to say he is running a little late, but you should call him when you arrive and you can begin your meeting via phone.”
I have been dismissed. I start to turn away in hopes finding room 2510 won’t be too hard. But Matthew stops me by saying, “Miss Dennis, if you’d wait I’ll show you where your office is, and get you set up with the database you will need for your due diligence review.”
I’m relieved at not having to go bumbling around their office suite like a total idiot and wait while he finishes whatever conversation he’s having with the Stepford receptionist.
By the time we arrive at my office whoever was setting up my computer is gone. They’ve set me up in a huge corner office that has walls of windows facing the city, one solid wall along the hallway, another which abuts it, and a door in the middle of the second wall. In other words, I have total privacy from the rest of the office, but have a fantastic view of the city.
“So, let me fire up your computer, Miss Dennis.”
“Please, call me Addie.” I interrupt him.
“Addie,” he repeats with a small smile, then continues, “Let me fire up your computer so we can get you up and running.”
He turns it on and sits on the edge of my desk while it powers up. I drop my bag on the desk and sit in the chair. There is a pile of banker boxes in the corner of the office and I look at them pointedly and raise an eyebrow at him.
