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“Nice to meet you.” I smile. Jason is a lot younger than me, and he’s American, although he could be Canadian. I’m not quite sure of the accent. He’s cute, and he has light brown curly hair with big brown eyes. He looks like a kid straight out of High School Musical.
I watch him disappear down the corridor.
My nerves bubble in my stomach.
“Olivia,” I hear someone call.
I turn and see a man rushing toward me. “Nice to meet you. I’m Fernando, I’m the Human Resources manager.” He shakes my hand. “We’re so happy that you’re here. I hope your hotel is okay.”
His English is good. I can easily understand what he’s saying. I smile in relief. Phew, that could have been tricky.
Fernando’s short, a little overweight, bald, and about fifty years old, but he seems nice and welcoming.
“Yes, I’m excited to be starting.” I smile nervously.
“Come through, follow me, and I’ll show you around. You’re in design.”
I follow him as he takes me down the long corridor and opens a double door that reveals a large warehouse style room. Huge tables stand in the middle, and a few people are scattered around at desks and computers.
“Everyone, this is Olivia Reynolds,” he calls. “She’s from Australia and is taking over from Seraphina. Make it your mission to come and introduce yourself to her today.”
“Hello!” they all call as they look me up and down.
I clutch my bag as I feel their eyes on me. Jeez.
He takes me down a flight of stairs. “Design and materials are on the level down but it’s easier to take the stairs between these two floors.”
“Ah, okay.” We get to the bottom and my eyes widen. Holy shit, this is every design graduate’s dream. The same big tables that are upstairs are in the middle, but there is also huge timber shelving with rolls and rolls of fabric. Mannequins are everywhere with dresses and samples pinned onto them. Feathers and sequins and buttons and… .my eyes can’t take it all in as I look over the magic of this room.
Leather—rolls and rolls of leather in every color of the rainbow. Holy shit!
“Seraphina.” He looks around. “Where is she?”
She comes into view, and her face lights up. “Hello, Olivia,” she says in a heavy accent as she shakes my hand. I feel myself wither under her gaze. Seraphina is gorgeous, with long dark hair that’s styled to perfection. She has a beautiful, curvy figure, and perfect bone structure. She’s the epitome of Italian beauty. She’s wearing a tight leather skirt that hangs just below the knee and a silk deep red blouse with sky high stilettos. She looks like she’s going to a wedding or something, all stylish and glamorous.
Ugh, why did I wear this? I feel the blood drain from my face. I look like her daggy mother.
“Seraphina is transferring to our Rome offices so that she can be with her fiancé,” Fernando says as he picks up her hand and shows me her huge rock.
She fakes embarrassment. “Oh, Fernando. Behave.” She laughs. “You’re such a showoff.”
“Ah.” I smile awkwardly. “Nice.”
Her fiancé lives in Rome?
No, don’t be stupid. Why does everything about Rome have to be about him?
He’s not the only man in Rome, you know, Olivia, you fucking idiot.
“Great,” I push out. “Exciting.”
“You will work with Seraphina for the week. She will show you around and give you a feel for the position, and then next week you will begin training with one of our trainers for a week. In two weeks, you will take over the role,” Fernando explains.
“Okay.”
“Come this way.” Seraphina smiles. “I’ll show you your new office.”
“Great.” I smile as I follow her, but I don’t feel great. I feel majorly unaccomplished. She’s gorgeous, stylish, and she’s moving to start a life with her fiancé, while I can’t even get the courage to put myself on a dating app.
