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“Denise seems nice.” I probe him to see how he feels about his bombshell assistant.
“She’s a great employee, very meticulous. You’ll meet many of those here,” he tells me proudly, leading me to the most favorite hangout spot.
A divine smell of freshly brewed caffeine seeps into my nose as we walk into a very cozy lounging area for staff. Industrial shelves, coffee station, and tables paired with luscious leather armchairs are almost empty except for a few people lingering around.
“Hey, everyone, we have fresh meat! This is Cassandra. She’s working on the top floor with us. Be nice to her.” He shoots straight to the coffee machine like an addict, leaving me to the wolves.
Not letting myself overthink it, I force my legs to move.
A woman, not taller than me, with bright pink-colored hair cut into an edgy hairstyle I’ve never dared to sport, beams at me as I get closer. She steps forward, extending her hand before I even reach her.
“Hi, I’m Louise.” Her high-pitched voice sounds out of breath, but her energy is like a blast of warmth, making me feel welcomed. “I work with these nerdy guys in the sales department, well, except Jo.”
Surprise filters through me as I see her unusual getup and tattoos adjourning her sleeveless arms.
“Hi, I’m Cassandra. It’s nice to meet you.” I keep my reaction neutral even if I’m intrigued.
In Aleksander’s Investment Bank that my in-laws own, I was never around such personalities. We all wore the same cut clothes, spoke and acted the same. And here at Fading Ink, I’m finally around people who are allowed to be themselves. It’s a liberating experience not to try to look smarter than most of the men in the room or command respect as any woman should be treated with.
A nerdy guy with glasses and in a checkered brown suit blinks at me and then shyly waves. “That’s me, Jo. I work as a junior accountant, a floor below yours.”
“Hi, Jo.” I smile at him. “So, I’ll be coming to crunch some numbers to you, isn’t it?”
His cheeks start to glow, and he pushes hi
s glasses up his nose in a nervous manner. Not wanting him to feel uncomfortable, I look away.
But he surprises me. “Yeah, just ask for me, not Bo.”
“Bo?”
His eyes light up as he unloads all the gossip about his boss.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to meet people who aren’t playing mind games or have ulterior motives. I love the idea of coming for coffee breaks to hear all the gossip. It makes me feel like I might fit in.
When I return to my office, I start on my tasks and get lost sorting through the emails until someone raps on my door. “Come on in.”
Mark’s fine-looking frame appears in the doorway, and I halt, forgetting what I was even thinking. “Ready to look around?”
“Of course.” I rise from my chair a little bit flustered. “Robert and I had a coffee break earlier today, so we can skip the café. How was the conference?” I grab my notebook and iPad provided by the company, in case I need to make notes or schedule something.
“It went well. I’ll have a new author with their attorney coming to sign up with us later today. If you want, you can attend to see how it’s done.” His throaty voice washes over me like sensual strokes, but I shake it off, determined to stay focused on my work.
Mark leads me through every department, and I make notes, knowing I won’t remember all of it. Especially when my mind’s spinning from sensory overload being in his vicinity alone.
As soon as we enter any section of the building, people’s eyes light up, and they straighten in their seats as if the vivacity Mark possesses boosted the atmosphere from slumber to excitement in just a few seconds. It’s an impressive trait to have, and Mark has it in spades.
“Morning, Mark!”
“Morning, boss!”
Some of them stand up to holler their greetings, while others curiously follow us as we pass their tables.
“Doreen, did we get 1K retweets on the MacDonnell release?”
“Yes, boss, we got a little bit over that! I’m about to try something new and see if I get better results with the help of Instagram influencers.”
“Well done!”
