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***
Addie reached for the bottle of cola on her desk and took a sip. Although she preferred flavored seltzer water to cola, this afternoon she wanted the extra pick me up the caffeine and sugar would give her. The previous night she’d spent a few hours putting together the final touches on the project proposal for the Burleys and worked on the models for her meeting with Trent tonight. By the time she’d crawled into bed, the clock read three. Despite the hour, her mind refused to cooperate and turn itself off. Instead, it had raced with thoughts of her upcoming appointment with Trent. If he accepted her ideas and hired her, he’d be her first high profile client. The mere thought made her as giddy as a child on Christmas morning. But would her ideas be good enough? She’d spent hours agonizing over them, but what if he didn’t like them? Then not only would she not get this project, but he’d also withdraw his offer regarding his home in Newport. While her company wouldn’t collapse if she lost those projects, she knew she might never get another chance at such a client. At the same time, if he hated her designs she may never see him again. As much as she hated to admit it, that fact had just as much to do with keeping her awake. If he didn’t hire her, she’d have no reason to see him again.
That’s the least of your concerns. She took another sip from her drink and checked the time. If she left now, she’d get to his office five minutes early. She’d read somewhere that was an acceptable amount of time to arrive before a meeting.
After tossing the empty soda can in the trash under her desk, she grabbed her bag and headed outside. Although the weather channel claimed temperatures today were lower than yesterday, the air remained thick and muggy. The only real difference she noticed from the rest of the week was the dark clouds in the sky. The meteorologist on the morning news warned that heavy showers and thunderstorms would pass through the area tonight, and from the looks of it, she’d gotten it right. With any luck, however, the storms would hold off until she got home.
Just as Addie stepped inside the building, which housed Sherbrooke Enterprises and The Helping Hands Foundation, the first rumble of thunder filled the air stopping her in her tracks. She hated thunderstorms. As a child she’d hide whenever a storm came through. She’d grown out of that habit, but the rumble of thunder and the flashes of lightning still set her on edge.
There’s nothing to be afraid of. In the elevator she pressed the button for the tenth floor and repeated the statement over in her head. Thunder was nothing more than noise caused by changes in the weather. As for the lightning, the worst that could happen was that the power would go out for a short time.
When she stepped out of the elevator and into the reception area, Trent’s secretary remained at her desk, her eyes focused on her computer screen oblivious to the flashes of light outside the windows. “Excuse me. I have an appointment tonight at six o’clock.”
The woman looked up at her and smiled. “Please have a seat. He’s on the phone at the moment.”
With no other option, Addie sat and waited, her full attention on counting the seconds between the flashes of lightning and the thunder. Although not a truly scientific method, the counting gave her a general idea of how close the storm was to her. Judging by the sound of it, the storm was getting closer rather than farther away.
When another rumble of thunder filled the silence, the secretary looked over at her. “Looks like the news was right. It said we were in for storms this weekend. As much as I hate the rain, we need it.”
Addie nodded in agreement
. “It has been a dry summer.”
“I just hope the rain holds off until I get home. I hate driving in it and I need new windshield wipers,” the secretary said as she began to shut down her computer.
From her seat Addie glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows. So far not a single drop of rain had fallen, but the sky warned it was just a matter of time.
The door opened behind Shirley, and Addie looked away from the window. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. That call took longer than I expected.” Trent stood in the doorway to his office. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt, but otherwise looked like the perfect model for corporate America.
“Please come in,” he said as he took a step into the reception area and stopped next to his secretary’s desk. “Shirley, have a good weekend. See you on Monday.”
Shirley gathered up her belongings. “There were some last minute changes to your schedule for next week. I updated everything on your calendar, Mr. Sherbrooke.”
Addie passed by Trent and entered his office but could hear Shirley as she continued to speak to him. As she waited for him to join her, she glanced around. A suit jacket matching his pants hung over the back of his desk chair. Several documents remained on his desk, as did a mug. A laptop remained open on his conference table along with several file folders.
Behind her the door clicked, causing her to glance in that direction. “Please have a seat.” He gestured toward the chairs around the conference table. “I expected that call to be over in under ten minutes.” He closed his laptop and moved it and the folders off to the side. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
Taking the seat facing the door, Addie pulled out her own laptop. “I just got here,” she reassured him. “Now, I have two different proposals for you today. Please keep in mind that I can make changes to either of them or start over altogether.” She logged into her computer and brought up the files containing her plans for Trent’s office. “I tried to keep with more traditional materials but at the same time keep the look masculine and contemporary. At least in my opinion, often when a decorator strives for a more contemporary atmosphere it becomes too feminine.” Her body sensed his proximity as he took the seat next to her.
“Sounds like you’re describing my father’s office since he let my stepmother redecorate.”
“It can be hard to find that right balance. Anyway, this is my first proposal.” She turned the laptop so he could see the screen better. “I picked a dove gray for the walls. It’s light enough to go with any other colors in the office but gives the walls just enough color, Mr. Sherbrooke.” In her personal opinion, anything was better than the peachy beige that covered the walls now. “And I found a carpet a few shades darker that would complement the color.”
Trent pulled the laptop closer to him, his arm brushing against hers. As if struck by the lightning outside, she pulled her arm away and hoped the heat she felt didn’t show on her face. “I kept this conference table but replaced the chairs. The ones you see are in forest green, but they also come in black as well as brown. I replaced the desk with a larger ebony-colored one, but if you prefer something lighter I found a similar one in a nice shade of walnut.” Addie went through everything in her proposal explaining what she’d chosen. Next to her, Trent remained silent, not giving her any hint of his thoughts on her ideas. By the time she finished, her mouth was dry and a tangle of nerves sat in her stomach.
“Like I said, Mr. Sherbrooke, this is just a preliminary idea. Anything can be adjusted or changed.” Under the table her fingers drummed against her thigh.
“Please, call me Trent.”
Trent transferred his gaze from the screen to her, meeting her eyes as another flash of lightning filled the room. Unable to stop herself, Addie flinched and took a deep breath. The storm was getting closer.
“Are you okay?”
She heard the concern in his voice and pasted on a smile. “Fine. Just not a huge fan of thunderstorms.” She reached for the computer, prepared to bring up her second proposal for his office. “I have another proposal if you’d rather see that one.”
“No need. I like this. How long will it take to get it all done?”
Addie blinked as his words sunk in. “Once work begins it shouldn’t take long. I have a painter and a floor company that I work with. I can call them tomorrow and schedule them. I already checked with the manufacturers and the furniture can be here in two weeks.” At first they’d claimed a month, but when she’d informed them the furniture was for a Sherbrooke, they’d changed their tune.
