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Or am I just shit crazy this morning?
“And now Zander has a big announcement,” Oscar says, breaking my weird chain of thoughts.
I get up from my chair. Straightening my jacket, I address the group. “First of all, I’m very proud of the work you all have put in over the years. I apologize for not visiting sooner, but I promise I’ll be seeing you more often.”
My gaze falls on couch girl, who’s still buried behind her laptop.
“Regarding the news, as you all are aware, we’re soon opening our third office of Elixir. This comes with restructuring of staff both at St. Peppers and Cherrywood. Some of the employees will have to relocate to the new location. There might be an option to move back in the future, but when, we don’t know.”
As expected, there are some pale faces, and I notice couch girl’s fingers stopping over the keypad of her laptop.
“There’s no need to panic,” I assure the group. “The reorganization won’t be in management, so you’ve nothing to worry about, but we’ll have to let some of your junior associates go. I must also add, as the overall headcount is lower in Cherrywood, there will be fewer changes here.”
“How many?” Kristy asks.
“I don’t have the exact numbers yet, but I want to rearrange the staff and funds with minimal disruption to everyone and also not hamper our current production and research. As I’ve learned now, Ms. Asher, you and Ms. Marlin have the largest team, so I’d like to discuss first with you ladies.”I try hard to keep my gaze fixed on Kristy.
Oscar looks at me in confusion and mumbles, “This was not planned.”
I avoid his gaze, not knowing how to reply. I don’t particularly like keeping him in the dark. But I hadn’t planned on meeting couch girl today. I hadn’t planned on feeling this weird pull toward her.
I now wait for a response from her. She can no longer avoid me. I saw something in her eyes when they met mine for a second. It was a pure, rare innocence. I’d like to know if it was real or fake.
Can someone even fake such innocence?
“Is there…an alternative?” she asks in that same delicate voice, her gaze fixed on the table. A smile breaks on my face just hearing her voice.
I fucking smile.
“Not to my knowledge. Do you have any ideas?” My full attention is on her and her fingers clutching the armrest of her chair. I wonder if it’s my presence that’s scaring her or if she’s always this timid.
“What if the employees bring external funding, um…maybe in collaboration with the university? This might…give them an option…to choose if they want to move immediately or not.” Couch girl continues staring at the table as if it’s the most interesting thing known to her.
When no one responds to her suggestion, she looks up hesitantly, but not at me. Her gaze searches Oscar.
The uneasy feeling settles again in my chest as I watch her familiarity with my friend. There’s no doubt she trusts him, and he nods for her to proceed.
“We receive regular inquiries from professors…for collaborations.” She tugs once again on the cuffs of her shirt, and I’m guessing it’s a nervous habit.
“Due to…lack of policy, um…we decline such offers.”
I’m not fully on board with her unconventional idea, but I want to hear more. I’m not sure if it’s because I consider the idea great or if it’s my desire to know more about this skittish girl who appears to be completely ill at ease in this meeting room.
“Can you give some numbers on this, Ms. Marlin?” I ask.
“It’s…hard to say at the moment. I…need to do…some analysis.”
Her voice is getting stronger word by word, but she’s still looking at the stupid table. For a brief second of insanity I wish I was that table.
I quickly shake my head to clear the crazy thought.
“That’s no problem. Can you prepare the data? I would like to discuss further, possibly tomorrow morning, if that’s all right with you.”
She gingerly nods as the meeting ends.
My heart warms with a foreign feeling of anticipation for the next day.
As everyone leaves the conference room, I notice I’ve an unopened text. It’s from the café, alerting me that couch girl’s breakfast order was delivered to reception.
