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I turn back to my Mac and work, reading through some emails and responding to them. My assistant is out sick today, but I can handle everything for the next day or two, depending on how long he has the flu that’s going around.
Throughout the next few days, I check in on the teams regularly. I may check with Marcie a bit more, but I need to make sure my new employee is doing well and fitting in with the team. Conflict in one of them here can be severely detrimental to the company, and there were others desperate for our spot at the top.
Always others, as my father often reminded me.
She sounds like she’s working brilliantly with the team, which doesn’t surprise me at all. Laina was always a smart kid and excelled in school with the top grades and laser focus on her classes. I know she could wander into a daydream easily and talk about everything with knowledge better than anyone else and wonder if she’s still that way.
I bump into Laina and ask if she wants to go out to lunch on Wednesday as she gives me a bright smile. I can see that she’s still a little nervous and hope to ease that for her but I can’t help but laugh when she chooses a restaurant. There’s so many high-end places to eat on this side of town and Laina asks if we can go to Togos. I’d take her anywhere, but she insists she loves their pastrami sandwich.
“Togos?” I ask, still laughing as people walk by and look at us.
“They’re so good! Why are you laughing at me?” Laina laughs in return as I force myself to regain my composure.
“Fine. Togos it is! I’ll meet you in the lobby tomorrow at noon. I can’t wait to catch up.” I look into her gleaming eyes and realize that she grew up to be a beautiful woman. I’m so used to women that want to be seen at the latest and greatest places in town that Laina is a breath of fresh air. The connection we shared is still there somewhere and I wonder if I can escape my life and feel free for a change.
All I want is to work hard and run this company, keeping it successful. With a friend like Laina by my side, it will be so much easier.
“I’ll be there. Thanks, Kyle. I can’t wait.” Laina smiles again and heads back to the office she shares with her team as I watch for a second, shaking my head as the urge to laugh hits me again.
We meet near the elevator, and I take in her lavender floral dress that flows around her ankles, looking professional and comfortable. “You look lovely. I think you’ve got the perfect combo for the dress code here,” I tell her as we step into the car.
“I know I can dress down, but this is a professional company. I wanted to find a happy medium, and a girl loves to dress up a bit.” Laina looks down at her outfit, pressing her hands down the soft cotton. “You sure dress up.”
“I am the face of the company now, so I always have to look this way. At least, that’s what my father thinks.” I don’t often get my hands dirty these days, so to speak. I wear the best tailored suits money can buy in all my most flattering colors, with crisp shirts and ties to bring everything together. Dad doesn’t like my hair being this long, but I can’t help the waves and I get it cut regularly. He still tells me to cut my hair all the time.
“It suits you. Always did.” Laina replies as she blushes slightly. “It’s not like you work at a bank of an investment company. This is essentially based on creativity.”
“That’s my thought.” We step from the car and head to the lobby doors. “Are you sure about Togo’s?”
“Have you had their pastrami?” she asks as she presses a hand to her generous chest.
What the fuck? This is Laina.
“I worked there in high school and still have a major addiction to their food. I searched it out when I moved here.” Laina giggles, and I open the door for her. “What can I say? I’m simple.”
Cleo is not simple, and Mom suggested I take her to the brand new five-star steakhouse in town that’s damn near impossible to get into. Thank fuck for my family name.
“I like it.” I tell her, leading the way to the right, where the restaurant is located, with a smile. Seeing Laina again is so refreshing and just what I needed.
We get our food and sit down as she asks me how my family is doing. I weigh my answer carefully before responding.
“They’re well. Still doing a lot of charity, and now that Dad’s retired, Mom has him roped into something constantly when they’re not traveling.” I tell her, sipping my soda as I watch her wrap her hands greedily around the sandwich. “Yours?”
“They’re still back in Boston and Dad is still running the shop, though he wants to retire in the next ten years. Mom works at the animal shelter full-time and loves it. They live in the same house.”
We shared the forest back there, but not the neighborhood. Her family has a modest older home, and my parents had a place twice as big as my house now.
“They sound the same.” I smile, remembering how much I liked her family. Her mom, Laura, would feed us nearly every day and bake cookies and shit. My mom never lifts a finger in the kitchen.
“Pretty much. I miss them, but I’m twenty-five and needed a fresh start. Boston holds a lot of… memories now. I’m glad I work for your company even though I didn’t know that at the time. Where did the C&K come from?” Laina asks, looking somber for a moment.
“Christopher and Kyle. I’m a junior, remember?” I ask, picking up my turkey club on wheat bread, telling myself I could work it off later.
“You are,” she replies, laughing as she swallows her bite. “I remember now.”
We got to talking as we finish the food and I found myself telling Laina about my mom’s stupid marriage plan. I tell no one about it and just let the media post pictures when seen with anyone and likely have a terrible reputation because of that.
“She’s making you get married?” Laina asks in a low voice after glancing around.
