To say that I’m slightly taken aback by their appearances is an understatement. They don’t look like the stereotypical corporate worker.
“That’s Cora,” Joanne points toward an elderly woman with short white hair, big horn-rimmed glasses, and ruby-red cheeks. She has to be at least seventy, and I am greatly surprised by her attire. She has on a Mickey Mouse sweater and black pants. “Cora has been with Heathcliff Enterprises for over ten years.”
“Twenty-five,” Cora says with a deadpan expression. “I’ve been here since Senior was in charge.” She looks at me. “Senior was the last CEO.”
“He’s Jack Heathcliff’s father,” Joanne explains, and I nod. “That there is Xander. He’s been on the team for two years.”
“And I’m gay, so don’t get any ideas.” He winks at me, and the younger girl next to him giggles loudly. “Welcome to the team, Katherine.”
He issues me a wide smile, his blue eyes friendly as he stares at me. He is dressed to impress in a dark suit and red tie. His hair is a light blond and trendy. He’s a handsome man, and immediately, I know we will be good friends.
“Thank you.”
“And last but not least, that is Marina. She’s also new to the team, having started six months ago.”
“She wants to be on Broadway.” Xander speaks up again. “So, who knows how long she’ll last?”
“This is not the time.” Joanne frowns as her eyes narrow. “I will leave you all to introduce yourselves to Katherine, and then I’d like you to take her down to your office area, show her to her desk, and acquaint her with the conference project you’re working on. I will check in again after lunch.”
Before I can even blink, Joanne has left the conference room and closed the door behind her.
“Bye, Cruella.” Xander makes a shooing noise as he motions me to sit down. “Now, Katherine, tell us all about yourself and not just the boring stuff. Dish on all the gossip in your life.”
“Oh, um …”
“Don’t be shy. We’re the reject marketing department, so we all bonded quickly. I have two boyfriends. One rich and one hot.” He laughs. “Cora’s just here so she can get out of the house. Her husband, Frank—God bless him—recently retired and drives her crazy. Marina here wants to be on Broadway. She gives it her best but her singing and acting are atrocious. I swear she’ll have to sleep her way to the top.”
“Xander”—Marina glares at him—“that’s not nice.”
“It’s true though, darling. We went to karaoke, and I thought I’d have to shoot my eardrums out when you sang that Taylor Swift song. Sounded like a raccoon you did.”
“Really, Xander?” Marina looks over at me, and I can tell from her expression that she’s only half upset by Xander’s comments.
She offers me a winning smile, and I take in her appearance. Her hair is blonde with pink chunks, her eyes are large and blue with thick black eyeliner, and she’s wearing a short tartan skirt and black shirt.
“Is there a dress code?” I ask because none of these people seem to fit the expectations I had in my mind of a marketing team.
“We get the grunt projects, so really, we wear what we want.” Marina shrugs.
“I thought you guys made up the marketing team for the hotel division?” I ask in confusion. Wasn’t that what Jack said? Isn’t that why I’m here?
“They just told us we will be working on some hotel projects last week.” Cora grimaces. “Normally, we create the PowerPointpresentations for the different conferences and meetings that the executives have.”
“As part of the marketing division?” I frown in confusion. What marketing is used in PowerPoint presentations?
“Like we said, we’re the bottom rung of marketing teams.” Xander makes a face. “The A division works on all the retail projects, like TV ads and stuff.”
“B team works on magazine and online presence,” Marina adds.
“C team works on radio and podcast stuff.” Cora sniffs. “I used to be on the C team, but I was demoted.”
“Oh.” I press my lips together. What on earth is going on here? I want to contact Jack and ask what he was thinking, but I don’t want him to think I care. “I didn’t realize that when I, um, got the job. Does Jack Heathcliff know that?—”
“Jack Heathcliff, the CEO?” Xander bursts out laughing. “Like he gives a flying fuck about us.” He shakes his head and leans forward. “Doll, I hate to tell you this, but we are the forgotten department. The CEO doesn’t even know we exist. And why would he? He’s gallivanting around the world in a private jet with models while we do all the work. He’s a typical hotshot billionaire.”
“He is hot though.” Marina sighs. “Like, dreamy. He’d be the perfect Romeo to my Juliet.”
“This isn’t Broadway, darling.” Cora stares at her nails. “The likes of him don’t look at the likes of us. If they did, I wouldn’t be married to my Frank. He’s lovely, but the man hasn’t seen a lasagna he didn’t like. And he’s never heard of the gym.”
