We all order sparkling water.
Jackson throws me a warm smile and shakes my hand, holding on longer than he really needs to, wrapping his other hand around the back of mine as well. “How are you, Kayla?”
“I’m good,” I smile, pulling my hand away. “I’m very excited to show you my plans, should you choose to increase your budget again,” I smile at Mr. Carter.
“Oh. We aren’t here to hear about all that,” Mr. Carter waves his hand in the air to dismiss my plan, and my heart constricts so tight that I can’t breathe for a second. I glance nervously at Josiah, who is still smiling confidently.
“Mr. Carter,” I say quickly, trying to get the meeting back on track before he can dismiss the entire thing so hurriedly.
“No, no, Kayla. Don’t waste your breath. I am fully confident in whatever plan you have up your sleeve, and I’ve got a few other meetings to attend this afternoon. I’m just there to sign what you need me to sign,” he explains, pulling a silver and black pen from the inside of his jacket.
He pops the lid off and shows me the fountain pen tip. “My grandfather’s pen. It’s brought me much luck in this life. I save it for very special occasions, like this one. Now, where are those documents?”
I flip his file open as my heart races. The anxiety is still there, the nerves I had about this meeting going well, but now there is a confused flutter of excitement too.
My body hasn’t caught up with reality yet.
I flick to the last few pages in the folder and slide them out, then across the table towards Mr. Carter. “This is the increase I wanted to suggest, and here is…”
He pulls the document in front of him and signs without looking at the number.
“Whatever you suggest is what I want to do,” he declares, flipping to the next page and signing at the bottom, then scribbling his full signature across the last page.
Mr. Carter stands and slides his grandfather’s fountain pen back into his pocket.
“Young lady, it is a pleasure, as always. In our next meeting, you can show me all the wonderful things you have done with my money to make it grow,” he smiles, reaching across the table to shake my hand.
He turns to Josiah and shakes his hand, too. “She’s the best decision you ever made,” he chuckles.
“I’m fully aware,” Josiah says with a steady smile.
The clients say their goodbyes, and my heart is still beating way too fast. I wait until they are out of the boardroom, then start packing up the file and taping the documents into a neat pile inside it.
I’m grinning.
I’m really proud of myself.
“Well, that went very well,” I say, tucking the file under my arm and getting ready to leave.
“Wait,” Josiah says. “We have another meeting.”
“We do?” I stammer, confused.
“Yes, you can take a seat. They’ll be here in a second.” He sits down at the head of the table again and pulls his phone out to browse on it.
I sit as tense as hell, wondering what this is about. “Josiah,” I say, wanting to push him for information, but as I do, Mark from HR walks in.
“Ready?” Mark says cheerfully, slapping his black leather binder onto the table.
“Ready?” I repeat, standing up to greet him.
“Sit, sit, this is going to be quick.”
He looks at Josiah, his brows raised and expectant.
Josiah slips his phone into his back pocket and turns to face me with his hand resting on the table in front of him.
“Kayla, you have proven yourself to be invaluable and a huge asset to this company. Mark has drawn up your new contract with your increased salary and improved benefits. Congratulations, you are being promoted to head of client analysis.”
