“I’ll go through the file with you, it contains a briefing from Petra on the client you’ll be assisting her with as well as all the passwords to get that baby up and running,” she nods toward the laptop.
“Thank you, Tay.” I twist my hands together. Being here makes this so real, and not for the first time, I wonder if I’m really cut out for this.
“I was nervous my first day too,” she smiles kindly, “and Catherine was pretty awesome. She taught me everything I know, and I know Petra will do the same with you. Just take a deep breath, settle in. I’ll grab us some coffee, and we can chat.”
I doubt Petra is anything like Catherine. She was so chilly toward me in the interview.
“I appreciate that, Tay.” I tell her.
She leaves the office, and I run my hands over the desk. I sit in my high-back office chair and flip open the file, taking a deep breath.
* * *
After my meeting with Taylor, I feel so much more confident. Marsha is as lovely as Tay says she is, and I immediately liked her. She’s a few years older than me, with friendly chocolate eyes and a bright smile. Tay and Marsha invite me to join them for drinks, and I immediately agree, not intending to spend my first weekend in a new city cooped up alone in my apartment.
Paradigm is an upmarket fragrance company based here in LA. It’s been in operation for the last ten years and has expanded its reach into Europe and the Middle East. I know it’s a huge deal from the number of Post-it’s that Petra adds on every other page of her already extensive brief. The thrill of assisting on a project like this far exceeds my anxiety. At 3:00 p.m., Marsha comes in and demands I take the rest of the day off, reminding me the boss will be back tomorrow, and that may mean overtime.
“I think I’m going to take you up on that,” I say, packing up my desk.
“Good girl,” she grins, flicking her braids over her shoulder.
I pause at the door on my way out, smiling and looking around the office. I literally have to suppress a squeal.
“Kiara.” I see a familiar face as I walk toward the front desk on my way out.
“Hey, girl. Glad to see you back here,” she grins, walking around her desk to pull me in for a hug. “Eliana, right?”
I flush. “That memorable, huh?”
“Nothing exciting ever happens here except that,” she giggles then turns serious, her lips thinning as she looks over my shoulder. “He’s been skulking around here all day. Says he’s on a job.”
I turn and narrow my eyes at Braxton, who I recognize even though his back is to us. “I bet he is,” I mutter.
“You know that guy?” Kiara smirks.
“Not exactly. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it some other time,” I tell her. “But I’m exhausted, I’m outta here.”
“First days are the absolute worst,” She agrees. “Go rest up, see ya tomorrow.”
I slip through the revolving doors and start to walk without paying any attention to Braxton. He doesn’t say a word, just falls in step with me. “Well, hello to you too.”
I frown up at him and continue walking.
“Good day?”
“It’s none of your business,” I snap.
“True, but conversation beats acting like a petulant child.”
“A child?” I stop, and the people behind us have to move quickly to avoid bumping into us.
“Yeah, a child. You think I want to be here, following around a spoiled brat?”
“Oh, you better watch your mouth.”
“Or what, princess? You gonna run off to Daddy and tell on me?
“You know nothing about me.” I jab at his hard chest. He just smirks down at me, his eyes dancing with amusement. I continue my walk home.
