Don't Forget Me

Meryl Streep

We love a Galen POV, okay I'm not sure how I want this story to pan out. But I'm along for the ride. This one took me a bit longer but loved introducing more characters to the story. Okay, enjoy!!!!

-Adaeze <3

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Daisy's POV

His hands were warm and clammy. I still couldn't believe this was happening. My thoughts and body could not keep up with the moment's intensity. Galen was in front of me again, with desperate eager eyes to connect with mine. I'm not used to this Galen, he is new and transformed. He is still very handsome with a deeper vibrato and shorter hair. If I stare too long my hands may become enslaved to his touch. Forcing me to slow down and remember a life I wished to set aside. But with one simple plea, the heat from my cheeks flush like fire. I am entranced and my canyon sunset lips take over.

"Yes"

I can't believe that happened. As my feet slam heavy on the grease-coated cement. I can't help but feel the sting in his touch. It's been so long since I've felt him. My heart races as I reach the next block. Only two more blocks left. I check my phone slick from the sweat of my palms. It's ten twenty-five and I can see the building in site. It says New York Times and my face flushes with humiliation. Why didn't I tell him I was interviewing here? Before I step into the building I forced my mind and body to slow down. My heart hasn't stopped racing since I bumped into Galen. There's a desk that's a bright red wrapping around a large silver sign that says "New York Times." I walk up to the tan lady with plum-colored lipstick and thick-framed glasses.

"Hello, my name is Daisy, I have a meeting with Cheryl for the Graphic Design position at 10:30?"

"Floor thirteen, take a left then a right, and then another right, and then a left, and go all the way down to your inner thoughts that tricked you into buying that hideous blouse. And then apologize to her, quickly" She says with a slight twang in her voice.

I was so stunned my face went numb. I can't believe I'm doing this, what made me think I should even be working at a place like this? With my little to no experience, this place will swallow me whole! The plum-lipped receptionist's face slowly cracks into a frivolous look.

"HA! I'm joking girl, I ADORE that top! I like to channel Meryl Streep every once in a while, may she rest in peace"

"She's not dead?-"

"I'm so sorry to startle you, hun! But we are so excited to have you here! Cheryl let me know you were coming. Just head on up to the 13th floor it will open directly into her office."

"Thanks," I say sheepishly not sure what just happened. I head over to the elevators and check my phone for 10:29. I quickly press the elevator door button. As the door slowly closes I can hear the receptionist skip her way over to the door and hands me a vintage NYT Tote bag.

"Oh and Daisy girl, good luck!" She says just before the door shuts.

The door opens to a room with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides of the building. I've never experienced a feeling so fish bowl-like.

"Hello Daisy, welcome in please sit!"

I do as said and head over to the bright red cushioned seat parallel to a pale wooden desk. A lady with a hairpin straight blonde bob and a crisp white linen pencil dress enters my view. Her smile is welcoming yet rehearsed. I observe faint wrinkles above her cheeks, they are lightly powdered with a coral blush. She is complimented with accents of gold jewelry ranging from Dior to Cartier. Her relaxed look is still too intimidating for my shoulders to rest. And yet her presence is refreshing, this is Cheryl Boone.

"I've heard incredible things about you, you are quite the hustler," She says as she sits down in her office chair adjacent to mine. Cheryl's chair is also red but with a higher back and a golden pattern-lined design framing the top of her head perfectly. If you were far enough away it would look like a crown, fitting for a CEO. This does not help my hunched shoulders and beating heart slow down.

"I'm nothing compared to your journey here. First of all, you are an incredible inspiration to us women in Journalism. I mean none of us would be anywhere without you-"

"Let's cut to the chase Daisy, you can butter me up which is sweet but unnecessary. However, your portfolio tells me just enough of where I can use you." Cheryl says without even taking a beat to see my sour expression. She was smooth yet fragile. Now close up, I can see the past year's shadows hidden under her eyelids. The sweet facade replaced with a CEO gusto, I was envious of this power position.

"Mrs.Cheryl, I'm not sure I quite understand. I know my resume isn't filled with a lot of experience. But-"

"Let me be clear, I'm not hiring you based off of experience. Because if I did that for every Brad and Chad in the building it would be filled with Daddy's little untalented kids. I'm hiring you, Daisy, because of your art, plain and simple. It's fresh it's clean and still tells a story. So I'll give you 60 days to accompany the pop culture department and help bring them to some level or any level of creativity. Seriously, Nico is killing me with his team's articles. We need inspiration and eclectic folks, not stale articles of the Weekend. " She says while she flips through my portfolio and sets it down to finally meet my gaze. We finally see each other in the glass-windowed room.

"So Daisy will you take the position? Or are you just gonna sit there admiring my Botox?"

I choke on my spit and gulp the water from my 3-day-old plastic water bottle half full in my bag.

"Yes"

"Great, you'll start tomorrow at 9:00 am floor 15. Here's your elevator key and booklet of everything you need to know about the last ten years of the pop-culture department. Read it study it and have Nico review your presentation of it in two weeks. You must tweak at least 3 Pop culture articles that did poorly. Also, Nico will show you around the office, any questions?"

"Uhm, will I be paid?"

"Yes starting at 78,000 a year and we will check in after your 60 days. Does this sound good to you?"

"Uh-huh"

"Good, please let Stacey the receptionist know her Meryl Streep Act is awful. And please give her back her tote, it's a print that I did 20 years ago that haunts me to this day. She's my cousin she does it to spite me. Such a bitch but great at getting my coffee order" She get's up from her seat and heads over to a desk covered with drafts. She sighs with disgust flipping every page.

"You can go Daisy"

"Yes, okay alright yeah awesome speaking with you!" I rush to the elevator door already opened for me. And as the doors shut I feel my chest decompress. Finally letting go of the mornings intensity.

"Ping"

Galen: Heyyyy it's Galen you free for a drink later tonight?