Chaelisa Diaries # 1

Right In Front Of Us (1/2)

Warnings: None (yet), but this is going to be G!P so refrain from reading if it's not your thing.

15k+ words

DISCLAIMER: This is an adaptation of an original book by Ember Flint.

*****

Lisa's POV

My father steps inside and I can see his eyes widening. "How did Christmas explode all over this place?"

I smile as we both look around at the hundreds of white midget Christmas lights twinkling slowly all over my once minimalistic-looking office and the baubles, little silver trinkets and decorations covering every available surface.

"Roseanne... she tried to get me out of the office to 'refill my severely lacking holiday spirit reserve' as she put it, and when I said I couldn't, she conspired with Nayeon, stopped by while I was closeted away with our Board of Directors in the conference room and... I guess she got carried away a bit."

My father laughs. "I should have known."

He stares at me intently as with a long sigh he plunks himself in one of the leather armchairs in front of my desk. "Are you sure you're okay, pumpkin?"

"Sure, Dad, don't worry. I'm just tired, we all are."

He nods, but his bushy eyebrows furrow a bit; I can see much more grey in them now than I would have only a couple of months ago.

"Is something bothering you?" he persists, clearly unconvinced by my act.

I pick up one of the huge stack of papers littering the top of my large desk and I tap on it.

"Just going over this one more time, Dad. One can never be too sure."

He steeples his hands over his chest, a crooked grin on his mouth. "You know I trust you, Lisa. You've been my second in command for almost ten years now and since the Board agreed to put you at the helm of Special Projects, you've never steered us wrong. I'm sure you're hunch about Smithsons Industries will pay off."

I nod slowly. I know he's right. This will really be the deal of the year, but one small mistake, one little overlooked detail on my part as I assess Smithsons and its financial prospects and it could cost us millions. Sure, if I'm right we could make billions instead, but still I worry, it's in my nature.

I shrug, my hands palm-up. "I can't help it if I'm too much like you, Dad."

He chuckles. "You're not like me, Lisa, you're better than I could ever be, you make me and your mom proud every day and that's why I know this company's future is safe in your hands. And when the time comes—"

"Dad..." I interrupt him. I hate hearing him speaking about retiring or worse, being sick or something. "Let's not go there yet. You're still green, greener than me some days and you're the best CEO LM Worldwide has ever had or could have."

The company has had a L. Manoban at its head since its foundation five generations ago, but everyone agrees with me that, Lewis, my father, is the first L. M. who cared for something aside from profit and loss in our family.

He shakes his head. "Some in the Board of Directors would not agree with you as you well know."

"You're still the Boss around here, get rid of them."

"Your enemies close, pumpkin. You know that."

I chuckle.

"So, what's on your mind?"