Where We Left Off

Chapter 11

The tour with Miguel went smoothly, I got to see almost everything the building had to offer. A lobby is going to main space for the upcoming exhibition, the front desk is only temporally - meeting spot for shipping deliveries and interior contraction continues, until the night before the event. Lisa, the temp-receptionist, a young woman at least a couple years younger than me, who I first saw when I ran in from earlier. Literally. Her desk stopped me and gave a moment to catch my breath when I finally made it here. The lobby is a gigantic center space with white blank walls. The back of the building has other rooms: the dark room where photographs will be developed, at the other side the break room and restrooms for the staffs are located. Where I came from: the back of the gallery was Candice's office, hopefully I won't have another reason to be in there again. Upstairs to the second floor there's even blank walls soon to be fill with Simon's work. Towards the far of the corner of the building is his studio where big boss have his private shoots with his exclusive clients. 

Miguel is the darkroom developer and the go-to guy for the supplies of the gallery. His work is to make sure that the behind the scenes is running smoothly. As we walked back to the center of the lobby, we meet Sofia standing there. She's very beautiful. She has to Jay's age, if not a few years older. Her makeup is light and clean, loving the glossy nude lips. I need to know her lip-combo. Her presence can fill the entire space, letting everyone know who's the boss is.

She makes eye contact with me. "How was the tour?" she asked. Based her tone, she seems interested. Definitely in a better mood than from earlier, I guess she needed the caffeine.

I give her a small smile, appreciating on the coffee that soften her up. "Yes, thank you. Miguel is a great tour guide." Pointing at Miguel.

He looks soft at me. I guess he appreciates the compliment. I'm glad because it's the truth. His guidance was really informative and kinda of fun. Miguel check on me to see if I have any questions and introduce me to everyone who works here. I'm impressed that he knows everyone's names. I won't be surprise if he remembers mine even though we known each other for a few hours now. Maybe he can join Alex and I for lunch.

"Alright then, Ms. James please follow me." Sofia said, while turning her body to the side, signaling me to follow her.

I said goodbye to Miguel and thanking for everything. "Please call me Mercy." I quickly walk up nexts to Sofia. She gave a side eye, I realized I was standing too close to her. I inhaled and took a step back. God, why I do make things so awkward?

"So you will be working directly for me? Making sure everything here is running to according to the night of the opening?" Sofia start by saying, "Running my schedule and Pierce's, setting up meetings with investors, picking up photographs from the developer, and..."Sofia pauses as realizes I stopped at the bottom of the stairwell. I feel like she's looking down at me. Hearing her list the task of my responsibilities doesn't seem like a job for a manager. "Why is your face looking like that?" she asks.

I look up at her, confuse. I apologized, "I'm a little confuse, I thought I was the manager or something." 

"Excused me." Sofia looks equally as confused as I am. "Why would you assume that?"

"Because of..., based on the title of the job position posted on the website." I reached for my phone the back pocket of my jeans to show her the post. I clicked the link and it said Excretive Assistant and Manager of Simone's Gallery. Sofia walked down the steps and looked at the screen closer and cursed.

"Lisa. I'm kill going to her." I can tell Sofia is annoyed, this time I'm not the reason. Well, I hope I'm not. "She was supposed to titled it 'Excretive Assistant for the Manager' not... Ugh..." She closes her eyes and touches the bridge of her nose. She must be frustrated Lisa, let's hope she doesn't lose her job over a small thing. However, if I was in Sofia's position, a false advertisement of a job vacancy isn't a small thing. "Miguel did say it was too wordy." She groaned and faced me again. "Look, I do apologized for this whole confusion, but this is about working for me, specifically. I mean, yes, you will be spending time with Pierce. But, mainly being my right hand." She explained. 

I didn't know what to expect but this was not it. An assistant? No, I didn't spend the last four of gaining my degree on Business and Social Media Marketing, and Fine Arts. Also getting my certificate in photography to become an assistant. This feels such a setback, I spend last summer boosting how I got an amazing opportunity to be working directing with the legend Simon Pierce. I cannot have my parents find out about this, because I know they're going to give me a big 'I told you so', from dad mostly. He had his doubts, but he did a made a few calls for me to guarantee for me to get this job. And I really don't need that. Especially I been on his case for giving me some space to do things on my own. However, she did mention that I am going to spend some time with Simon also. Maybe, I can find a way to get him to be become my mentor than just my boss, and possibly see his work progress. To improve my skills on a film camera. Not just answering calls and not checking schedules or anything else that falls into the category of an assistant. I mean, it's only a small step back from my long term goals. It's only temporary, hopefully.

And my dad doesn't need to know the whole truth about the job right now. Only when I find something better. Or when things are looking up for me. 

Sofia clears her throat to gain my attention, "Well, are you in? Or are you out?" she asks. Her facial expression is excepting me to leave. 

"I'm all in." That was a little too much excitement, but I'm trying to prove her that I want to be here. Honestly, I am trying it to myself. 

 Sofia was taken back, impressed. "Ok." Stepping down to the bottom of the stairwell, standing a foot away from me. Her black heels give several inches taller than me. Which is a little imitating since my shoes has some left to them too. "Then, let me show where you'll be living."

"We don't need to go look upstairs to the top floor?" I asked.

"No, it just a power move for me to look down at you?" she said with confidence.

"What?" I hope she's kidding.

"Joke." She stated, with a laugh. "Anyway, that's leads to Simon's private studio - no one goes up there." 

"Not even me." She shrugged her shoulders. "Let's go back to my office and sign some paperwork."

I jokey rolled my eyes. "What?" I asked, "A NDA?" Why the hell did I say that?

Candice laughed. "You're funny, come on." She walks back to the lobby, I can hear heels clicking to the floors.

I glanced back at the room upstairs, wondering why Simon keeps it off limits to everyone.