Sign Your Name

Chapter one

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I looked up at the sign on the building, pausing slightly as I made my way inside. It still got to me when I saw 'Parker Tech' dominating the red brick structure. To be honest I don't think I would ever get tired of seeing the sign.

With a smile gracing my lips I dropped my bag and laptop case on my desk in the silent office. It was barely 7 in the morning, others wouldn't start arriving for another hour at least, which meant that I could blissfully work in silence for a good 60 minutes before the full chaos of the work day began.

After making myself a cup of coffee I removed my laptop from its bag and began replying to the staggering amount of emails that had graced my inbox from the last time I had checked it, barely 6 hours ago.

I adored this company, and I was so proud of how far it had come in a matter of 6 years. Going from a measly 3 employees (including myself), to an astonishing 356. Parker Tech had beaten its 5 year goal within the first two years, an accomplishment that was incredibly difficult to do.

And the success of the tech company was shown, particularly in its large laid out office space in an old renovated factory. There was multiple sections of desks with computers laid out on this floor, with approximately 96 people working on this floor alone, along with a staff area and a large conference room. Upstairs is where the real tech happens however, referred to comedically as 'The Robot Room', it was where Parker Tech made and ran tests on many of its products- some of which include kitchen appliances, entertainment systems or communication devices.
As I was making the finishing touches on a document involving schemes and proposals for possible future designs, my phone rang silently on the desk, flashing my best friend and coworkers picture.

I answered immediately, "Hey David."

"Hey girl!" His charming voice answered me back. "My train is delayed today so I'll be in a bit later." He paused. "You know, we need to talk about that thing today don't you?"

I sighed and ran a hand through my blonde hair. I was hoping to avoid discussing that thing for another week at least. "Do we have to?" The reluctance was clear in my voice and I nervously began biting my bottom lip. I really do not want to discus the thing.
"Yes, we must discuss it today. Hold on a second." He paused again and I listened as he began speaking to, what I'm assuming was someone who worked at the train station. "Okay, so are we going out for drinks tomorrow?" It was difficult for us to spend time together outside of work, so we tried to go out for a meal or drinks pretty regularly.

"I can't this week, Mark isn't having Hattie this weekend." People were beginning to enter the building now, I smiled warmly in acknowledgement to some of them.

"Oh can't you just get a baby sitter?" I chuckled slightly at his remark.

Hattie was my beautiful 5 year old girl. She had blonde hair, green eyes and an over her years personality. Mark, my ex, had weekend custody of her, but this week he had plans which meant Hattie was staying with me.

"I don't know, maybe one of her friends will let her sleep over or something..." I trailed of into thought thinking about who was best for that.

"Great! Okay I'll see you soon my train is about to pull up! Much love!" I laughed as David exited the call.

Putting the phone down I glanced at the filling office, it was only Wednesday but I already couldn't wait for this week to be over.

"Miss Parker, your 8am is in the conference room." Becky, my assistant, appeared at my desk in a bright floral dress, holding an array of folders. She handed the top one too me and the rest were placed in my basket for me to look at when I had a chance. As I glanced through the folder given to me, Becky gave me a refresher on who I was meeting with. "It's Mr Flucks, the guy who is basically bankrupt and is wanting to sell his small tech business to us." I nodded in remembrance, this was our second meeting. "By the way, what kind of name is 'Flucks'." Laughter graced both our lips as she escorted me to the conference room.

"Oh Becky! Will you move my 4pm? I need to get Hattie from her school at 3, but I also need to organise someone to look after her on Friday. Oh are you going to join David and I are going out for drinks, you in?"

"Okay, I'll also move your 4:30 too then, also your mother phoned and needs you to call her back. Kieran wants you to come upstairs later and review something he's been working on. You need to review the quarterly numbers and finalise those contracts I put on your desk. Oh, and Mack Machin wants to arrange a meeting." Becky finished listing what needed to be done in a breath before holding open the conference room door. I smiled graciously at her before moving into the room and taking a seat in one of the leather chairs opposite Mr Fluck.

•••

David was in the office by the time I finished my second meeting. After confirming with Becky that I had a free ten minutes he pulled me into the conference room.

Today my dark haired friend was dressed in a simple button up shirt and some chinos, whilst I was wearing jeans, a black blazer and a black blouse, a blouse which I will admit is a slightly too low neck line but it didn't bother me much.

"Hey babes." David greeted me as he pulled me in to an embrace. I'd known David since university, we had both taken a computer science course at Birmingham university and has stuck like clue together for almost 7 years.

"I don't want to have this conversation." Sulking, I broke out his hold and sunk into the same chair I'd used for my previous meetings today. He took the one opposite me.

"I know but we have to, you barely have time to breath and you know we need this." He spoke calmly. "Look, people are beginning to get worried that you're in too far over your head. Mads, I mean you literally have 356 people working for you, you make hundreds of thousands every week, whilst looking after the sweetest 6 year old girl. It's getting too much for you! I mean we were down 2.5% in the last quarter, 3% the quarter before that." I bowed my head down in frustration. Although Parker Tech did become an incredible success in a short amount of time, I was worried that that's all we were going to be, a short time success.

"Along with that you've got DF Corp beginning to take some of our revenue, and we need to look into the new office space. Girl I am so proud of how much you've done in such a short amount of time but we need to hire a new CEO." I know he's right, but I didn't want to admit it. I had make this company from nothing all by myself, and now I was expected to hire some big shot CEO to rule the place?

"David you know as much as I do that if I hire an outsider, they won't understand and know the company like I do. They'll change things and make it some boring old cooperate shit show." An angry tear escaped my eye. "It's not fair. And chances are they'll be some sexist old fart that will degrade me at every possible chance. This is my company David. My name is on that wall. I should be the one to run it." Sympathy was etched all over his face.

"Just think about it a bit more please Maddison." He paused slightly. "The investors have come up with a list of possible candidates, I'll let you have a look at it." He stood and placed the folder on the glass conference table before leaving the room.

Just great. Everything I've worked for will be ruined.

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