While I’m waiting for the elevator that will take me to the ground floor, I make the startling realization that since I got here, the only word I have uttered is, yes.
When the elevator finally arrives I go back to the ground floor and exit the building. I start looking for the cafe across the street, only to notice to my dismay that there are three cafes. And Debbie didn't give me the name of a cafe she prefers.
Walking across the street I make the decision to choose the cafe which is the least busy.
The decision might ruin the rest of my life at the company. But she didn't give me a name. Maybe this was a test. She might want to find out if I have it in me to pick a good cafe or something like that. Or maybe she just didn't think about the whole thing. I shake my head at my ridiculous thoughts and make my way to the cafe right in the middle.
"She should have given me the name of a cafe." I find myself saying out loud when I reach the entrance of the cafe.
With that thought, I pushed the door of the cafe open with more determination than necessary, and almost smack it in the face of a person who is coming out.
The guy has a scowl on his face when he looks down at me.
"I'm so sorry..."I say as quickly as I can and walk past him to enter the cafe without looking back.
But I didn't get very far before a voice stops me.
"Who do you think you are!" A woman next to the guy asks.
"I'm sorry?" I asked confused.
"Do you know who he is?" She asks with a sneer. "And you just slammed a door in his face. Do you know how much his face is worth?" She askes like she can't understand how I could do such a thing.
I didn't smack the door in the guy's face. I almost did, I think to myself. But before I can get a reply in, the guy just gives me one cold blue-eyed stare, and without a word turns around and walks out. The girl who was still trying to intimidate me hurries after him when she notices he has walked out.
When I turn to go to the counter of the cafe, I realize that every eye in the cafe is turned on me. I awkwardly walk to the counter and decide to hell with it.
"Hi."
I greeted the barista first. He just looks at me with a smile and takes the paper I hand to him when he asks for my order.
"Will that be all?" He asks friendly.
"Yes, thank you," I reply with the same friendliness.
It's only after I received the till slip that I realize how expensive the items are at the place.
I almost drop the latte when I read the total price of my order. I know I can afford this place. But I think the prices are unnecessarily high. And I might get fired for buying coffee at such a high price. So when I get my order I promise myself never to set foot in here again. Even though the goodies look divine and heavenly and awesome...
Back at the company building, I notice that everyone is walking in the same direction towards the elevators. I get on a packed elevator with Debbie's order and press the button for the third floor. The only other button pressed was the fifth, and I realize everyone must be heading that way.
I get off on the third floor and release a relieved sigh when I see Debbie with a group of other people standing in front of her office.
"You made it!" She shouts when she notices me heading their way.
"Come, come. We have to go. The big boss is giving a speech and everyone must be there. Even the new interns."
She takes the coffee and takes a gulp of it and opens the bagel wrapper and takes a bite out of it. Then she puts it down on the nearest table she can find and starts heading for the elevator.
I feel tired just by looking at her actions. But follow her anyway. The rest of the group and I have to hurry after her.
I feel out of breath when we enter the big conference room where everyone is gathered. There's a makeshift stage at the front of the big room. We move in behind the rest of the people when a door closer to the makeshift stage part of the room opens.
A tall, important-looking man walks in and goes directly to the stage. He is followed by more people but I don't get a chance to look at them because the man starts speaking into the microphone without waiting for the others. Which I think is really rude. But no one else bats an eye at that.
He first starts off by greeting everyone and then talks about how well the company is doing currently. And then thanks everyone for working so hard.
"With all that said, I will like to get to the real reason why we're all gathered here today."
He takes a breath and I notice for the first time how attractive he is. Even in his old age. And his rudeness. With his tall build, he towers over most of the people in this room. His face is weathered but it still has the muscular future to it. With the bright blue eyes and dark hair, he must have been a babe magnet in his days.
"The time has come for me to step down and hand the reins over to me heir. So you all will be under a new leadership starting three months from now. With that said, here is the next CEO of Ames Corporation. My son, Austin Ames."
With that announcement, he moves away from the microphone and makes way for his son. A guy with almost the same futures as his father step towards the microphone. The most distinguished difference between father and son is their ages. Both have piercing blue eyes, and they both look like they see and notice everything. But the son has something in his blue eyes that the father doesn’t have. It has a softness to it.
With the change of people on the stage, I then notice the woman from the cafe, also on the stage, standing next to another woman with the same features as the current owner of the company and his son. That's when I remember about the woman and the guy in the cafe.
And I’m hit with the sudden realization that I almost smacked a door in my new boss' face.
