The Reluctant Heiress (A Christian Romance Novel)

Chapter 7: The Office

That Friday, as soon as Telly stepped out of the office after lunch, she went home, grabbed her weekend luggage and drove to the airport. She will just leave her car at the airport since it will only be for a few days. Fly to New York and meet up with her friends and pitch the big idea that she discussed with Greg. And by Sunday evening, she'll be back. That was the plan.

What she didn't know was that after she left, Mr. Rogers asked Greg about her. He called Greg to his office.

"Where is Telly?" he asked. "We have the Spencer's wedding, and you know they are very valuable clients. Mr. de Lavi would always meet with them, so I am expecting Telly to do the same."

"Well," Greg cleared his throat looking for very good excuse. "I am sure she knows this, and if she can't meet them this weekend, she will meet with them during the calm after the storm. Perhaps Monday."

"I am concerned that she seems to be so detached from her new position," Mr. Rogers said.

"Don, it is only her first few weeks," Greg defended her. "Ricardo has done this for 30 years. So be kind to her. Be patient. Plus, they obviously have different leadership styles."

"Yes, he is ever present, while she is ever absent," he fake-smiled and retorted in like in a sing-song manner, not looking at Greg, but signing on some documents that were on his table. "Some would normally be very active during the first few months."

"She lost her father and she lost her 'life' that she had always dreamed of," he reminded Don. Both of them knew Telly had always dreamed of a life away from Atlanta. "So understand where she's coming from."

"Oh! So defensive of her," Mr. Rogers looked at Greg and winked at him. "Attraction always gets in the way of work."

"I'm trying to be professional here Don," Greg sternly said.

"Well, I am just being a realist. She's an attractive single, you are a widower for almost 5 years now, and the two of you are always together," Don said matter-of-factly and mostly teasing.

Greg gave him a hard stare, before he turned his back heading towards the door. "I assure you, this will not get in the way of my work."

"If you say so," Don teased. "Oh wait!"

Greg looked back. "What is it?"

"By the way, please give all of these documents for her signature when she comes back Monday, I need those urgently," he stressed as he gave him a folder full of documents.

When Greg came to his desk, he double checked the papers and all the supporting documents before putting them on Telly's desk, ready when she comes back on Monday. As part of his task, he had always inspected everything that would need the CEO's approval, especially big ticket items. He was the extra pair of eyes for such big decisions. He had been well trained by Mr. Ricardo who was very meticulous with every purchase the company was doing, and he was expecting that Telly would be the same.

********************

The next day, Saturday, the staff were busy preparing for the afternoon wedding of the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Spencer, highly valued clients of the hotel. They got married there decades ago, and had  celebrated their 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and recently, their 25th wedding anniversary at Hotel de Lavi. So it was only expected that they got the best service all the time. And they normally did, and Mr. Ricardo would always be there before the event checking in on them making sure everything was to their satisfaction. And so, they were expecting Telly to be there and to meet them personally.