Chase and Company

Chapter Ten: My Heart Races during Midnight Chases

        “Brody, we’re supposed to turn in our idea to Ms. Evelina by the end of the day,” I sighed, pressing my fingertips to my temples, my elbows resting on the table.

               “Well, maybe if you agreed with me on something, we would have been finished hours ago,” he said, as if our situation was my fault.

               “I’m sorry but my stomach doesn’t agree with crappy food, and the same goes for me with your ideas,” I deadpanned.

               He glared at me before quickly dissolving into fake laughter. “You’re quite witty, you know,” he said, invading my personal bubble as he sat down and leaned towards me.

               I kept up my cool demeanor despite the repulsion I felt at the sight of him and replied, “Yup, as sharp as a knife at your throat.”

               Frowning, he leaned back into his seat and I was able to sit up straight in relief. I wished I could describe Brody as hideous as his personality but, woe is me, at the age of twenty-two, he was disgustingly average-looking. His wavy dark brown hair was neatly parted to the side and, although his chin could be considered weak, he had a smile that I was sure some women could fall for. While he was admittedly taller than average, he was still only the same height as me in my everyday choice of four-inch heels.

               “Alright, intern, tell me your idea then,” he challenged, his blue eyes narrowing at me.

               Not nearly a dazzling blue as Aiden’s.

        Aiden was back at our joint office, sorting out paperwork without me. He knew I was working on a marketing campaign, but not with Brody. Over the past couple of days, we’ve gotten along as coworkers, if not friends. We argued almost every hour but it definitely livened up work more, and I preferred it rather than sitting in awkward silence.

        I would definitely rather be with him than this sleaze bag.

        Shaking my thoughts away from the princess, I looked him in the eye. “We’re part of a fashion industry,” I began. “So what the public sees is our visual products. Therefore, we hold a fashion show.”

        And that was how I began my presentation to Ms. Evelina a few hours later. “However, this marketing campaign is supposed to showcase what people don’t see every day: the workers and the dynamics behind the company.” I glanced at Ms. Evelina’s watchful gaze from her seat right in front of me, remembering what she had told me at my interview about focusing on the workers.

        “So, I propose that the company’s workers will be the models. They’ll be the center of attention as they step out into the limelight for once. This will also utilize the different sizes, ages and cultures of all the workers here, conveying how the company embraces diversity and diverse appearance. There will be an after party that will act as a meet and greet while attendees can speak to the models about their experiences working at the company.”

        As I saw the beginnings of a smile play on Ms. Evelina’s lips, my heart raced in anticipation for the verdict. I hurried to complete my thoughts. “The clothes, while still beautiful, only accentuate the talent and the individual who wear it,” I finished.

        Ms. Evelina beamed at me, her smile worth more to me than all her millions. “Excellent work, Ms. Evans,” she praised. “Do you have anything else up your sleeve that can make this idea even more ingenious?”

        I beamed. “Attendees can buy pieces of the collection and all proceeds of that day will go to Chase and Company’s charity and benefit funds as well as scholarship programs.”