The Girl With a Broken Heart💔

The Man of my Dreams

Emma's POV

Next Morning, I woke up with the sound of my phone alarm that I had set up for six am. I hardly slept all night, I completed the proposal work roughly around three am and then spent another hour self-reviewing it and detailing it to my satisfaction.

I think I dozed off at four am on the most uncomfortable couch that there can be, and was up within two hours. I carefully placed the proposal file and Mark Hanly's card in my office bag and headed home. I saw Benjamin's message, he had his baby boy at around mid-night.
Both Raina and baby were doing fine. I sent a congratulatory message and thought of visiting them at the hospital after I wind up work today. I felt so happy for them.

I took a quick shower and changed into my favorite office wear. It was a dark green blouse with a high waist pencil skirt. I brushed my hair and pinned them in front, making my open locks fall on my shoulder. I applied minimal make up just enough to cover the puffiness under my eyes. I then picked my short black blazer and was ready to leave.

On my way in the sub, I got a call from Niki.

"Hi Emma. I saw your call this morning. Sorry, I umm.. stayed over with Barry last night."

Niki and Barry had been dating for three months now and their relationship was going strong and steady.

"Smooth. I know what you mean Niki and sorry I thought of disturbing you. I have my first client meeting today. I am heading to Richmond Corp. I will call you once I am done".

"Wow. That's great Emma! Aren't you still in probation? Anyway, Congratulations! This calls for a celebration. My treat for you this Saturday, I will invite Barry too." She was suddenly very excited.

"Done, but let's not celebrate so soon. I am very nervous, let's talk after the meeting."

"Ok, all the best. Call me when you get free".

I closed my eyes and tried to relax a bit. Thinking about everything since yesterday, I was most intimidated by what people said about Jacob Richmond. I had fair confidence in my work but thinking about facing a guy of his stature in my first client meeting left a knot in my stomach.

With that, I arrived at the station and my destination – Richmond Corp was just two blocks away.

***

I walked past the grand entrance of the office and reached the reception area. There was a beautiful girl, probably in her early thirties seated at the reception. I reached to talk to her, but without even looking at me, she waved and asked me to wait.

I thought that was rude of her specially in the morning hours when there was not much of a crowd in office and she didn't look necessarily busy.

She looked up at me, scanning every inch of my appearance from head to toe and said in a vague tone, "Yes please, how may I help you?"

I was almost confused by her stare, wondering if I didn't look upto mark for the meeting. I gathered my thoughts and replied nevertheless, "Hi, I am Emma Carter from S&M, I am here to meet Mr. Mark Hanly". I handed her his visiting card that Benjamin gave me yesterday.

She took the card, scanned it for a minute, and dialed a number from her landline. She informed somebody on the phone about me, and then again waved her hand without making eye contact as an indication for me to sit and wait. I gave her a helpless look and made myself comfortable in the sitting area.

Soon within minutes, the front door of the office opened, and a handsome man dressed in a formal blue suit entered the reception. He had a pleasant personality and his face cut could give models a run for their money.