Could It Be You? |✓

(4) Promotion

Dedicated to heythereann1 for reading this story (twice!!) I saw the notifications from you and your old comments (': 

▬▬▬▬▬

Emma scrolls, and Facebook helpfully reveals yet another 16 photos to feed her indulgence. She doubles back at a photo of half nakedness, noting that he has still got it going on. She logs all findings in her head and slowly goes through them.

No persistent correspondence with females recently. A possible indication that he is single. 

She glances at the "research" notes spread before her, then, after some hesitation, moves her hand down to scribe beside Joshua's name a question mark. The other guys in her list drawn from her list of handphone contacts - they all pretty much got eliminated because they were all married or attached. 

Emma scans the list from the top once more, her thoughts lingering a little longer than usual at Ethan's entry. With a sigh, she draws several strikes over his name, finding it incestuous to even consider him.

She recalls the moment when it hit her that Collin's father was possibly the one who gave him the necklace.

She had quickly rejected her hypothesis. Ethan already has Sarah, and they always make it through their hurdles. Despite their multitude of silly problems, they've got a hot and passionate side too.

She recalls their rampant public display of affection on the occasional times she third-wheeled... and quickly pushes those scenes away.

With a sigh, she retrieves her phone from the pocket and reopens the conversation with Joshua, grimacing at the bunch of cuss words she had left in the text box. She clears the message and then stares at the empty box, wanting to type something but not being able to bring herself to.

After some beats, Emma comes to her senses and violently scrunches up the paper, tossing it into the bin. She mentally screams in horror - she has stooped so low as to Facebook stalking an ex-boyfriend to solve a baseless mystery! Her actions are incorrigible!

Furthermore, there is no way she is going to entertain second chances with Joshua. Absolutely not.

Emma takes a quick moment to clean out all thoughts. She has procrastinated enough - she's at work after all. With her mind in focus now, she opens the file before her, ready to plunge into the fantastic world of statistics. She barely scans through half a page before she got interrupted by her cubicle neighbour, Tess. The petite, frizzy-haired and bespectacled girl peers over the divider.

"Em, do you want the good news first or the better news first?" she says.

Emma raises an eyebrow at her. "Um. The good one?"

"Okay." Tess grins."CONGRATS GIRL! YOU'RE PROMOTED! WOOHOO!"

Emma gasps. "What, why and how?"

"Read the email!"

Emma hastily changes the tab on her computer and draws up the email that contained results for the latest wave of interviews. With a mixture of trepidation and excitement, Emma goes down the list of names, finding her own in the 5th row. She lets the news sink in, before a smile of utter delight breaks across her face.

Turning to face Tess, she asks, "what's the better news?" 

"We've got a new director!" Tess announces cheerfully as she wriggles her eyebrows. 

"Okay, and you are excited because?"

"Because..." Tess gives a sly look, "see for yourself."

With a click and drag, Emma brings the page further down to reveal a photograph of the man.

* * *

Emma does not miss the oddity in the office. As she passes the colleagues by on her way to the President's office, she sees the female employees whisper among themselves, pointing excitedly at the boss' door, even though the male colleagues aren't the least bit interested.

When she finally reaches the President's room, she clears her throat and knocks. Almost instantly, an old, gruff and happy voice sounds from within.

"Please, come in!"

Emma turns the knob and peeks in. The first thing she sees - a pot belly.

The president, Mr Palmer, a man of a short and plump stature, beams at her endearingly. He is clearly in a fantastic mood. "Hello Ryans, I'm sure you've already seen the email, but congratulations, you've been promoted."

Emma thanks him, before her gaze turns to a man standing beside him, the new director.

And even though people with that equivalent position are usually in their early 40s, this man is young. He smiles at her warmly, exuding a great sense of confidence. 

Emma looks at the man who has been causing a commotion in her office and finds herself at loss of words.

"Since you'll be under the direct supervision of the division's director, I found it necessary to introduce you to him personally. This is Matt Crawford, our new Finance Head." Mr Palmer introduces. "You two will be working closely together from now, and I expect a lot from both of you."

"Nice to meet you, Emma! I've heard much about you," he says amiably as he holds out a hand to her.

She returns his gesture. "Great to meet you too, Matt."

Emma studies him carefully, logging him down in just a few seconds. Light blond hair, blue-green eyes, sharp nose and a chiselled jawline. Cleanly - shaven chin. And he is actually toned. He could have come straight out from a magazine, but Emma, of course, does not tell him that. 

* * *

When Emma returns to her station, she finds a few girls huddled before her computer. She eyes them warily as she pushes them aside, to find that they had been fiddling around with her Facebook. Nothing seems off, and Emma is sure she had deleted her search history previously. Still, she knows they did something because Tess and the gang continue giggling suspiciously.

Right then, a notification comes on, and Emma's eyes widen.

Matt Crawford has accepted your friendship request.

▬▬▬▬▬