Chapter 8
Ispend all morning preparing for the meeting I have with the developers for the Bridgewater project. My father was on top of this project for a while, but he
handed it to me with several other projects while he was away getting treatment. It’s a massive project. I’m confident I can manage it, but I”ve got a lot on my
plate with all of my contracts and projects on top of his.
When I get to my office, I see that the desk Rayne should be in is empty, which isn’t a good sign. I start getting awful feelings about today. If I fumble with
this project, my father and the rest of the board of directors might see me as a liability. While my father did start it, he is contractually obligated to act in the
company”s best interest. So, if that means hiring someone else as CEO or selling it to another person, there isn’t much I can do about it.
Usually, Kerry would look at my schedule and come in early to get the conference room set up, make copies of all the documents to be shared, prepare any
files I needed, and ensure I’m on track to start. But she isn’t here, and I don’t know what I’m doing.
“I really need to thank that woman,” I mumble to myself while I struggle to figure out how to work the projector in the conference room.
Rayne finally arrives, and I quickly rush out of the room to greet her. She was fifteen minutes late on her first day, but I wasn’t planning to reprimand or tell
her it was inexcusable. But she has already given herself that talk from the sound of it.
“I’m so sorry. I won’t be late ever again,” she says as she sets her bag down by the desk. “The train was late, and I arrived as soon as possible.”
“It’s fine, really,” I laugh and take a deep breath. “Listen, I’ve got a huge meeting today. Things must go smoothly with this. I know you haven’t been trained
on anything yet, but do you think you can wing it today?”
She nods her head slowly. “Yeah, I can certainly improvise. What do you need me to do?”
I tell her about the account and explain what Kerry usually does for meetings. Rayne jumps right in to help me. She struggles with the projector at first, but we both cheer when she manages to get the screen to come down and display my slides.
Before we can do much else, we both hear the elevator ding, and a few of the people I’m meeting with start walking down the hall. Rayne runs out of the conference room to greet them.
Soon, they walk into the room and greet me with handshakes. Henry Vici is an environmental lawyer we consult with on large projects involving significant land changes. He’s an old family friend, too.
“How’s your dad doing?” he asks as he sits down.
“He’s going in for his first treatment in a few days, but his spirits are still high,” I answer. I didn’t realize Dad had told people about why he was stepping back from the project.
“We were all so sorry to hear the news,” Victor Davies chimes in. Victor is the communications specialist we hired for our press releases and publicity.
The elevator dings, and the last two people scheduled for the meeting make their way to the conference room. Alexandria Blackstone runs the construction
company working on the project. She’s worked with my father plenty of times, but I’ve never worked with her. We’ve mingled at holiday parties and work
events, but I have no idea what she would be like today. Carmen Nichols is an old friend of mine. His father worked closely with mine before the latter’s death, and Carmen and I grew up together.
He and I have drifted apart since our teenage years, but we’re on friendly terms. Carmen is the client this project is for. He is building a series of luxury
apartments and condos in a small beach town. While his goal is ambitious, I don’t support what he’s doing. The small town he’s building in has been adamant
about not wanting their lives to change too much due to this construction, but it seems like Carmen is intent on buying up any buildings and shops he can until
he practically owns the town.
The two walk in, and I shake their hands before they sit down.
“Thank you all for coming in. As I understand, my father has already told you why he has to step away from this project. But I assure you, you’re in good
hands. I’m going to do everything I can to ensure this project is successful,” I say to start the meeting.
Rayne pops in for a moment, just like I asked her to, with a tray of mugs and fresh coffee, and places it in front of the group. I smile at her to thank her, and
she leaves the conference room. A few people start pouring their drinks and leaning back in their chairs for me to continue.
I gave Rayne several papers and documents to make copies of before the meeting commenced, and she hasn’t brought them back to me yet. I look through
the glass walls and see her struggling with the copier. My heart jumps in my chest. I can already tell this meeting is going to be a disaster.
I start talking and moving the slides on the projector, watching Rayne from the corner of my eyes as she tries to figure out the printer. Papers start flying
through the tray and landing on the floor, and she frantically runs around to pick them up. All my business associates have their back to her, and I’m very
thankful for that.
The copier stops spitting out paper, and she organizes everything into four different piles before stapling it all together. She walks into the conference
room, and I smile at her, holding back a laugh as she hands everyone their papers.
“Thank you, Rayne,” I say, and she nods at me.
I was extremely stressed about this meeting, but for some reason, I’m glad she is here. I’ve only met her twice, but having her here is kind of calming in a
chaotic way. The meeting lasted a few hours, and I walked everyone to the elevator as we finished up. We mingle in the waiting room by Rayne’s desk for a few
minutes, chatting and catching up since many of us haven’t seen each other in quite some time.
As soon as everyone leaves, Rayne and I instinctively turn to each other and laugh.
“I’m so sorry about the papers. I don’t know what happened with the copier,” she says with an embarrassed look on her face.
I laugh and tell her about how I was watching her through the glass, and she holds her face in her hands,
“Honestly, it helped me get through the meeting,” I say, still laughing. “I was very anxious, and somehow that calmed me down.”
“Oh, well, I’m glad you were at least entertained by my ineptitude for office work,” she replies.
“Tomorrow will be a much lighter day, so we should be able to go over all of the procedures,” I say as I calm myself.
“So, you mean I’m not fired then?” she jokes.
I shake my head in no response.
“How about we call it a day?” I say, looking at the clock.
“Are you sure? It’s only two,” she says.
“My schedule is clear for the rest of the day. We can come back tomorrow and get everything figured out then,” I say, releasing a long exhale.
“You’re the boss,” she says with a laugh.