Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Olivia
I watch as another flower petal drops onto my desk. The bouquet that Alexander gave me almost two weeks ago isn’t technically a bouquet anymore. It’s a bunch of stems with withering petals in a tall vase sitting in an inch of yellowed water.
It’s a testament to how often I receive flowers.
I’m holding onto these until the very last petal has fallen and the stems have dried up. Only then, will I let Sheryl take the vase away.
She pokes her head into my office in another attempt to wrestle the dying flowers from my grasp. “Are you sure you don’t want me to dump that vase, Olivia?”
“No.” I look over a blank piece of paper in front of me. “When the time is right, I’ll take care of it.”
She sighs. “I can stop by the market on my way to work tomorrow and pick up a fresh bouquet. Consider it my treat to you.”
Is that pity in her green eyes?
The only flowers that are ever delivered to the office for me are on my birthday and those are from my mom.
The card bears the same message every year.
To my daughter on her birthday.
Love, Your mother.
My mom loves me more than anything, but heartfelt messages are not her way of showing it.
“You don’t have to do that.” I lean back in my chair. “I appreciate the thought.”
“Cathleen stopped by earlier looking for you.” Sheryl straightens and takes a step into my office. “She said it wasn’t urgent.”
If my boss wants to talk to me, that takes precedence over everything else.
Cathleen Dickerson is the person who gave me this job. She was the one who encouraged me to pursue a degree in business and once I earned it, she promoted me by making me her junior assistant.
I’ve worked up the ranks since then, always with her encouragement and support.
“She didn’t say what it was about?” I ask for clarification since Sheryl isn’t quick to offer every small detail of her exchanges with other staff.
“Nope.” She moves closer to my desk. “I’ll call her and ask if she has a minute to see you now.”
I push back from my desk and stand. “I’ll run up to her office and see if she’s around.”
Sheryl gives me the once-over. “I love that pencil skirt on you, Olivia.”
I glance down at the black pencil skirt and white blouse I’m wearing. It’s my go-to outfit whenever I can’t decide what to wear. “Thanks, Sheryl.”
“Do you need me to take care of anything while you’re gone?” She points at the dying flowers.
“No.” I usher her out of my office with a brush of my hand against her elbow. “You can email Steph about the new bra line that’s launching in the spring. Tell her I’ll drop by with samples later this week.”
“That I can do.” Sheryl turns to look at me. “Have I told you lately what a great boss you are?”
“Twice today, but I’m listening.” I laugh as I start down the corridor toward the elevator. “By the way, you’re an amazing assistant, Sheryl. I’ll be back right away.”
“Take your time,” she calls after me. “Have fun up there with the big shots.”
I laugh even though I hope one day, I’ll have an office on the top floor of this building.
Lowering myself into one of the chairs facing Cathleen’s desk, I wait while she shuts her office door.
My heart is thumping out a beat that I can feel in my toes even though I know I haven’t done anything to warrant a warning. The smile on Cathleen’s face when she saw me approaching her office was reassuring.
She ushered me past her assistant without a word.
“Sheryl told me that you stopped by my office,” I finally speak as she rounds her desk to take her chair. “I thought I’d come up and see what you needed.”
“Two tickets to Alexander Donato’s opening night.”
“What?” My eyes widen as my pulse picks up even more. “I think I misheard you.”
“You didn’t.” She leans back in her chair. “From what I’ve heard, the man has been following you around Manhattan.”
If he has, he’s damn good at hiding it. I haven’t seen him since the day he popped into the boutique in Tribeca and handed me the flowers.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I say genuinely, wondering if this is indeed what she came down to my office to talk about. If it is, I’m disappointed. I was hoping it was about my stellar work.
“I’m joking, Olivia.” Her lips smooth into a smile. “I heard that he was in the building looking for you a couple of weeks ago before he showed up at the Tribeca boutique.”
“I helped him with something,” I offer. “He just wanted to thank me.”
“He was here earlier.” She glances at the closed door of her office. “He spent some time with Gabriel.”
Gabriel Foster. He’s the man in charge.
He’s the CEO of Foster Enterprises. His family owns Liore Lingerie, as well as several other clothing companies.
He knows me by name, but we’ve never had a conversation beyond a short one about the weather in the elevator.
“He came here to see Mr. Foster?” I question in an effort to gain even an ounce of understanding about what Alexander is up to.
“Gabriel’s wife is the second principal violinist with the Philharmonic.”
I didn’t know that.
“So, Alexander was here to talk about Mrs. Foster?” I clench my teeth. I’m sliding into territory that I don’t belong in.
It doesn’t matter why Alexander was here. It shouldn’t be piquing my curiosity as much as it is.
“Gabriel wanted to offer his assistance in the event that Alexander needed anything.” She bows her head. “You know how gracious he is.”
Not really.
“Gabriel told me that your name came up and Alexander had only complimentary things to say. He told Gabriel that you helped him out of a difficult situation after he walked into the store on Fifth Avenue. I believe his exact words were that ‘Olivia Hull went above and beyond the call of duty.’ Gabriel is impressed.”
That’s a point for me in my quest to land an office on this floor one day.
“I’m glad I could help.”
Cathleen pushes to stand. I follow suit because I know it’s a sign that she’s moving on to the next thing on her to-do list for today.
“There’s one other thing, Olivia.”
“What’s that?”
“A position in the corporate office in London is opening up.” Her eyes lock on mine. “Your name has come up.”
No freaking way.
I know exactly what job she’s talking about.
Regional Director of Operations.
It’s a step up from what I’m doing now and it entails all of our European locations.
“You’re open to relocating, aren’t you?”
I nod. I don’t have any ties to New York City other than Trey and a handful of friends. I know that he’d love to visit me in London. Kate would too and my mom has always talked about going on a European vacation. This would be her chance to do that as often as she likes.
“We’re going to send out an interest form to everyone who is qualified within the next few weeks.” She looks down at the large calendar on her desk. “I’m encouraging you to seriously consider throwing your hat into this ring.”
I know it’s not a firm offer, but I take her words at face value. She believes I have a chance to land the job.
“I will.” My lips curve into a smile.
“Good and I trust you’ll keep this to yourself for now.” She taps her hand on her desk. “I’ve got a meeting to get to. I’m glad you stopped by.”
I am too.
It may not be an office on this floor, but it’s just as good. It’s London.
I never imagined that was within my grasp. Cathleen just showed me that my dream is closer than I ever thought it was.