Chapter 4
Desiree walked into the office that would be hers and stopped in the doorway, a little stunned.
She glanced around, certain that there had to be some mistake.
Karlie Atworth, a Human Resources assistant, had taken her up to her own office, where Desiree had completed all the new-hire paperwork, and then the woman had given her a tour of the thirty-floor Sharpe Building.
When they stopped at this office, Desiree didn’t know what to say.
“Is something wrong, Miss Sharpe?”
She turned to Karlie, who looked like a high school student but had told Desiree she had graduated from NYU last year, and had been hired as an HR Assistant. Before answering, Desiree glanced around the office again and, this time, she noticed the nameplate on her desk. Allison D. Sharpe.
Legally, that was her name, so she shouldn’t be too put out at seeing it. Besides, her best friend in the world, Camille LeGraff ─a student by day and actress by night, would often ask her, in a Shakespearian accent, of course, “Honestly, Rae, what’s in a name?”
And Desiree’s answer would always be a quick, “Everything.” She missed Camille already, although she’d only been back in the States for a week.
“Miss Sharpe?”
She then realized she hadn’t answered Karlie’s question. “No, nothing is wrong. I just wasn’t expecting this.”
Her office was just as spacious as her apartment in Paris. And the view of Manhattan was amazing. In her twenty-six years, she had only been to the Sharpe Building a couple of times, and she never recalled coming up to the fortieth floor.
“And why not?” Karlie asked her. “You are Richard Sharpe’s granddaughter, right.”
Richard Sharpe’s granddaughter. She was certainly that, although she couldn’t help thinking he forgot that at times.
She nodded. “I am.” There was no sense in telling Karlie that she was surprised because she’d told her grandfather that she’d be happy starting at the bottom and working her way up.
So she’d been expecting a cubicle, not this spacious office.
Karlie nodded. “And speaking of Mr. Sharpe, you are scheduled to meet with him at two. His office is on this floor at the other end of the hall. If you need me to return and escort you there, I’ll come back.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll find it.”
“Alright. If there’s anything you need, let me know. You will eventually be assigned your own administrative assistant, but in the meantime, I’m here to assist you.”
Desiree glanced at her watch. “Since I have a three-hour wait before meeting with my grandfather, I would like to visit the company’s library on the eleventh floor. Do I have access to it?”
“Yes, you have security clearance to all the floors in the building, except those privately leased.”
Desiree nodded. “Thanks.”
Once Karlie left, Desiree wandered around her office, not quite believing it was all hers. Out the window, she had a breathtaking view of Manhattan. She couldn’t wait to start exploring…
Why did a vision of Cobra Masters suddenly pop into her mind? He was from New York, wasn’t he? And as for breathtaking… She had to admit, she’d thought that same thing about him when her grandfather had pointed him out to her. In his tux, he had looked almost irresistible.
Releasing a frustrating sigh, she moved away from the window just as her cellphone started to ring. Recognizing the tone, she smiled. It was her best friend, Camille. Quickly pulling her phone out of her purse, she said, “Bonjour, Cam.”
“Rae, how are things going?” Camille asked in her heavy French accent.
“Pretty well, so far. Are you just getting home from doing clinicals?” Camille had earned a degree in psychology and could open her own practice once her clinicals were completed.
“No. I’m getting ready to go to the theater. It’s evening here. Have you forgotten about the six-hour time difference?”
Desiree slid down into the chair behind her desk. “Sorry, Cam,” she said with a small groan. “I had.”
“I figured as much. And before you ask, Rae, the answer is yes, I’ve memorized my lines, although I do miss you being here in Paris to coach me. How are you spending your day?”
“At the office. Granddad wanted me to start work today.”
“How is that going?”
“I just got through new-hire orientation and have nothing else to do until I meet with him at two. Still, I’m a bit surprised.”
“About what?”
“The size of my office. It’s so spacious.”
“Why wouldn’t it be? You’re your grandfather’s only heir, Rae. And he obviously asked you to come home and learn about the family business for a reason.”
“Yes, but…”
“But what?”
“I’m still not sure why he wanted me here. I don’t think I’ll be expected to do anything of vital importance. He has an executive team for that. One I understand is excellent,” she said, remembering what Cobra had told her.
“And just think, you’ll be running the place one of these days.”
Since her grandfather had always said he had no intention of retiring, there was no way she’d be running the place until he was no longer here. And although they didn’t have a great relationship, she didn’t want to think of a time when he would not be around.
“When we first talked about it, I told him I wanted to learn the company from the ground up─maybe start off in the mail room. I figured I would have a cubicle or something. Definitely not the office I was given.”
“Even if you are to learn the company from the ground up, Rae, that doesn’t mean you will be doing the actual job. It merely means you will be exposed to it, seeing it, talking to people. And, of course, there’ll be a job description manual.”
“I haven’t been given any manuals yet,” Desiree said.
“I’m sure they’re coming. So, what do you think of the Sharpe building?”
“It’s very impressive. Different color schemes for every floor.
A soothing atmosphere. The workspace is structured for functionality and productivity.
An entire floor is a food court with various dining options if you prefer not to go out for lunch.
And it even has a huge fitness center for the employees.
A really nice one. I can’t wait to check that out. ”
“Was your grandfather surprised when you told him what you’ve been doing for the past two-and-a-half years?”
“I didn’t tell him. He thinks I was in Paris partying the entire time. To him, it’s ‘like mother, like daughter’.”
“That’s why I think you should tell him, so he’ll know how wrong he is about you. But then, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your life every once in a while.”
Although Desiree agreed, she knew her parents had taken ‘enjoying themselves’ to the extreme.
Unfortunately, her grandfather still refused to accept that it hadn’t only been her mother who’d liked to party.
Her father had loved it just as much. Desiree could still remember how often—days, weeks, and sometimes months—they’d left her with Aunt Margot while they’d gone off somewhere with their friends.
“So, have you met Mr. Sharpe’s financial planner?” Camille asked, intruding into her thoughts. “The one he spends a lot of time with?”
“The guy is his wealth asset manager.”
“What’s the difference?”
Desiree leaned back in her chair as she took off her earrings and placed them on her desk. “A financial manager only focuses on financial goal planning. On the other hand, a wealth asset manager deals with investments, tax strategies, and estate planning.”
“Did you meet him?”
“Yes. I was Granddad’s plus one at Cobra Master’s brother’s wedding this past weekend.”
“And?”
“And what?” Desiree asked.
“Is he worth all that envious resentment you feel toward him?”
“Envious resentment?” Honestly, Cam, of all the people I could have chosen for a best friend, why did I pick a psych major?”
“I don’t know. Why did you?”
“Not sure.”
They burst out laughing, realizing the absurdity of their conversation. The moment Desiree had met Camille, they’d connected. It was as if they were sisters from different parents.
“Our couch misses you,” Camille said, and Desiree could envision her best friend sitting there, trying to put on her makeup while wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
“And I miss that couch. I don’t want to think about how many times I’d lie there, letting you practice being my shrink.”
“Practice makes perfect. And now, I have a degree on the wall that says I can open a private practice as a psychological therapist when I finish my clinicals.”
“Do you think you’ll do that, instead of spending so much time working nights as an actress?”
“Not sure, but then you know why, Rae.”
“Yes, I do. Just like you know why I can’t help but feel a little of resentment toward Cobra. We’re hopeless.”
“Hopeless but not helpless. I believe that one day we will have everything we want. Keep the faith.”
“Easier said than done, kiddo. I’ll let you go finish getting dressed. I don’t want to be the reason you’re late to the theater.”
“Wait! I want to hear about that guy.”
“He’s the last person I want to talk about.” Desiree paused. “Then again, I guess I could tell you some of the things I don’t like about him.”
“Like what?”
“He’s very charming and confident.”
“Nothing’s wrong with that, Rae.”
“I agree…if he’s sincere.”
“You don’t think he is?”
“I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that he is very good at persuading people to share his point of view.”
“And you think that’s what he’s doing? Using his charm on your grandfather to persuade him to do whatever he wants?”
“Cobra is definitely a smooth operator. Not only does he have the gift of gab, but he’s charismatic. Too charismatic.”
“Hmmm… And is he good-looking?”
Camille’s question made Desiree think back to her first impression of Cobra. He had been walking in her direction, and he’d had such a sexy and purposeful stride. There’d been so much masculinity in every step he took.