Chapter 3
OLIVIA
Icould not wait to get my hands on the client profiles. My dad was one heck of a marketer. There was a reason our company was as large and successful as it was and he was that reason, but he liked to do things the traditional way.
A lot of his methods were a little outdated and I was excited about the opportunity to bring Walker Marketing into the modern age.
I had tons of ideas to improve the way things were done around here and I was confident that we were going to go from strength to strength once we started updating our strategies.
After working for my dad for so long and climbing the ranks within the company to executive director, I was ready for the responsibility of taking over so Dad could enjoy his retirement. In his prime, he’d pushed the envelope and he’d made magic as a result.
Now, it was my turn. Our turn. Abigail, London, and I were the future and I was bursting to get started. Practically thrumming with creative energy after our meeting with him, I had to force myself not to just run to my office and start working.
There were a lot of people at this branch I hadn’t met yet and I wanted to start off on the right foot with them, which meant going around and introducing myself to my new coworkers and catching up with those I’d met before. Pasting a bright smile on my face, I decided to start in the bullpen.
A few people looked up as I approached the open-concept office where most of the junior staff members started. When they realized I was walking straight to them, they stood, drawing the attention of those who hadn’t seen me just yet.
One by one, I saw the others stand, and by the time I reached them, they were all on their feet. I waved them off. “That’s not necessary. Really. I don’t want to keep you from your work. I just wanted to come say hi. I’m Olivia Walker.”
I stuck my hand out to the girl standing closest to me, shaking her with before I started making my way around the space. Doing my best to commit names and faces to memory, I spoke with every person for about a minute or so before moving on to the next.
After the bullpen, I moved to the offices at the bottom of the corridor and worked my way up and around. Then I headed to the floor below to start the process all over again. It was fun getting to know them and I was pleased to learn that everyone was friendly and welcoming.
I’d been a little worried that the transition might be rocky, since I was the New York exec brought down to Houston to run the branch and also happened to be the boss’s daughter.
I’d been prepared to face a lot of skepticism and doubt, and to have to earn my place here and my coworkers’ trust, but it seemed my faith in humanity needed a bit of work.
I didn’t think of myself as jaded and yet I definitely hadn’t given these people enough credit. No one batted an eye when I stuck my head into their offices, the handshakes and smiles were warm, and most seemed excited to have me there.
It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders as I finally headed back to my office, a little exhausted after making so much small talk.
Glad that I could close the door behind me and recharge my social batteries before my meetings this afternoon, I strode to my desk and sat down in the ergonomic chair behind it.
Lacey’s office was on one side of mine and London’s on the other, the two of them flanking me like a literal representation of them being my left and right hands.
It would help that we were all so close together once the work really started.
Those girls were not only my best friend and my sister.
They were also my sounding boards, my devils’ advocates, my idea testers, and my greatest supporters.
I didn’t know what I would have done if they hadn’t come to Houston with me, but thankfully, I would never have to find out. I hadn’t even had to ask. As soon as they’d found out I’d agreed to come, they’d volunteered for the move.
The only person missing was Abigail. Our middle sister had decided to stay behind to head up operations in New York. Someone had to do it, but I still wished she would have been able to move down here with us.
Shaking my head at my wandering thoughts, I refocused and logged into my computer. For today, I’d brought my laptop along as well, but hopefully, I’d get myself set up so that I didn’t need to carry it around with me.
After changing my password from the standard one I’d been given, I started peeking through some of our client files, the excitement building again as I looked through some of the campaigns and projects we were currently on.
London popped in a few minutes later, a smile on her lips as she strode in and shut the door behind her. My baby sister was twenty-five—some days going on fifteen—but she was one of my best friends despite the four-year age difference between us and the antics she got up to sometimes.
With her golden blonde hair pulled back into an elaborate, braided hairstyle and her bright blue eyes lined with charcoal, she didn’t look like the baby of our family today. She also didn’t look hungover, but London had always bounced back fast.
She wore a neat, navy blue pencil skirt paired with a white blouse and sky-high navy blue heels, the very picture of sophistication and professionalism as she took a seat across from my desk.
I hadn’t invited her in or told her to sit, but London tended to do whatever she wanted, rarely waiting for permission.
Her intelligent blues landed on mine after she’d looked around the office for a few moments. “I think we’re going to like it here.”
“So do I. Have you gone around to introduce yourself yet?”
She frowned. “Legends don’t require an introduction.”
I chuckled, my head cocking slightly as I looked at her. “That might be true, but you and I aren’t legends around here just yet.”
“We’re legends all across this company, Liv.
I hate to break it to you, but people have known about us since the first days we started.
They’ve been watching us, from near or far, seeing how we do and monitoring our climbs up the ranks to see if we get any special treatment and how we handle ourselves. ”
“Fair enough, but that’s an even better reason to show some humility. We’re new here and we’ll make our mark, but let’s not do it by appearing to be rude, entitled snobs who don’t greet people.”
London held my gaze for another beat before she sighed. “Fine. I’ll go do the rounds when we’re done here.”
Before I could respond, she leaned forward and narrowed her eyes, irritation flicking in them like the hottest of flames. “Can you believe Dad brought Liam here with us? I mean, why? It’s not like we need his help and he’s insufferable. I can’t stand him.”
Ah. So that’s why she came in here.
I stared back at her. “Liam has been with the company for years, London. You know that. He’s been working just as hard as anyone else and—”
She scoffed. “Oh, please. That guy wouldn’t know hard work if it bit him in the ass. He’s just really good at making himself look busy while he’s doing nothing.”
“He’s also the son of one of Dad’s oldest friends,” I reminded her lightly. “Dad said he’d give him a chance, and honestly, from what I’ve heard, he’s been doing really well. Besides, he’s from Texas. I’m sure he jumped at the opportunity to join this branch.”
“Sure, but why? Why would he even want to come here with us? And why would Dad think that we need him? He’s nothing but a cocky playboy with a chip on his shoulder.”
“He is cocky, but I haven’t noticed any chips and I don’t know anything about his personal life, so I can’t comment on whether he’s a playboy.”
“I don’t have to know anything about his personal life to know that,” she insisted. “I can spot them from a mile away.”
“Well, in that case, the solution to this unnecessary problem seems pretty simple to me. Stay away from him on a romantic level. You guys were sort of friends when we were kids. Just go back to that and everyone will be just fine.”
“It’s not unnecessary.” She glowered at me. “We’re going to be at each other’s throats, Liv. We always have been, even when were sort of friends, and you can bet your ass I’ll be staying away from him. I just really wish we didn’t have to work together.”
“I hear you, but you do have to work together, so figure it out.” I turned back to my computer. “I’ve got a lot to get done this morning and so do you. Get back to it and don’t let Liam get to you too much, okay?”
Grumbling under her breath, she stood up, nodded, and marched out of my office, but it was pretty obvious I wasn’t going to be able to put Liam and London on any clients together anytime soon. Since they were two of the strongest mid-level team members in this office, that was a real pity.
I had a feeling they’d make an excellent team, but I would have to wait until they put this strange feud behind them before I’d get to find out. Maybe. If we got into a situation where I couldn’t wait, they would both just have to suck it up.
For now though, I’d play things by ear. Getting back to my computer, I combed through a few more of the active client files and then got to work setting up my cloud on the device.
The afternoon was filled with meetings to catch me up on some of the larger projects we had going on, and when I walked out of my last meeting of the day, I ran into Liam, London, and Lacey in the reception area.
I frowned. “What’s going on here?”
“Some of the guys from the office and I are going out tonight,” Liam said with a smirk on his lips and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“I was just extending the invitation to all of you. We’re going to my favorite dance hall in the city and it’ll be a good chance for you all to see how we do things around here. ”
“What’s a dance hall?” I asked, not opposed to going if it really would present an opportunity to find what constituted a good time in Texas.
Liam turned to me. “A dance hall is a place where we turn on some good country music, pour some beer, and dance. It’s a great time. Very Texan and very fun.”
He laughed, inclining his chin at us as he started backing away. “I’ll meet you at Honky Tonks at eight. Wear boots.”
As he walked backward, he took a pointed look at Lacey’s new purchase. He shook his head at her. “And not those. Those are not cowboy boots, ma’am.”
“There’s no way the place is actually called Honky Tonks.” I arched an eyebrow at him. “Is it?”
“It absolutely is.” He grinned and hooked his thumbs into his brown leather belt. “I’ll see you there.”
With that, he spun and walked away. Lacey sighed loudly as she stared at his retreating back. “These are cowboy boots, damn it.”
London winced as she glanced down at Lacey’s feet.
“I hate the fact that I’m agreeing with him, but those are not cowboy boots, Lace.
Those are a disaster. Come on. Let’s go shopping.
I don’t have any boots either and I’m sure Liv needs some too.
Hop to it, ladies. Honky Tonks awaits.” She groaned.
“God, I can’t believe I just said that.”
I laughed and followed them down the hall to our offices to collect our things.
“I think it’s going to be fun. It was nice of him to invite us and nothing says that we’re definitely not in New York anymore like going to a dance hall called Honky Tonks.
Welcome to Texas, girls. I hope you’re ready to get your cowgirl on. ”