Chapter 6

Charlie

I arrived at the Appletree building twenty minutes early, bracing myself for yet another encounter with the unfriendly receptionist.

As I approached the imposing structure, I exuded confidence in my charcoal pantsuit, cream cowl neck shirt, cream heels, and a touch of burgundy lipstick. I had carefully chosen this outfit to strike a balance between femininity and professionalism, ensuring that I wouldn't intimidate the predominantly male department heads I would be presenting my designs to.

My mother had always emphasized the importance of dressing appropriately for any situation, especially in this male-dominated industry. Stepping into the vast marble lobby, I focused on maintaining a strong demeanor as I headed toward the receptionist's desk.

"Hi, I'm Charlie Phillips. I had an appointment here yesterday, and I'm scheduled to meet with the department heads at twelve," I greeted the receptionist, offering my sweetest and most innocent smile.

Without even sparing me a glance, she tapped a few buttons on her desktop and confirmed my presence on the schedule. Pointing to the same elevator as yesterday, she directed me wordlessly.

"Thank you!" I nearly chuckled as I walked away, realizing that she must have recognized the significance of this meeting. If things went well, I would have the power to influence her career progression or hinder her chances of getting promoted. Perhaps she wasn't as foolish as she seemed. I almost felt a twinge of sympathy for her, almost.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied my nerves in the elevator, preparing myself for the pivotal meeting with Elaina and the department heads. The success of my presentation would determine my future at the company.

Exiting the elevator, I found Elaina waiting for me in front of her desk. She exuded confidence in a red body-con dress, black heels, and ruby red lipstick that complemented her mesmerizing green eyes. Her gaze slowly roamed over my outfit, making me feel strangely vulnerable despite being fully clothed.

"Well, don't you look good enough to eat!" she exclaimed, finally making eye contact.

"Is this attire suitable for the department heads?" I asked, suddenly nervous about my choice of outfit.

She sashayed over to me with a seductive wriggle, brushed my long blonde hair off my shoulder, and whispered in my ear, "You look perfect, gorgeous." Her intimate gesture filled me with renewed confidence.

"What about you? This dress is absolutely stunning. You didn't dress up just for me, did you?" I replied playfully.

She linked her arm through mine and began leading me toward the largest conference room we had passed the previous day.

"Maybe I just wanted to linger in your thoughts between my lunch break and when you pick me up tomorrow night," she chuckled, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

Opening the frosted glass door for me, she revealed a room filled with around thirty people.

Most were seated around a table that stretched across the length of the room, while others occupied chairs against the wall. The only empty chair was at the other end of the table, closest to the door, where I was supposed to sit.

The sight was intimidating, to say the least.

Placing my bag on the table, I unpacked my laptop and portfolio, wishing I had made copies.

Elaina showed me where to connect my laptop so that my designs and simulations could be projected onto the backdrop behind my chair.

"Ahem," coughed an older man seated at the very center of the table, breaking the silence. "Perhaps you would like to introduce yourself before starting your presentation and allow us to do the same."

Laughter erupted from several people in the room, making it clear that this man was opposed to my hiring, likely due to my gender and youthful appearance.

Maintaining my sugary sweet smile, I responded, "Of course, I wanted to set up my equipment before beginning. I even arrived early, thinking I would have a few minutes without anyone waiting." My voice dripped with honey and innocence.

"I believe you'll find, or perhaps you won't," he retorted, triggering more laughter from his sycophants. "Here at Appletree, we always value our clients' time by being prepared early." Folding his arms with a smug smile, he seemed pleased with himself.

Just as the tension rose, the conference room door unexpectedly swung open, and Ben Summer walked in. He appeared taller than I had imagined, at least six feet tall.

It reminded me of him.

I blushed as several people scrambled to offer him their seats.

"No, no, please remain seated. I've already witnessed all of this yesterday. I just want to observe your reactions when you see it," he said, redirecting everyone's attention back to me.

"Thank you, Mr. Summer," I replied, mustering confidence. I went through the same simulations, designs, and explanations I had presented the day before. Speaking for nearly an hour, I outlined my ideas, improvements, and thoughts on future enhancements once technology caught up.

As I concluded, the program was shut down, and my portfolio circulated among the attendees. The room fell silent, and I feared I had failed until Mr. Summer began clapping. His commanding presence compelled the others to join in, and relief washed over me.

"That was even better than yesterday! Now I understand why my brother was so eager to meet you. He'll be disappointed to have missed this," Mr. Summer declared. Gradually, others in the room joined the applause. The man who had opposed me earlier now looked visibly unsettled.

"Well, Ms. Phillips, I consider that a resounding success. How would you feel about reviewing an employment contract over the weekend? Take your time, consult with a lawyer if you wish, and bring it back on Monday, when we can finalize the remaining paperwork. What do you say?"

I could hardly respond, overcome with surprise and elation by his reaction. Some people exchanged concerned glances, but they remained silent, offering me congratulations, shaking my hand, or leaving without acknowledging me.

"Welcome to Appletree, Ms. Phillips," Mr. Summer whispered as he passed me and exited the conference room.

Alone in the room, I collapsed into the chair, my legs feeling numb from the overwhelming experience. I had landed the job, finally achieving what I had worked towards for eight long years.

I thought about telling him for a moment, and before I could stop myself, I imagined the smile he would give me, and him telling me he was proud of me. I imagined him holding me and kissing me, us going out to celebrate, and continuing the night in bed.

But I quickly scolded myself for getting lost in such fantasies.

He wasn't real. I had to focus on the present, and embrace the real world once more.

With shaky legs, I rose from the chair and made my way back to the reception area. It was time to rejoice with Elaina, and who knew what the night held in store after our successful lunch. Perhaps it was time to leave my dream man behind and embrace the reality that lay ahead.

As I approached her desk, I noticed Elaina handing things over to a woman I hadn't seen before.

"Charlie, congratulations are in order! This is Kendra, Mr. Pratt's second assistant. She's covering the phones while I go to lunch," Elaina gushed, her face bright with a wide smile.

"Hi," Kendra greeted me warmly. Since we hadn't introduced ourselves earlier, I had no idea who Mr. Pratt was, but at least his assistant seemed pleasant.

"Hi, I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. I need to pick up my employment contract, but I'm not sure where to get it," I frowned, turning back to Elaina, hoping she could guide me. The idea of having a contract to sign still felt surreal.

"I have a whole welcome packet here waiting for you. Mr. Summer gave it to me this morning before you even arrived. He knew you were going to impress them all," Elaina said, her smile widening as she handed me a thick folder.

"I don't want to discourage you, but I've never seen Mr. Pratt as angry as he was when he returned from your presentation. I heard from one of the other assistants that people are talking about it. Some of the senior executives aren't thrilled that someone as young as you has come up with such groundbreaking ideas, or that Mr. Daniel fought so hard for your hire. It's unusual for the CEO to take such a personal interest in our hiring process. Additionally, it's unheard of for someone to enter at such a high level. Usually, new hires start at entry-level positions," Kendra whispered, her discomfort evident. I appreciated her honesty, though it left me bewildered.

"Wait... what do you mean by 'high level'? I thought I was interviewing for a position on the design team," I asked, utterly baffled by what she could mean.

"Well, Mr. Pratt is the head of design, but you won't be working under him. Your position is Eco-Design Team Leader, and next week, you'll start interviewing potential team members," Kendra explained.

I stared at her, dumbfounded and utterly confused. Elaina snatched the folder from my hand and quickly found the page she was searching for.

"Oh my goodness! Have you ever seen a starting bonus and salary this generous?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Kendra leaned in, peeking at the figures on the page, her eyes widening in astonishment.