Pulse (12 page)

And so I sat at my computer and focused on my work. Before I knew it, the day had ended. So much happened in these past three days. It was nothing like what I expected. But all I could do was ignore all the distractions and continue to do the job that I knew I could do.

Chapter 13

There was something between us. That much was obvious. But Rafael was making every attempt not to acknowledge it.

I still didn’t understand why he was making it so apparent to me that what happened was forbidden. He was in charge of the entire company. If he wanted to sleep with one of his employees, nobody could hold it against him.

But he was still my boss. That was more important than anything. He reiterated that just from the way he looked at me when I was in his office. What made the entire situation more frustrating was that there was no way to avoid him.

I quickly developed a routine. Over the next few days, I found myself growing more and more comfortable in my position. I would sit in on the board meetings and learn more about how business was conducted. Then I would spend the rest of the day in my office filing away paperwork and preparing for future meetings with the board of directors.

While I sat in the meetings, every now and then I would catch Rafael’s eye. He looked at everybody to reiterate whatever point he was trying to make. But when he looked at me, I knew that there was something else on his mind besides business. I didn’t know what it was exactly. I could feel it though. There were times when I wished that I could work up the nerve to walk back into his office and tell him exactly how I felt. The problem was that I didn’t know how to think about him. He wasn’t just some fling like so many other men. He was different. I began to wonder why I was working so hard in. Was it because I was trying to impress him? Or was it because I just wanted to do the best job I could do? In any case, I no longer felt intimidated sitting in the boardroom on the 89th floor.

Early one morning, I sat in the boardroom and waited for the meeting to begin. Wesley took a seat next to me.

“Is that a new outfit?” he asked.

“What? Oh… Yeah, it is.”

“Yeah, it looks really nice on you.”

“Thanks.”

“Spending that first paycheck, huh?” he laughed.

“Yeah, something like that…”

Elizabeth had prepared more outfits than I was expecting. I now had something for every workday of the month. And the cost of all of it was put on the company tab. I looked around the room and saw that Wesley wasn’t the only one who noticed I was wearing something different.

The outfit wasn’t anything spectacular but definitely a change from what I usually wore. The business suit was much more stylish than the blouse and ordinary pair of pants I usually wore. More importantly to me, it was comfortable.

As everybody sorted through the papers in front of them before the start of the meeting, Rafael made his way into the boardroom. The black pin-striped suit was just as refined as everything else he wore. He made his way to the front of room and got everybody’s attention.

“Good morning, everybody,” he announced. “It’s going to be a long meeting. We have a lot to go over. Let’s get started…”

He turned to look at the monitor on the side of the wall where some graphics and numbers were being displayed. As he turned his head, he paused for just a moment to glance at me. He stared at me, presumably to examine the outfit I was wearing. He had that look in his eyes. The same look he always had when I caught his eye during a meeting. But as usual, he quickly regained his focus and proceeded to go over the numbers projected on the wall for all of us to read.

The meeting wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It was more analysis and financial forecasts for every department that Barnett Industries was working in. The board discussed recent gains and losses. For the most part, it was business as usual. It was nice to know that if I could keep this job, this company would be around for a long time.

Hours passed and the end of the meeting approached. Rafael held his arms up in the air to gather everybody’s attention once again.

“This weekend, we will be hosting the annual Spring Barnett dinner,” he announced. “It’s an opportunity for everybody to get a chance to meet the shareholders and let them know that the company is in good hands. As CEO of this company, I take personal responsibility in telling them that their support is appreciated. I also use it as an opportunity to give them the peace of mind they’re looking for. But that’s not all.

“We work hard in this office. And that’s not just me or the people in this boardroom. Every person who works in this building is a representative of Barnett Industries and its subsidiaries. This is an opportunity to indulge in the success that we’ve worked so hard for. I expect each and every single one of you in this room to be there. This is an opportunity to meet the people whose expectations we are constantly trying to meet. Don’t miss it.

“That will be all, ladies and gentlemen.”

Everybody began to file their things away.

“Did you hear that?” Wesley said to me. “A fancy dinner with all of the shareholders. I don’t think I’m ready for this.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Travis said to him. “You know you can’t excuse yourself from this.”

“I understand that. I just… I was expecting to work in an office and crunch numbers the entire time. What the hell am I going to do when some shareholder starts talking to me and I have to tell him I’m one of the bastards sitting in the boardroom who can potentially throw away his money?”

“How about you don’t say that and just tell them that you’re still an intern and learning on the job?”

“Well, I can’t impress anybody if I’m just an intern. Do you think there are going to be any women there? Who knows? Maybe I can sink my claws into some older woman. She can be my sugar momma and—”

“Okay,” I interrupted him. “I think I’ve heard enough for today.”

I started to laugh at my fellow interns’ conversation. I never considered what it would be like mingling with some of the shareholders. I had been so used to sitting in an office and working for the past week that I almost forgot what it was like to do something besides work.

As I packed my things, Travis and Wesley continued to bicker about their expectations for the dinner this weekend. They talked about it the entire time, even as they left the boardroom and headed toward the elevator. I began to head for the exit myself, the boardroom almost completely empty, when Rafael stopped me.

“Alice, do you have a moment?”

“Of course,” I said to him.

Rafael and I were alone in the boardroom. He took a seat on the edge of the large conference table and I stood there, curious as to what he was going to tell me.

“This dinner is something you shouldn’t be taking lightly,” he said. “You’ll be there, right?”

“Of course, sir. And I understand. I’m looking forward to meeting the shareholders and getting more insight into the company. A different perspective is always useful when conducting business.”

“Yes, I knew that you would understand.”

“…Is there something else you wanted to tell me? I mean, you didn’t stop me just to tell me that this was important.”

“You’re right. I didn’t. I wanted to tell you that you’re in a unique position.”

“I am? How so?”

“There are a lot of expectations of you. Not just from the other board members or myself but from the shareholders, too. As the lone female representative of this board, even though you’re just an intern, I expect a certain formality from you. Just like I do while you’re in this office.”

“What are you suggesting, sir?”

Rafael reached into his jacket and pulled out a money clip. He sorted through several cards then held one of them out to me.

“I want you to go to Elizabeth’s,” he said. “I want you to wear something special for the occasion.”

“Is this really necessary?”

“Yes. You’re going to be held to a standard, Alice. You’re going to be a member of this board very soon. I expect you to look the part, as well. Especially when it comes to diplomatic affairs such as this.”

“So… You want me to look pretty for your party? Is that it?”

“I want you to look like someone representative of the high standards we have in this company.”

“May I say something?”

“Of course.”

“If what I’m hearing is correct, you want me to dress up like some kind of model. It sounds like you want to display me and show me off.”

“…In a manner of speaking, I suppose you could put it that way. But I don’t expect anything more from you.”

“Is that the only reason you’re buying me an outfit? Is it
just
because you want me to look nice for the other people at the party?”

Rafael paused for a moment. He lowered his arm, the card still resting in his hand. He stared back at me with no expression upon his face. I couldn’t read what he was thinking as I stared back into his light brown eyes.

“You work for me,” he said. “You follow a formal dress code when you walk into this building and you sit in this boardroom. I expect the same from you when you’re on official company business. That’s all.”

“…I understand.”

He held the company credit card back up to me. I hesitated for a moment before finally taking it from him.

I couldn’t figure this guy out. One moment he was having his way with me in his limo, the next he’s telling me that we can’t have anything between us. Now he was buying me a new dress and I couldn’t tell whether he was doing it for me or for himself or for another reason entirely.

“This is for business,” he reminded me. “You’re free to mingle with all of the guests but remember, you’re still on the clock.”

“Of course.”

Even though I was unable to read him, a part of me didn’t mind the circumstances surrounding everything. The truth was that I was actually kind of enjoying it. Knowing that he had singled me out so that I could go shopping for myself made me feel special in a way I’d never felt before, even though he reiterated that this was just
business.
In any case, showing up for a company dinner party would be a nice change of pace from the usual routine.

I began to make my way out of the boardroom and could still feel his eyes upon me. I didn’t look at him but knew that he was staring at me.

“Alice.”

“Yes,” I said as I turned around to look at him.

“Would you like to take a limo to Elizabeth’s?”

“…No,” I smiled. “I remember where it is. I’ll make it just fine in a cab.”

He nodded to me and responded with a polite smile. It would have been nice to ride in the backseat of a limo once again. But since Rafael was doing everything he could to keep our relationship strictly professional, I didn’t want to enjoy all of the luxuries he was offering me. The wardrobe was already excessive enough. As I made my way to Elizabeth’s in search of a dress for the upcoming gala, I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Rafael was thinking about me.

Chapter 14

I stopped by Elizabeth’s to get measured for a gown appropriate for the dinner party. She ended-up putting something together that was more glamorous than I was expecting. The way it sat on the mannequin was certainly more flattering than how it would look on me but she managed to make it work anyway.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror for a moment to see what I looked like. My hair and makeup weren’t any different from usual. But everything from the neck down was a dramatic change. The black gown hugged my body perfectly. It was tight against my hips and waist in a way to make it seem like I had curves. The sheer silk was comfortable against my skin. Even though the dress was tight, it was backless and gave me more freedom than I was expecting.

I almost felt overdone as I sat in the cab and headed toward the hotel ballroom where the dinner was being held. After shopping for the gown, there was a growing sense of excitement and anticipation that I couldn’t ignore as I sat in my office. The days couldn’t pass by fast enough. But the night had finally come and here I was waiting to meet with some important people. People who could potentially decide my fate with the company I so desperately wanted to work for.

I saw all of the expensive cars lined-up outside. The valet was busy with every different luxury sedan and exotic sports car you could imagine. Men dressed in tuxedos and women in even more extravagant dresses were making their way in. I knew that this was the right place.

The hotel staff directed me toward the dinner party where everybody was waiting. When I walked into the long hallway, I saw the same people coming in from outside mingling with one another. I immediately felt out of place.

Most of the men were older. They weren’t as old as the men in the boardroom but it was clear that they had a lot of experience both in this business and these affairs, too. The women they were with were significantly younger. I suppose I couldn’t blame them for being attracted to such affluence. But there were some other men and women I recognized from the building. They were the same people who worked in the floors beneath me.

“Wow! Look at you.”

I looked around to see who it was. I let out a sigh of relief then smiled as I saw the same two familiar faces I was so accustomed to working with.

“You’re looking good, Alice,” Wesley said to me.

“You’re not looking too bad yourself,” I laughed. “Same for you, Travis.”

Wesley cleaned-up and looked no different than he did on a usual workday. The only difference was that his suit was replaced with a more formal tuxedo. His black hair looked a little different but was styled the same way it usually was.

“Did you get a haircut?” I asked him.

“I sure did,” Wesley replied. “Do you remember what we were talking about? Look at all of the women around here. I can’t let them think that the young up-and-comer is a slob. I want to look the part.”

“I’m sure that’s what Mr. Barnett was planning on,” Travis said to him. “For you to do everything you could to try and impress everybody with your appearance.”

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with looking the part. Alice isn’t the only one that can get away with being eye-candy around here. We’re the future of Barnett Industries. And we’re surrounded by shareholders all around us. We have to let them know that the future is in good hands.”