Chapter 1
Dean
"You have a meeting at 2 today and the files are ready for your review on your desk. If you need any more print outs or data, please let me know and I will take care of it. Your coffee is also at your desk as usual and I will block your calls for the next hour. I also have a few emails that need your attention, nothing urgent, so you can take care of them later. Now, will you be having lunch before you go for your meeting?" Daniella asks. She has been with me ever since I took over. She has been my best friend since college and has been with me since then. She works as my assistant and I am certain that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her. She always knows what I need when I need and is not afraid to call me out on my bullshit.
"Careful Dani, people might think you are in love with me." I joke with her. Daniella came out to everyone in college, and I mean everyone when she went live on her f*******: page after a little too much Tequila. She went through a lot when her family found out but they all came around eventually. Now she is happily engaged to the love of her life, Kira and I could not have been happier for her, but I had to put my foot down when she wanted me to be her bridesmaid. She compromised and I will be her best man when they get married in July.
She looks at me then looks around to check if anyone is listening and whispers, "You know I love you. I mean, what's not to love? Honey, you know, you are all that and a bag of chips. There, you happy? Now, get out of here," I laugh and move to my office and get ready to start the day. Today we have a meeting with one of the big time up and comer, Next ON, in the country. They approached us about two months ago and showed interest in taking us on as a client. I was not interested in having a PR team, but my marketing team has been going back and forth with me to give them a chance.
I go to my desk, remove my suit jacket, and put it on my chair, I sit and take a sip of my coffee and open the file on my desk. I go over the information that was sent over to me by the PR project lead and make notes on what I would need more clarification on. Once done, I email my marketing manager Mark, asking him to come to my office to ask him to go over the files for the meeting. By the time we hash out everything, it is 2 pm and I am starving. I ask Mark to go have lunch so we can head out by 3 pm. It is a thirty minute drive and traffic can be a b***h.
I press my intercom for Dani and, instead of answering, I see her walking into my office with a brown bag. She hands it to me and says, "Here you go. I ordered you your special sandwich and your disgusting green juice. I don't how you drink that garbabe." I laugh and thank her as she goes back to her desk. I eat and clear off my desk and then start getting ready to head to the parking lot. I let Dani know that I will be back later so she can go home when she is done. She just nods her head and says, "Good luck. I heard the woman handling your project is a bombshell. Don't get distracted." I shake my head laughing and walk out.
Dani is the only one who knows what I have been through day in and day out with the board breathing down my neck. There were multiple occasions when I wanted to just up and leave everything, but she has always been there telling me - "suck it up and be a big boy". Reminiscing about how far we have come, I don't notice when I reach the car. I get in after Mark comes and we head to the Next ON's office. Once we reach their building, I tell the driver that I will call him when we are done. We get out and by the door, I see someone waiting for us.
I shake his hand and say, "You must be Mr. Spencer, nice to meet you. This is Mark, our marketing manager." Introducing Mark, I wait till they shake hands and exchange pleasantries. "Please call me Scott and the pleasure is mine. Thank you for taking the time for this meeting. I know how you value time, so if you guys are ready we can head to the conference room right away." I nod and we all start moving towards the elevator. While walking, Scott is telling me things about his company which I already know from my research but I listen to it anyway.
Once on our floor, he guides us to the conference room where the table is set up for about seven people. I look around and Scott must have noticed because he says, "The team leader will be doing the presentation and the CEO and I will be here as well. Another two of her team mates are joining us to help. Please have a seat, I will inform everyone you are here. It shouldn't take too long." I nod and look at the watch and realize that I am about 15 minutes early. I am thinking about the list of things we need to go over when I hear a voice that gets my attention, "Josh and Katie are on their way, why don't you go get Mr. Charles while I finish setting up."
I look towards the door and I am not prepared for what I see. I know that voice, I have listened to this voice everyday for 2 years during my MBA. She has been a resident in my mind since I graduated and is the reason I am deemed not dateable by Dani. She walks in and she is still stunning. I have the sudden urge to go to her, hug her and kiss her. I am lost in my own world when I hear her say, "Good evening gentlemen, I apologize that we are not set up already. Give us a couple of minutes and we will be ready for you." She is busy setting up equipment and has not looked in our direction yet.
The urge to touch her, to talk to her is overwhelming. I want to know if her hands are still soft, I want to know if she still remembers me, I want to know if she still smells like sunshine. So I get up, walking towards where she is setting up, lifting my hand I say, "Dean Hoffman, it's a pleasure to meet you." I wait and I don't realize I am holding my breath. She turns with a shocked look on her face, when her eyes meet mine, I know she knows who I am. I am relieved, excited, shocked and I am about to say something else when people walk in and I see her switch and extend her hand, "Mr. Hoffman, it is a pleasure to have you here with us. My name is Hope Williams and I will be leading this project. Thank you for giving us this chance. Please have a seat, I am just about to start."
I smile, proud of how confident she has become and how she handles herself. She used to get nervous over little things. Now I see a woman ready to take over the world. She looks at our hands and I realize I am still holding her hand. I let it go gently and turn to introduce Mark, who looks shocked by what just happened. Mark is not only my marketing manager but also a friend who knows something is up. So, it is no surprise that he would think that I have lost it.
Composing himself, he comes over and shakes her hand and nudges me to walk and have a seat. I go over to sit and shake hands with the CEO who has walked in to join the meeting. I grab a seat drinking the bottle of water that is on the table and am suddenly very interested in having a PR team. I am eagerly waiting for Hope to start without realizing that I am blatantly checking her out as she moves around the room. I hear snickering from beside me and I look over to see Mark trying very hard to not laugh.
"You are in so much trouble, my friend. This is going to be epic." he says, snickering and taking out his notes that we had prepared prior to coming here. I see everyone settle down as Hope starts presenting.
