Past, Present and Passion

Kelsie stared at her boss mouth wide open, her bright blue eyes flashing. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. England? She tried to come up with a response but her boss saw the look on her face and quickly put her hand up. “Now Kelsey, I know what you’re thinking, that this is below your paygrade and you shouldn’t be doing this, and I agree. BUT this is the biggest job our firm has ever been offered. If I wasn’t seven months pregnant,” she lovingly rubbed her round belly, “I would be going myself. I don’t trust anyone else but you to do this. I’m asking you to go back to the field and do this one last job for me. AND if it goes as well as I believe it will, when you get back.. I’ll make you partner. Kelsey closed her mouth quickly. Partner. She had been waiting a long time for that. She spent many years in the field searching, procuring antiques and fine art for the firm. She had enjoyed it for years but eventually she was ready for a new adventure and had taken the promotion to junior partner. She had been spending her days examining antiques and artwork that was brought in to the firm and arranging them to be sold at auctions and to private clients. She finally had her own apartment and a boyfriend and she was happy to not be on the road all the time. But how could she turn this down? She steadied herself, pushing her long dark curls behind her ears. “How long do you think I will be gone, Meredith?” Meredith smiled. “I knew you understand! I don’t believe you’ll be gone more than a month, but I just don’t know. The rumors about how much stuff this guy has in his home couldn’t possibly be true. Though if they are, who knows it could take you two months, three months?” Meredith was practically shivering with excitement. Kelsey could see it in her eyes. This was a really big deal. Kelsey could feel a bit of that excitement she used to feel when she was out hunting for treasures in small towns and villages, hidden shops and flea markets. There’s definitely a thrill to the hunt. At one time there was nothing she was more passionate about. “OK,” Kelsey nodded firmly, more to herself than her boss. “I’ll do it.” “Wonderful!” Meredith exclaimed. “I have this binder with all the information that you need. You leave tomorrow.” She placed the red binder into Kelsey‘s hands. “Please keep me updated the whole time. I want to know everything that’s happening! I’ll be living vicariously through you. Be sure you see me before you leave today.” Meredith turned quickly and walked, or waddled, out of the office in her heels. Kelsey smiled to herself. The things she does for this boss of hers. Leaving tomorrow!! She had better get to work. Kelsey turned around and suddenly was hit with a overwhelmed yet excited feeling about the opportunity that was in front of her. She picked up her phone and called her assistant “Jenn, I need you right away, please.” Jenn came scurrying in a few minutes later. “Is it true? Are you heading to England?” “Yes.” Kelsey noticed her voice sounded shaky. “I’m going to leave tomorrow which means we really need to tie up any loose ends today. I know I have a couple clients that I am meeting with and we need to finish a couple sales. Can you please go through my calendar for the day and let me know what is most important that I have to get done? Also, look at the rest of the week and see if there’s anything they can’t be done by someone else that I need to do today.” Kelsie realized she was talking very fast. “I’m sorry to be so short. I’m freaking out a bit!” “I totally understand! I’m excited for you! And yes of course, I’ll get right on all of that.” Jen was jotting down notes in her phone. “It will probably be a long day, hopefully you can stay a little later tonight. Does that work out for you?” “Yes,” Jenn said slowly, “but Kelsey, you know that you have dinner with Jared tonight? Did you want me to cancel it?” Jared! Oh my God! How did Kelsey not think of him herself? “s**t”, she whispered to herself. He’s not gonna like this. Something inside of her clicked a little bit. What did it say about her that she didn’t even think about him when she agreed to leave for a month? “No, I don’t wanna cancel,” she said. “But maybe we can push it back. I’ll send him a text and see what he says.. actually maybe I should call, yeah, I’ll give him a call. Thank you Jenn.” “OK, I’ll get to work on everything else right away,” Jenn said as she headed out the door.