My Day - Sunny Harmony

“You can always refuse, of course.” You would love that, wouldn’t you? PAUL and ARIANNA D-Day has arrived, I think while putting my computer on the desk in my new office. Well, the office I will occupy the next four months. It’s not my new professional challenge which concerns me however, but rather the man who, in a few minutes, will walk toward me likely furious to find me on the premises of his company. Paul Anderson, the co-director of the company that hired me to help them launch their next marketing campaign, doesn’t know I’m here. Only one cloud on the horizon: I was hired without his consent. Although I know he won’t be happy to see me, I’ve decided not to worry about it. I have been dreaming of this encounter for a long time, and I’m well prepared for our inevitable confrontation. I’ve imagined myself taking revenge on Paul for months—quite exactly since the day he accused me of being someone superficial and frivolous who does nothing more than enjoy my good fortune. He had said this with such aplomb, and I was so shocked by his words, I had neither the presence of mind nor the courage, I admit, to answer him. At first I even thought what he said didn’t matter, that he wasn’t worth my time or attention. If he wanted to see me as superficial, much good may it do him. But the truth is, I couldn’t manage to forget the incident. I might pretend not to have been touched, but I can’t go out with a man without his judgmental words still haunting me. So I made the decision to face him, and it’s today the plan begins. I will then forget his words and move on, but not before making him pay for his attitude. Rest assured, I don’t intend to cause him serious problems. I just want to knock him down from his pedestal a bit, something I’m sure won’t really hurt him. Last summer while we were both on the island of Santorini, I rather naïvely told him I was attracted to him and wanted to know him better. I thought he was going to respond the same way. Well, I hoped. I thought he would at least want to explore the possibility of a romantic relationship between us, so his unequivocal reaction was a shock. I admit our previous exchanges hadn’t prepared me for that. We had seen each other several times, and I thought we had a pretty solid relationship, that we were both happy to spend time together. So it’s not surprising his rejection was hard to take. Although I prefer to pretend to see the humor in what happened, I find it hard to understand how he could be so condescending. I decided, after spending hours thinking about how to pay him back in his own coin, to follow the concept of My Day and have fun taking revenge. It was my friend Amy who had the idea of My Day. The principle is simple: you choose someone who hurt you in the past but you’ve never had the courage to face and finally confront them. I don’t expect him to change his mind about me; it would be utopian. Besides, I don’t need his approval; I’m proud of the person I am. I would like him to apologize, though. He could’ve simply declared he didn’t want to get to know me better without behaving so contemptuously. If you’re wondering if I’ve seen him since this disastrous encounter last summer, yes, I have seen him a few times. I’ve always been polite and self-possessed; I never showed him how I felt. I wanted to give him an opportunity to apologize, but he never did. I’ve always met him in the presence of other people, and we both avoided speaking to each other. But today he will have no choice but to interact with me, and when I’m done with him, he will apologize, and I will finally be able to put this incident behind me. My cell phone vibrates in my hand and I read my friend Lexi’s message with a smile. She encouraged me to act after hearing me complain over and over again about the way I handled the situation. It is true I complained when my sentimental side took the upper hand, making me dream aloud of the day I would have the courage to tell him a few home truths. Lexi and I studied at the same university. She specialized in public relations while I studied marketing. Since then we have never lost contact. We even help each other in the professional field. Since her brother Matt, and Erin, his fiancée, bought a hotel chain they’re renovating and converting into one of the most prestigious romantic hotel chains in the world, I often work with her and Christine. Christine is the hotel’s customer relationship manager and a good friend. For several months now the three of us have seen each other regularly for drinks, dinner, and of course talk about our personal lives. Matt teases us by saying we are a formidable trio. Both of them encouraged me to talk to Paul, they’re convinced I will feel better afterward, and I share their optimism. Even though I’m apprehensive about this meeting, I can’t wait for it to happen. In my head I have a precise plan of everything I will do to reach my goal. I’m lucky to have Paul’s brother Ethan on my side, and it’s thanks to him I’m here this morning. He even put me in the office next to Paul’s to facilitate my contact with him. Paul, whom I see arrive, stops in front of Georgina’s office, his right arm. Her office has transparent windows which allow me to observe them from a distance. I can’t help but notice her laugh, her tendency to shake her hair, and her way of leaning toward him. It’s obvious she’s flirting with him. Ethan introduced us when I arrived this morning, and as soon as she learned I knew Paul, she tensed up. In fact, she barely welcomed me. Ethan also provided me with a folder containing information about the employees I will have to work with, and I’ve studied it well. I know her name is Georgina Rhimes, and she’s been working with Paul for three years and six for the company. I wonder if he stopped in her office for professional reasons or rather because she has a physique worthy of magazine covers. Yes, this thought isn’t charitable for either of them, but I will certainly not give Paul the benefit of the doubt. Seeing him leave her office, I grab a file and go out into the hallway. He’s walking toward me and stops short when he sees me. “Arianna ...” His slow voice caresses my ears and makes my heart leap. It’s not to please me, and I’m about to respond in a childish way just to feel I have the upper hand, but fortunately I manage to calm my impulsive side. The goal isn’t to attack him from the first moment. My victory will be slow, but it will certainly happen. “Paul, what a joy to see you again!” “It’s reciprocal,” he says, although I don’t detect any particular joy in his gaze. “Are you here to see Ethan?” “No, not exactly ...” I say, acting confused. “Ethan didn’t tell you?” “Tell me what?” I can hear the worry in his voice. A smile, which I try to hide, appears on my face. “I’ll be working with you for a few weeks. Ethan told me you needed someone to help you launch the new line of women’s shoes. He hired me as the manager of the marketing campaign.” “He hired you?” This time he doesn’t even bother to hide his displeasure. “I would like to know how your help would be indispensable. If I’m not mistaken, we have a team dedicated to marketing, and last I noticed, I’m the manager.” “Of course you are,” I say as if talking to a child. “He just thought a fresh approach would be beneficial, and it’s only for the women’s collection. Let’s not forget I not only have an MBA in marketing, but my results are excellent. And then, I’m a woman who loves shoes. That should count for something, right?” I make a move to show him my shoes, a pair from their latest collection. His gaze lingers on my feet a few moments and then moves back to my face without the shadow of a smile. I pretend I don’t notice and continue in the same tone. “I hope you’re not upset. Ethan assured me there would be no problem, and I promise to be a perfect co-worker. You can talk to my clients if you wish. They will vouch for me. The last thing I want is to cause any problems between you and Ethan.” Ethan is on my side; I know I can use him as much as I want to annoy Paul. The fact he’s in a relationship with my friend Amy, who also supports me, makes me feel rather confident in my position; I have precious allies. “I’m going to talk to him. I guess he has his reasons for hiring you.” What he doesn’t add is, “Especially without consulting me.” “Thank you. I’m glad my presence here doesn’t bother you.” His look shows me he knows I’m not fooled, and I wish him the courage to prove it. “I was going to see Rena Myers. She’s supposed to show me the new collection.” “Very well. We will talk again later.” His words sound like a threat, but I won’t let myself be intimidated. Today I look like the perfect colleague, and my behavior must go hand in hand with my appearance. Tomorrow things will be different. I head to Rena Meyers’ office with a beaming smile. I know my plan is going well. Within four months Paul Anderson won’t know what’s happening to him. Marketing is my domain. I managed to make my grandfather’s hotel known, and it has received rave reviews in all the magazines. My portfolio contains dozens of satisfied clients. I know I can help the company promote its new collection. I’m not there for the sole purpose of bothering Paul—I intend to work hard—annoying him will simply be the icing on the cake. To be honest, I would have been satisfied with a few meetings with him. That would have been enough to set up a marketing strategy and offer me the opportunity to ask him for explanations about the Santorini incident. But Ethan suggested hiring me exclusively for four months to take charge of the campaign. When he pointed out this solution would require working closely with Paul, I couldn’t resist despite Amy’s warning. She thinks I’m still too vulnerable to carry out my project. That isn’t the case—I am perfectly fine—and will prove it. Rena warmly welcomes me and we talk in detail about the thirty new summer collection designs. Ethan has designed most of the models, but Paul always contributes with some drawings, and this was the case this time as well. Ethan explained they wanted this campaign to be different, and I have carte blanche according to him. I often work on all aspects of a campaign; the client trusts me to find the concept, hire the right people who will make every step a success, and supervise the final result. It’s exciting, although I suspect Paul won’t be of the same opinion. For my part, I love shoes, so I can only rejoice to be able to work on this campaign, especially after seeing the new models. Paul doesn’t approach me again until lunch time. “Can I talk to you?” he asks after stepping into my office. “Of course.” “I wanted to inform you that I talked to Ethan, and even though I don’t see the usefulness of your hiring, he is convinced otherwise. So, for the moment, I choose to trust him. Nevertheless, I would like things to be clear between us.” He pauses as if expecting some reaction from me, but I don’t intend to make it easy for him. I look at him without blinking, and he loses some of his fire. “I don’t want our last encounter to prevent us from collaborating effectively together. I’m very involved in promoting the new female line, and we will be working closely. Does that work for you? You can always refuse, of course.” You would love that, wouldn’t you? “I don’t see why our last meeting would cause problems. If I remember correctly, it was at Amy and Ethan’s housewarming, right?” I ask innocently. He gauges me without being able to decide if I’m making fun of him or if I’m being sincere. “Right, yes. But I was talking about our meeting in Santorini.” “Paul, please!” I say with my most reassuring voice. “You have the right to find me superficial and not want to get to know me better. I’m an adult; I don’t let my personal feelings intervene in my professional life. You have no reason to worry.” “Thank you. I’m relieved to hear you say so.” He looks at me carefully before turning away, and I know he’s trying to reconcile my appearance as an accomplished businesswoman with the frivolous woman he thinks I am. As I said, today I took care to look serious and professional from head to toe. Let’s wait until tomorrow for the surprises. He leaves my office, and I go to the bistro where I meet Lexi and Christine for lunch. “Tell us!” Christine prompts me before I even have time to order. “Everything went as planned. Even if he has doubts, I didn’t do anything to feed them. I was calm, respectful; I put his worries to sleep. He probably thinks I’ll be the perfect co-worker. The only problem is my heart stupidly started beating faster as soon as I saw him. I thought I was less receptive to his charm after all this time. I don’t know how it’s possible, but he looked even more handsome than the last time I saw him.” “So much the better,” Christine says. “You’ll be even more proud of your feat this way. Although I think he’s the one who will be in trouble. No one can resist your shiny black curls and your midnight blue eyes.” Except that he already did. “So what is the plan for tomorrow?” Lexi asks, poking a fry at my plate that has just arrived. “There’s a conference scheduled in the morning with Ethan, some employees, and Paul. I will receive a very interesting phone call from you. Call me around ten past nine.” “Arianna, I support you one hundred percent,” Lexi says. “But I admit that if I were in Paul’s shoes, I would be afraid of you. He can’t imagine what’s coming.” “Please, Lexi, he called me superficial. I don’t see why he shouldn’t meet the person he thinks I am.” “You’re right,” Christine says. “He shouldn’t have talked to you like that.” “I don’t disagree with you, but I wonder if Arianna has all the cards in hand. And to be honest, I think it’s possible Ethan is right. What if he reacted that way because he was surprised? I don’t know Paul well, but we have met, and he has always been charming.” “He is charming with the people he appreciates,” I mumble with a grimace. “He behaved admirably with Amy during their stay in Santorini. Although she supports me, his behavior is why she isn’t enthusiastic about my project. But enough about me. What’s new with you?” “Everything’s going fine,” Christine says. “I can see that. You seem happy.” “I am, I don’t even remember when my last date was, but I enjoy every minute of my life.” “That’s the spirit. What about you Lexi? What are you going to do about Garrett? Why don’t you give him a chance?” Garrett is a doctor Lexi met when she accompanied a colleague who wasn’t feeling well to the E.R. Since then he’s been asking her to go out with him. “I really don’t have time for a relationship right now. Once the hotels are better known, I will take the time ...” “Lexi, you’re kidding, right?” I scold her. “It can take years! Do you plan to be alone the whole time?” “No, but right now I barely have time to eat. You know that.” “Speaking of free time, are we still going together to Nick’s park inauguration?” Christine asks. “Yes, let’s meet at the entrance at five p.m.,” I say. “I can’t believe he did it. No one believed in his idea at the beginning, and now everyone is talking about it. I’m proud of him.” “You have to admire his tenacity,” Lexi says. Nick is a landscaper and has been her best friend since she was a teenager. He likes nothing more than to get his hands dirty, as Lexi often says to tease him. Two years ago, he suggested turning a lot south of the city into a park comprised of a huge herb garden. He managed, after many refusals, to convince the city, and the inauguration takes place tomorrow. The park is already a great success; dozens of guided tours are planned in the coming months. Schools, senior clubs, everyone is interested. In addition, about fifteen shops selling aromatic herbs, essences and essential oils, as well as fruit juices and cakes inspired by the herbs planted in the garden will be installed nearby. “He worked hard for eighteen months; he deserves his success. And you contributed to it by getting him invited to Tom Sheridan’s show,” I remind her. “It was after they heard him speak so passionately about his project that articles about him were published and the town hall swayed.” “I think the election of Jonathan Keaton also contributed, but if I helped him even a little, I’m happy By the way, I managed to get Erin invited to Tom’s new show, the one dedicated to young entrepreneurs of the region. I think Erin is the right person to talk about the hotels. She speaks well. She’s known since she campaigned for the booksellers ... Tom is really a good person. Having decided to devote a segment of his program to young entrepreneurs has merit. It’s a huge boost for them.” “Next time think of me,” Christine jokes. “I can speak eloquently, and I am under Tom’s spell.” “You and all the women in the city. Wait … in the country,” Lexi teases. We separate a little later, and I’m glad I forgot Paul for a moment. Back at the office, I see he’s already there but neither of us are trying to interact with each other. I guess he’s still in shock and trying to avoid the superficial person I am. Nevertheless, when I see Georgina entering his office around four o’clock and notice she still hasn’t come out at five I really start to wonder about their relationship. Her laughter resounds regularly and I’m not convinced they’re just working. I try to concentrate but it’s a waste of time, so around five past ten I move into the conference room and start working in a quieter environment. Ethan finds me an hour later. He invites me to his place for dinner, but I decline. “Don’t get into the habit of staying late,” he advises me. “The philosophy of the company is to go home at a convenient time.” “If you have someone waiting for you,” I say with a smile and he smiles back. “You’re right. Before Amy, I often stayed late. Now I leave this privilege to Paul.” “Ethan, is he dating Georgina?” He looks at me undecided. “No, I don’t think so.” “But you’re not sure?” “Paul would never go out with an employee.” I see the subject makes him uncomfortable, so I don’t insist. Half an hour later, I leave. Paul is no longer in his office, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s having dinner with Georgina. Which, yes, I know, is none of my business. That night, I sleep pretty well. I can’t wait to see Paul tomorrow and ruin his morning. Because if there’s one thing I’m sure of, he’ll be far from happy with the surprise I have in store for him.