Beneath the suit

It was a bad day in Manhattan. The rain was coming down hard. It was hitting the big glass windows of the Hayes Global Enterprises boardroom on the ninety-second floor. The city below was all blurry and gray. Leo Vance, the CEO of Hayes Global Enterprises was standing with his back to the room. He was looking out the window at the rain. Behind him, the other people in the room were talking. They were the board members. They were discussing a deal. They wanted to buy a company in Europe. They were throwing around numbers. Leo was not paying attention. He was thinking about something Then Marcus Thorne, the Chief Financial Officer spoke up. "Leo we need to talk about the Boston branch " he said. "It is not doing well. We need to cut some jobs." Leo did not like this idea. He did not want to fire people. "Which branches are we talking about?" Leo asked. He was looking at the glass window again. Marcus said, "Mostly the ones on the East Coast. Boston is the worst. It is losing money." Leo turned around. He looked at the people in the room. They were all looking at him. They wanted him to make a decision.. Leo was not sure. He did not want to hurt people. "Boston " Leo said. He was thinking out loud. "I do not want to shut down the office without looking at it " The other people in the room were surprised. They did not expect Leo to say that. One of the board members spoke up. "We have the numbers, Leo. We do not need to look at them.". Leo was not convinced. He said, "Numbers are not people. We need to think about the people." The room was quiet. Leo felt bad. He realized that he was very alone. He was the CEO of a company.. He did not have any real friends. People only cared about what he could do for them. Leo looked at his watch. It was a Rolex. His grandfather had given it to him. He felt an urge to get out of there. "Meeting adjourned " he said. The other people in the room were surprised. They did not expect Leo to end the meeting like that.. Leo did not care. He got up. Walked out of the room. His friend Lucas followed him. As they walked out Lucas asked, "What is going on Leo? Why did you end the meeting?" Leo said, "I need to get out of here. I need to think." Lucas understood. He said, "I will cover for you. Just be careful." Leo nodded. He was thinking about what he wanted to do. He wanted to go to Boston. He wanted to see the office for himself. He wanted to meet the people who worked there. He wanted to understand what was going on. Meanwhile in Boston Grace Bennett was having a day. She was the assistant to the branch manager. The office was a mess. The phones were ringing nonstop. The intern had burned the coffee.. The boss was hiding in his office. Grace was running around trying to fix everything. She was on the phone with a client trying to calm him down. She was also carrying a stack of files. She was trying to do everything at As she was talking to the client she was thinking about how she hated her job. She was underpaid. Overworked. She was twenty-six years old. She deserved better.. She did not know what to do. She was stuck in this job trying to make ends meet. Then the door opened. A new guy walked in. He was dressed in clothes. He looked like a person. Not, like the suits who came to the office. Grace wondered who he was and what he wanted. Little did she know her life was about to change in a way. Grace. Ruby Finch, her coworker and only friend in this office stuck her head out of the break room. Ruby was holding a mug of coffee and looking at it like it was poisonous. The printer on the floor is broken again and someone put dish soap in the dishwasher. Now there are bubbles over the hallway. Grace closed her eyes. Prayed for patience. Did you call the maintenance people about the printer? They said they cannot come until tomorrow Ruby said, looking sorry. Also, Richard wants the Q3 reports. The ones that are due to the office by five o'clock. The ones I have here Grace said, looking down at the heavy folders. Alright, I will deal with Richard. You go clean up the bubble mess in the kitchen. Get some towels.. For goodness sake throw that coffee away before it ruins the mug. You are a lifesaver Gracie Ruby said with a smile and then she disappeared back into the break room. Grace held the files tightly. Straightened her simple gray skirt. She was exhausted. Really exhausted. She had been working fourteen hours a day for a month trying to keep the office numbers up. She loved her team. She loved Ruby. She even loved the intern who did not know what he was doing. If the office closed they would all be out of a job. She had to make sure that did not happen. As she turned the corner her heel caught on a piece of carpet. Grace stumbled forward. Papers went flying everywhere. Instead of falling two strong hands caught her by the shoulders. The grip was firm and warm. Whoa, there a deep voice said above her head. Grace opened her eyes to see a man in a blue shirt. The material looked soft. She took a step back. Looked up at the man who had just saved her. He was really handsome. He was tall with shoulders and a strong jaw. His dark hair was messy. His blue eyes were looking at her with concern and a little bit of amusement. I am so sorry Grace said, feeling embarrassed. I made a mess. The Q3 reports. Richard is going to be furious. The man knelt beside her. Started picking up the papers. Looks like these are important he said, handing her a stack. You have no idea Grace said, taking the papers. Thank you. I am usually not this clumsy. It has just been a morning. It sounded like it the man said gently. I heard the phones ringing from down the hall. Is it always this crazy? Grace laughed, an unladylike sound. This is a day. If you stay until Friday you might see a fire in the break room. She looked at him. Wait you must be the temp. The agency said they were sending someone today. The man. Said, Yes that is me. Leo. Leo Alexander. I am the temp. Grace said, Thank God. I am Grace Bennett. I am the assistant here. I need you to do me a favor Leo Alexander. Anything Leo said. Can you answer the phones? Grace asked. Line one is a vendor who's angry about an invoice. Line two is someone complaining about a shipping delay. Just tell them we are looking into it and take their numbers. Please. Leo. Said, Point me to the desk, Captain. Grace. Said, Front desk, down the hall. Just press the blinking buttons.. Leo thank you. By three o'clock Grace was amazed at how the new temp was doing. She walked past the reception desk. Stopped. The phone lights were all off. The mail was sorted into trays.. Leo was typing on the computer really fast. You survived Grace said, leaning on the counter. Leo looked up. Smiled. It was tough for a minute but we made it. You actually answered all the calls Grace said, surprised. I do not think I have seen those phone lines quiet in six months. The agency really sent us their best did they not? Leo said, I just like to keep things organized. It helps me think. Did your boss like the Q3 reports? He barely survived Grace said, rubbing her temples. The numbers are not good. The main office is breathing down our necks. If we do not make a profit by the end of the month they might shut us down. She caught herself. Said, Sorry. You are a temp. You do not need to hear about our problems. You will be gone in two weeks anyway. Leo felt bad. He was the one who might shut down the office. Looking at Grace seeing how worried she was made him feel guilty. I do not mind Leo said softly. It seems like you do a lot of work around here Grace. It is okay to show that you are struggling sometimes. Grace looked at him. There was something, in his blue eyes that made her feel seen. It was not the look of a temporary worker. He was looking at her with empathy that made her feel special. Then the heavy glass doors swung open and everything changed. "Well well well " a smooth voice said in the reception area. "The way this place looks has not changed." Grace felt really bad. She turned white. Felt dizzy. Her body became very stiff. She did not need to turn around to know who was talking. She knew that voice anywhere. Then she turned around slowly. Julian Cross was standing in the doorway. He was wearing a navy suit and his hair was perfect. He had a smile on his face. He looked out of place in the Hayes Global lobby. "Julian " Grace said. Her voice was rough. "What are you doing here?" Leo sat up straight. Watched. He could tell something was wrong with Grace. She looked scared and uncomfortable. Leo looked at Julian. Did not like him. He could tell Julian was a kid who thought he was better than everyone else. "I was in the neighborhood " Julian said. He walked closer. Looked around the lobby like it was dirty. He touched a filing cabinet. Checked his finger for dust. "I had a meeting, near here. So I came to see if you still worked here. It looks like nothing is different." Grace's hands became fists. "I am busy Julian. I am working on something." Julian walked up to the reception desk, a smirk on his face. He completely ignored Leo, who was sitting there like he was a chair or something. "I came to deliver something " Julian said. He pulled out an envelope from his suit pocket and dropped it on the counter in front of Grace. "It's for the Boston Elite Charity Gala " Julian said, his smirk getting bigger. "My family is hosting it this year. I'm taking Sophia, the lawyer. You remember her right?" Grace stared at the envelope feeling like she had been punched. Julian had left her eight months ago saying she was not good enough for him. Now he was with Sophia, a mean lawyer. "I remember," Grace said quietly trying not to show how hurt she was. "Why are you giving this to me?" she asked. Julian leaned against the counter looking smug. "I feel bad for you, Grace. You're twenty-six. Still getting coffee for a company that's not doing well. You're all alone. I thought you could use a night out. Come to the gala drink some champagne and see how the other half lives. It might make you want to do something with your life." The way Julian said it was really mean. He did not want to be kind to her he just wanted to show off his life. Leo watched them talk his jaw getting tighter and tighter. He had met some people before but this was different. This was personal. "I don't need your pity, Julian " Grace said, her voice shaking a little. Julian laughed. "It's not pity, Grace. It's charity. You can bring someone with you of course.. I doubt you know anyone who owns a fancy suit." Grace felt a surge of anger. She was tired of being treated like this. "I don't need to find someone " she said, her voice now. "I have a boyfriend. We've been together for months. He's very successful, an executive. He's taking me to the gala." Julian raised an eyebrow looking amused. "An executive? You? That's not true." Then Leo spoke up his voice deep and strong. "She's telling the truth " he said. Everyone looked at Leo, who was standing up now. He walked over to Grace his eyes fixed on Julian. "I'm taking her to the gala " Leo said, his voice cold and sharp. Julian sneered at Leo looking at his clothes. ". Who are you supposed to be? The boss of answering phones?" Leo just looked at Julian, his eyes intense. He put his hand on Grace's back. She felt a jolt of electricity. "I'm Leo " he said. ". I'll see you next Saturday." Julian looked unsure. Then he quickly left the lobby. The room was silent except, for the sound of the lights buzzing. Grace was frozen, staring at the door. Her heart was beating fast and she felt like she might faint. What had she just done? What had Leo just done? Leo took his hand off her back. Turned to face her. He looked gentle again. Also a little amused. "I think I just agreed to be your boyfriend " he said softly.