My big girl (preview)

chapter 5- the promotion part 1

Brooks
She looks absolutely terrified and I want to build her up as an employee now. I know she is our diamond in the rough. She may even be my diamond in the rough. Unlike our arrogant and vapid interns of the past, she doesn’t need to be brought down a notch or two or fired for disrupting the office.

Sliding my hand around her elbow, I give her a gentle squeeze and feel her shaking like a leaf.

“You’re fine. I have some potential good news for you and it deserves more than just another boring day in the office. You’ve more than proven yourself,” I say to her soothingly. Her jumpiness seems to settle as she looks up at me with those beautiful blue eyes.

“I-I did?” She whispers in a tiny whisper. I smile at her and nod.

“You did,” I reply and pat her arm, squeezing it again. She seems to soak up my energy, inching closer like a wounded puppy. I let go, but don’t move away. The door bings and I watch as Madison’s eyes bulge at the sight of us and I see them whisper back and forth silently. Jealousy flares in my chest like a warm fire.

“She will share the good news when she comes back,” I reply to Madison who relaxes and gives me a thumbs up.

“Right-o boss.”

“I see you’ve made friends,” I say, feeling more than a little jealous. “Are those her shoes?” Outside, I see her blushing now as she nods.

“She loaned them to me.”

“So…you guys are close?” My heart aches at the idea of them together.

“Friends…she asked me on a d-d-ate and it’s Friday,” she whispers this last part, blushing so darkly.

“Oh, congratulations. Madison has always been a reliable employee,” I say, trying to hide my seething disappointment that the security woman had snatched my intern right out from under me.

“I’m going to wreck it up. I always manage to wreck things up,” she continues as I shake my head in disbelief.

“Come now. I don’t believe that,” I reply. “You’re quiet charming. She’d be a fool to pass that up.” Her cheeks turn even more bright red at my words as her eyes refuse to meet mine.

“Um…Uh…Oh, you haven’t seen the worst of me,” she says and pat her arm.

“None of that. You must share all the fun details of your date. I haven’t been out in a very long time. I was toying with the idea of getting out there again.” Her head rears up in shock.

“What? Y-y-you aren’t dating someone? I would assume that you’d have like an actress or a model on you arm every weekend,” she says, completely flabbergasted. Shaking my head, I have to roll my eyes.

“Far from it,” I say. “Perhaps I could, but they are not my type. I don’t go out much on the weekends. I’m a bit of a homebody. Believe it or not. If I’m not working, I’m at my studio.”

“Really?” She says as if she still doesn’t believe me. I shrug nonchalantly.

“I’ve already had all my fun. I’ve met the ladies, been to the bars, traveled,” I say and open the door to my favorite coffee place.

“I…I-I wish I could travel more,” she sighs.

“Well maybe we can change that,” I say, patting her hand again. “I’ll order breakfast for you. Why don’t you sit down upstairs, someplace private.”

“Are you sure?” She asks me. I squeeze her arm, feeling a little fluff where once I might have just felt bone.

“Yes, now go, please.” I don’t have to ask again. She scampers away.

***
Ash
My legs are wobbly up the stairs. This is all surreal like a dream. Brooks is actually looking at me, talking to me outside of the office, asking me out for coffee. She’s being nice and touching me. I manage to collapse into a room with an oversized chair and feel the button of my skirt sink into my lower belly even deeper and a slight ripping sound from my reckless flop.

Panicking I check it and see where a few centimeters of fabric along my thigh have given out, but it’s not noticeable. With a breath of relief, I bury my face on the reclaimed wood table. Brooks arrives, carrying our coffees.

“I got you something sweet and fun since I know you like chocolate,” she says and sits next to me. She offers the cup of molten chocolate and whip cream as she settles back and sips her black coffee. “Breakfast will be up soon.”

“Th-Th…um, you didn’t have to, but thanks,” I say nervously, pulling at my tight skirt and shimmying a bit. She places her cup down and leans forward in her opposing seat, looking like a goddess.

“All right. I have some good news.”

I nod slowly, so confused by her behavior.

“You’ve done phenomenal work. I hope you’ve enjoyed working for us,” she says and I nod again. “I know you haven’t been doing anything exciting, but I’d prefer our numbers not to be exciting unless it’s going toward the positive.” She smiles and I find myself smiling back.

I can’t believe that she might be offering me a job or offering me something.

“I want you for the accounting position. Not only will you work full time on salary, but have benefits. I’d like to start you out at a competitive rate so I won’t lose you. How does fifty-five thousand dollars with holiday bonuses, paid sick leave and vacation time, sound?”

“What?” I squeak. She grins at me. “Entry level?”

“Yes, you could bargain, but I doubt you’ve checked in with other places. Don’t worry. If you do what I think you’ll do, you’ll be making plenty of money soon,” she replies with a cool, even look.

“Y-you really like my work that much.”

“Yes, I do,” she says without hesitation. “You’re a bright woman and I hope you stay with us for a very long time. Since we don’t have a CPA currently, you’ll be the head, answering directly to the VP. I would like you to consider Eve to be your mentor though since you are still so new to our company and it’s your first position. Chuck’s great, but I think you and Eve have a good relationship started. Chuck is only around for paperwork. He’s not much of a people person.”

I nod again stupidly. A waitress comes in and places a huge plate of breakfast in front of me. Fluffy chocolate chip pancakes, sausages, and eggs and for Brooks a salmon sandwich with avocado slices.

Brooks hands me a warm container of chocolate syrup and I take it with a questioning look.

“Let’s celebrate?” She asks with a smile that sends a warmth down my spine. She starts to pour the viscous liquid with careful precision and doesn’t stop. Her eyes watch mine as I bite my lip. With the pancakes fully drenched she places the syrup canister back down. “Please, enjoy.”

“Th-th-thank you so much,” I declare, digging into the delicious smelling food. She moves much more slowly and analytically about her food, but seems so pleased every time she looks up to see me pounding down on my plate.

“Have you always had a stutter,” Brooks ask me frankly.

“Oh…n-o. It just comes out when I’m really anxious or…or um, stressed,” I admit. “With my cousin, I don’t have it. Everyone else I do.”

“How long if I may ask?” She asks softly as if to draw me out of my shell. “I want to get to know you better as my colleague. We’ll be working together on a daily basis. The position isn’t going to get any easy unfortunately.” I straighten up.

“Th-the numbers are the easy part,” I say and she smiles again.

“That’s what I thought,” she says. “That’s all you need to focus on. We can work around anything that will put you on the spot if it’s an issue.”

“I-I can do reports,” I reply, thinking of our morning meet-ins.

“I’d like the other employees to develop patience with you, even Chuck,” she says, “but I still don’t want you anywhere near other business heads. Most of them are dicks and excuse me for saying this, but you’d be fresh pickings for them to tease and harass. I’d like to keep you around for a very, very long time.”

“Th-thank you for looking out for me. Everyone has said your a hard ass and you are, but you’re not a b-b-bad boss,” I say and blush as another mound of chocolatey pancake and syrup enters my mouth. A smile tugs at her lips as she sits back.

I think, I should probably call it quits too, but my belly rumbles in defiance and she motions me to keep eating.

“I appreciate that believe it or not. Being a woman and a CEO can be challenging as must people see a bitch on wheels,” she replies. “I was more than a little bitchy toward you though. In my defense, we have had a stream of air headed interns come into the office, male and female.”

Laughing, I wipe away a massive warm smear of syrup and nearly lick my fingers before reminding myself I probably shouldn’t do that in front of my boss. So I wipe them down with my napkin and drink a few more swallows of the triple mocha in front of me, feeling my stomach bloat up even more. It’s painful now against the waistband of my skirt and I can feel my belly pressing on either side.

The rational part of my brain tells me to stop eating. The “I’m sitting in front of my hot CEO” anxious mind jams another piece of fluffy pancake into my mouth and proceeds to chew and swallow and repeat.

“You have to blow off steam somehow, especially if you are homebody,” I say with an empathetic smile.

“You sound like you are speaking from experience,” she says in her low sultry voice. I swallow uncomfortably hot in my tight blouse. Another bite enters my lips before I can talk. I chew and swallow.

“Uh, oh, huh—yeah, I’m a big homebody. If it wasn’t for Robbie and Eve I probably wouldn’t ever stay after work for beers or my cousin…she drags me out kicking and screaming from my apartment.”

“So, how do you blow off steam?” She asks, meeting my eyes. I lean back, patting my belly.