The Executive Floor

by Belinda Wright

  ‘I would be happy with anything right now. An extension would be better than nothing to give me some breathing room to start looking for something else, at least. And I’m on the spot if a job comes up with Granger Finance.’

  Chantelle stared at her computer screen. Thoughts were rushing through her mind, but she fought to block them out and focus on her work. She had to put last night behind her and think about the present.

  At 11 a.m. the analysts were to gather in the meeting room for their weekly update. Chantelle stood up. She took a deep breath. After the weekly meeting she would talk to her boss. Nerves were already mounting in her stomach.

  When she entered the meeting room, Margaret wasn’t there yet. Chantelle took her seat at the head of the table next to her boss’s chair. As the intern she was the right hand, there to support with any ad hoc requests and to take notes of the meeting. She passed around printouts of the updated monthly calendar for her colleagues. The door opened, and Margaret walked in. She was wearing a swishy long red skirt that hid her feet and made her look even shorter than she was. She had a white blouse tucked into it and her oversized glasses were hanging from a chain around her neck. She took her seat without saying anything and opened her A4-sized agenda.

  Chantelle watched her, chewing her lip and trying to work out from her face if she was in a good mood or not. Margaret put on her glasses, pushing them up so the frame disrupted her long brown fringe.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, in case you haven’t noticed we have busy days ahead. The pressure is on for the US deal. You can expect managers to be calling on you for additional requests. We have to finalise the competitive landscape overview. I have seen you sent through the company projections, Patsy, thank you. I will review these later today. We still need to work on the five-year projections and prepare for the follow-up meetings,’ she said. ‘There will be additional ad hoc asks I’m sure, Chantelle, so be ready to drop what you are doing and help out. OK? Chantelle? Chantelle? Are you with us?’

  Chantelle looked up. She felt herself blush. ‘I’m sorry.’ Her imagination had finally succeeded in taking over and she was reliving her meal with Granger the night before.

  ‘I would appreciate it if you would pay attention. We need you this week more than any other,’ Margaret said. Chantelle nodded. She picked up her pen and sat further forward on her chair. A feeling of relief passed through her. Maybe today was a good moment to ask her boss about the contract.

  After the meeting, Chantelle lingered in the room. She collected up the discarded printouts as her colleagues left the room. Margaret was still sitting in her chair writing something in her agenda.

  ‘May I speak with you?’ she asked.

  Margaret looked at her over her spectacles. ‘Can it wait, Chantelle? I’ve got a twelve o’clock.’

  Chantelle’s stomach sank. She couldn’t wait any longer; she had to know. She swallowed. ‘Actually, no, it can’t wait. I need to speak to you rather urgently.’

  ‘OK, what is it, Chantelle?’ Margaret took off her spectacles, folded them and let them fall on to her chest.

  ‘Well,’ Chantelle started, her eyes locked on the floor. ‘I would like to discuss my contract.’

  ‘I see, yes, we need to talk about that. It was on my list, it’s just been so busy, other things have come up,’ Margaret said, closing her agenda. ‘It’s better if we discuss this in my office.’ She stood up.

  Chantelle followed her down the corridor. Margaret held the door open for her to enter her office and gestured for her to sit opposite her desk.

  Margaret moved around and sat down in her own chair. ‘OK, Chantelle, go ahead.’

  ‘My internship is due to finish next week and I, well, I wanted to know if there was any chance of something else?’

  Margaret looked at her and Chantelle felt a flash of excitement.

  ‘I have been meaning to speak to you. However, unfortunately, at this moment there are no additional head counts available. As much as I would like to keep you on my team, it is just not possible right now.’ Margaret’s eyes were grey and firm. Her face told Chantelle there was no space for discussion.

  ‘Oh.’ Chantelle’s shoulders dropped.

  ‘Don’t get downhearted. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be something coming up in the future. You never know when someone is going to resign, and a position might open up. And I can assure you that you are the first on the list when something does come up. We are more than happy with your performance.’

  ‘Right,’ Chantelle said, staring at the table. She could feel tears building at the back of her eyes and she fought to keep them in. She needed to get out of the office as soon as possible. ‘Yes, of course. I understand. It’s fine, it really is.’ She got up and walked to the door.

  ‘You will get an outstanding reference from me for your internship and I promise as soon as a position opens up you will be the first person I consider,’ Margaret said, following her to the door. Chantelle managed another smile before turning and heading back to her desk.

  Granger stared at his screen. His inbox was full of emails that needed dealing with but that morning he had been far from efficient. His mind wasn’t on the job. Janet knocked on the door and came in for the daily briefing, carrying a pile of letters that needed signing. She passed them to him as they went through the arrangements for the trip to America. He struggled to concentrate.

  ‘Mr Carmont? Is everything OK?’ she asked, frowning as Granger gave her an unsigned letter. ‘You have to sign here.’ Janet handed the letter back indicating the empty space at the bottom of the page.

  ‘What? Oh, yeah,’ Granger said and grinned, pulling his mind back to his work. ‘I want you to organise a meeting this afternoon. I need to update everyone on the changes of circumstances for the US deal – Averie’s have increased their bid and updated their proposal. They’re playing dirty. We need to work hard if we’re going to match it.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll set that up right away,’ Janet said, getting up and gathering the pile of letters. She left his office. Granger stood and stretched; he walked out from behind his desk and looked out of the window at the view of Summerville, thinking. It had been a strange morning, and the passion he felt during a deal negotiation wasn’t as intense as it normally was.

  Chantelle had seemed embarrassed at breakfast with him that morning. Had sleeping with her been a mistake? Her rebuff when he had tried to kiss her in the lift had stung. She didn’t want to be seen with him in the office, either. He was normally the one who made those kinds of rules; it wasn’t that he wanted rumours circulating but it had hurt a bit when she’d said it.

  She was younger than the girls he had normally dated. Too young? Too immature? He didn’t need to be dealing with a child, he needed a woman. He ran his fingers over his chin and turned back to his desk. No, he didn’t. He needed to keep his mind off women altogether and focus on the job.

  Sitting back down at his desk he stared at his emails. He tried to concentrate, but his mind kept coming back to the previous night. He had enjoyed it. More than enjoyed it. He wanted to see her again. Really wanted to. Before thinking about it anymore, he looked up her email address and wrote to her inviting her to dinner that night. He hit the send button without hesitation.

  He rubbed his face, finally feeling settled for the first time that day. Knowing that he would see her again allowed him to focus. He started work, preparing his meeting.

  Chantelle stared at her screen, feeling numb. She had been so convinced that at the last minute a job would come up. She’d been sure of it. It felt right. Working at Granger Finance felt right. She thought her dedication and hard work over the previous five months would pay off.

  Now she had one week left here and knew that there would not be a job. She swallowed and opened the internet. She had to start searching and do it now and do it fast. Her rent was paid for one more month and after t
hat she would be homeless with no option but to go back to her aunt and uncle’s house.

  An email arrived in her inbox. From Granger Carmont. Seeing his name on the screen brought back memories of the night before. For a moment she felt excited, remembering his smile, his blue eyes fixed on her, the tingling feeling she had in her stomach when she was close to him. But those feelings were quickly replaced by a sinking feeling. Why was she thinking about a man when she was about to become jobless and homeless?

  She opened the message and read the words on the screen. Her pulse sped up. He was asking her to dinner with him again that night. Granger Carmont, the managing director. Had she impressed him? Or was it just because she’d slept with him?

  Chantelle swallowed. Half of her wanted to accept, to go to dinner again; it had been the best night of her life. Granger Carmont had made her feel like the most important person on earth. But that was just it – he had that ability. That was why he was so successful with the ladies. And she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself a second time. There was no way she would join him for dinner again. But he was the MD; should she refuse him? It wouldn’t stand her in good stead for getting a permanent position if anything did come up. She sighed.

  Margaret interrupted her thoughts. ‘Everyone, we have been called for an important meeting, now, in the main meeting room. Please leave what you are doing.’ Chantelle looked around as her colleagues got up and headed out of the department.

  ‘I wonder what that is about,’ Patsy said, getting up and falling into step beside her. Chantelle stopped.

  ‘Hang on, wait for me. I just need to send this email before we go, I’ll be two seconds,’ she said. She hurried back to her desk, her hands shaking as she hit the reply button. She typed a message to Granger declining his offer of dinner and then with a nervous ache in the bottom of her stomach she hit send. She then headed after her colleague to the meeting room.

  The first thing she saw as she took her seat at the back was Granger Carmont at the front of the meeting room, talking to a group of people. Seeing him again sent a wave of excitement though her. Had she really been in his arms, in his bed? His tall muscular frame looked both sophisticated and sexy in the smart suit. The pale shirt contrasted with the golden colour of his skin.

  A hush came over the room and Granger turned to address them. Chantelle watched him speak, unable to process his words. He was talking about the trip to the States and the potential impact the new deal would have on the company. But all she could think about was how stupid she had been to sleep with him. It was so absurd. He was the MD and she wouldn’t even have an internship in the company after next week.

  Then Granger’s eyes seemed to find hers in the audience. He kept speaking but it was as if he were only speaking to her. That electric connection had returned and the hairs on her body prickled with energy. She couldn’t look away. She was caught in his gaze. It was an eternity before the meeting finished, allowing her to escape the confines of the packed room. She breathed in the cool air; her skin was burning and flushed.

  ‘I’m in love,’ Patsy said with a sigh as they walked back to their desks. ‘Our MD is so attractive.’

  ‘I don’t feel so good,’ Chantelle told her.

  Patsy looked at her. ‘You do look kind of red. Are you OK?’

  ‘Not really. I’m hot, I think I am going to go home and lie down,’ she said, turning off her computer. ‘I’d better go and tell Margaret.’

  Chantelle headed out of the office. Once outside she slowed down. She wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere, not wanting to go home to her place in case Neil was there. Instead she took a walk to the park, dropping down on to a bench and resting her face in her hands.

  ‘What a day,’ she muttered, and took a deep breath. She was still reeling from her conversation with Margaret. There was no job for her at Granger Finance. She would have to leave. And she would have to find a new job. She took out her phone and started searching the job boards. She had a good degree, solid work experience. Granger Finance was great name to have on her CV. She could find job, she was sure.

  Granger ran his hand through his hair. He had spotted Chantelle in the crowd of employees. Among those two hundred people, his eyes had to find hers. And even while he was presenting, talking to his staff, he had managed to take in the beauty of her gaze. What was wrong with him?

  He shook his head and reread her email. She had turned him down! She did not want to join him for dinner. She hadn’t even made up an excuse to say she was busy, but instead just said she didn’t want to.

  He frowned, staring at the screen, drumming his fingers on the desk and contemplating what to do. There was a knock on the door and Janet put her head in. ‘Mr Carmont? I have Richard Croft on the line for you.’

  ‘Not now,’ Granger muttered without looking up, then felt guilty as his PA quickly retreated from his office. He breathed deeply, Janet knew him well so hopefully wouldn’t take it personally. He just didn’t like distractions when his was working on something. Although this time it wasn’t work he was thinking about.

  Making a decision, he got up and stalked out of the executive wing, ignoring Janet’s puzzled look as he went. The analyst department was noisy, an urgency in the air, following his meeting. Conversations quietened as he walked the floor and people noticed him. The senior analyst stood up to greet him, but Granger didn’t stop at his desk. He was looking for someone else.

  Granger scanned the department. Her desk was empty. He couldn’t see her. He glanced at the printer and photocopier, but she wasn’t there. He walked to her empty desk.

  ‘Where is she?’ Granger asked the girl at the next desk.

  ‘Err, Chantelle? She went home.’

  ‘Home?’ Granger thought for a moment. ‘She went home after that talk we just had? I thought I said I needed everyone’s hundred and ten per cent. It is not the time to be leaving early!’ Why was he getting angry? She was an intern!

  ‘No.’ The girl shook her head, clearly looking for an excuse. ‘Actually, she wasn’t feeling well.’

  ‘Not well?’ Granger only just managed to hide the concern that flashed through his mind.

  ‘Is there something you need? I can help you with any analysis requests you have,’ the girl offered.

  Granger shook his head. ‘No request. I just wanted to see how you were taking the news I just announced.’

  ‘Oh, we’re very excited, Mr Carmont. We will work harder than ever! You can count on us for anything you need.’

  Granger inclined his head, turned, and left the department. He walked back to his desk and sat in his chair. He was chasing an intern he hardly knew. Was he crazy? He had never messed around with anyone from his company. He had more respect for his staff than that, so why now was he so intent on breaking his own rule? OK, so the night before with her had been good; in fact, the sex had been the best he’d had in a long time. But he’d had good sex before and he hadn’t fallen over himself like a lovesick puppy. He had lists of women who would be more than happy to share an evening with him.

  He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his list of contacts, trying to find a number he felt like calling. But there was no one he was even the slightest bit interested in taking to dinner. He grabbed his coat and walked out of his office. ‘I’m leaving,’ he told Janet.

  Janet stood up. ‘Early? Do you need me to get something for you? Should I help you with something?’

  Granger shook his head. ‘I’m going to work out.’

  ‘You’re coming back, then. I will see you later.’

  ‘I won’t be back today,’ Granger said, heading for the door. ‘I’ll work from home later. Send me through those contracts and the solicitor’s comments and I will follow up on them.’

  In the gym Granger pounded the treadmill, his mind blank. He didn’t need female company; what he needed was a hard workout. He moved on to the
weights. His muscles burned as he lifted heavier than his usual amount. The pain was a distraction. Chantelle was at home with her flatmate. He replayed the previous evening again in his mind. The thought of this guy perving on her made him grimace.

  He stepped into the shower and let the hot water scald his skin, feeling better after working off some of his energy. That explained her rejection of his dinner invitation – she was feeling ill. He drove home from the gym and let himself into his apartment. Rocky greeted him at the door, impatient to go out. Granger pulled on his shorts and a T-shirt, grabbed the lead and headed back out for a run.

  Chantelle slipped into her house and went up the stairs. Neil’s door was open; she could hear the sound of his computer game. She hurried past without looking through the door. She put her hand on her door handle feeling relieved to have made it.

  ‘Chantelle?’ She froze. ‘Chantelle?’ he called again, coming out of his room. Chantelle turned to look at him. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and his thick glasses were perched low on his nose. He was the same height as Chantelle, with clear brown eyes and dark blond hair. When Chantelle had first met him, she’d thought he was sweet, shy guy. He was friendly to her. But over the five months things had changed. His friendliness had given way to intrusive behaviour.

  ‘Didn’t you hear me?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, I heard you,’ she said.

  ‘Why didn’t you answer me then?’ Neil asked, rubbing his eye and moving closer to her.

  Chantelle sighed. ‘Sorry, Neil. I just had a tough day.’

  ‘I can’t believe you were just going to ignore me.’ He crossed his arms over his chest.

  ‘I said I was sorry. What do you want?’ she asked patiently.

  ‘You didn’t come home last night. I was worried about you,’ he said. ‘Where were you?’

  ‘Neil, that is none of your business.’