by Rhea Wilde
“Alice, do you have a moment?”
“Of course,” I said to him.
Rafael and I were alone in the boardroom. He took a seat on the edge of the large conference table and I stood there, curious as to what he was going to tell me.
“This dinner is something you shouldn’t be taking lightly,” he said. “You’ll be there, right?”
“Of course, sir. And I understand. I’m looking forward to meeting the shareholders and getting more insight into the company. A different perspective is always useful when conducting business.”
“Yes, I knew that you would understand.”
“…Is there something else you wanted to tell me? I mean, you didn’t stop me just to tell me that this was important.”
“You’re right. I didn’t. I wanted to tell you that you’re in a unique position.”
“I am? How so?”
“There are a lot of expectations of you. Not just from the other board members or myself but from the shareholders, too. As the lone female representative of this board, even though you’re just an intern, I expect a certain formality from you. Just like I do while you’re in this office.”
“What are you suggesting, sir?”
Rafael reached into his jacket and pulled out a money clip. He sorted through several cards then held one of them out to me.
“I want you to go to Elizabeth’s,” he said. “I want you to wear something special for the occasion.”
“Is this really necessary?”
“Yes. You’re going to be held to a standard, Alice. You’re going to be a member of this board very soon. I expect you to look the part, as well. Especially when it comes to diplomatic affairs such as this.”
“So… You want me to look pretty for your party? Is that it?”
“I want you to look like someone representative of the high standards we have in this company.”
“May I say something?”
“Of course.”
“If what I’m hearing is correct, you want me to dress up like some kind of model. It sounds like you want to display me and show me off.”
“…In a manner of speaking, I suppose you could put it that way. But I don’t expect anything more from you.”
“Is that the only reason you’re buying me an outfit? Is it just because you want me to look nice for the other people at the party?”
Rafael paused for a moment. He lowered his arm, the card still resting in his hand. He stared back at me with no expression upon his face. I couldn’t read what he was thinking as I stared back into his light brown eyes.
“You work for me,” he said. “You follow a formal dress code when you walk into this building and you sit in this boardroom. I expect the same from you when you’re on official company business. That’s all.”
“…I understand.”
He held the company credit card back up to me. I hesitated for a moment before finally taking it from him.
I couldn’t figure this guy out. One moment he was having his way with me in his limo, the next he’s telling me that we can’t have anything between us. Now he was buying me a new dress and I couldn’t tell whether he was doing it for me or for himself or for another reason entirely.
“This is for business,” he reminded me. “You’re free to mingle with all of the guests but remember, you’re still on the clock.”
“Of course.”
Even though I was unable to read him, a part of me didn’t mind the circumstances surrounding everything. The truth was that I was actually kind of enjoying it. Knowing that he had singled me out so that I could go shopping for myself made me feel special in a way I’d never felt before, even though he reiterated that this was just business. In any case, showing up for a company dinner party would be a nice change of pace from the usual routine.
I began to make my way out of the boardroom and could still feel his eyes upon me. I didn’t look at him but knew that he was staring at me.
“Alice.”
“Yes,” I said as I turned around to look at him.
“Would you like to take a limo to Elizabeth’s?”
“…No,” I smiled. “I remember where it is. I’ll make it just fine in a cab.”
He nodded to me and responded with a polite smile. It would have been nice to ride in the backseat of a limo once again. But since Rafael was doing everything he could to keep our relationship strictly professional, I didn’t want to enjoy all of the luxuries he was offering me. The wardrobe was already excessive enough. As I made my way to Elizabeth’s in search of a dress for the upcoming gala, I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Rafael was thinking about me.
Chapter 14
I stopped by Elizabeth’s to get measured for a gown appropriate for the dinner party. She ended-up putting something together that was more glamorous than I was expecting. The way it sat on the mannequin was certainly more flattering than how it would look on me but she managed to make it work anyway.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror for a moment to see what I looked like. My hair and makeup weren’t any different from usual. But everything from the neck down was a dramatic change. The black gown hugged my body perfectly. It was tight against my hips and waist in a way to make it seem like I had curves. The sheer silk was comfortable against my skin. Even though the dress was tight, it was backless and gave me more freedom than I was expecting.
I almost felt overdone as I sat in the cab and headed toward the hotel ballroom where the dinner was being held. After shopping for the gown, there was a growing sense of excitement and anticipation that I couldn’t ignore as I sat in my office. The days couldn’t pass by fast enough. But the night had finally come and here I was waiting to meet with some important people. People who could potentially decide my fate with the company I so desperately wanted to work for.
I saw all of the expensive cars lined-up outside. The valet was busy with every different luxury sedan and exotic sports car you could imagine. Men dressed in tuxedos and women in even more extravagant dresses were making their way in. I knew that this was the right place.
The hotel staff directed me toward the dinner party where everybody was waiting. When I walked into the long hallway, I saw the same people coming in from outside mingling with one another. I immediately felt out of place.
Most of the men were older. They weren’t as old as the men in the boardroom but it was clear that they had a lot of experience both in this business and these affairs, too. The women they were with were significantly younger. I suppose I couldn’t blame them for being attracted to such affluence. But there were some other men and women I recognized from the building. They were the same people who worked in the floors beneath me.
“Wow! Look at you.”
I looked around to see who it was. I let out a sigh of relief then smiled as I saw the same two familiar faces I was so accustomed to working with.
“You’re looking good, Alice,” Wesley said to me.
“You’re not looking too bad yourself,” I laughed. “Same for you, Travis.”
Wesley cleaned-up and looked no different than he did on a usual workday. The only difference was that his suit was replaced with a more formal tuxedo. His black hair looked a little different but was styled the same way it usually was.
“Did you get a haircut?” I asked him.
“I sure did,” Wesley replied. “Do you remember what we were talking about? Look at all of the women around here. I can’t let them think that the young up-and-comer is a slob. I want to look the part.”
“I’m sure that’s what Mr. Barnett was planning on,” Travis said to him. “For you to do everything you could to try and impress everybody with your appearance.”
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with looking the part. Alice isn’t the only one that can get away with being eye-candy around here. We’re the future of Barnett Industries. And we’re surrounded by shareholders all around us. We have to let them know that the future is in good hands.”
“I�
��m sure they’ll feel that way once they see your fresh haircut,” Travis said to him.
I laughed at the two of them. Already, Wesley was doing everything he could to draw the attention of the women passing by him. Travis stood next to him. Wesley did manage to speak to a few of them. While he did his best to try and impress them, Travis was there to remind them that we were all only interns.
I stood there silently and looked around the room. I didn’t know who or what I was looking for. But the hall was becoming more and more crowded. I was doing everything I could to fit in even though I felt out of place.
“I’ll be right back, guys,” I excused myself from the two of them.
I made my way over to the bar to get myself a drink. While I waited for the bartender to finish my drink, I looked around to see if there was anybody else I recognized besides my fellow interns. I then saw a man slowly approaching me. I didn’t stare at him but it was only a few moments before he took the spot at the bar next to me.
“Hello,” he said.
“H-hi,” I smiled politely back at him.
He was a man who looked like he was in his thirties. His hair was dark with streaks of gray going through it. His eyes were a striking light gray. His skin was tan and smooth except for the faint shadow of a beard that was growing in. He stood almost a foot taller than me and even in my heels, I had to tilt my neck just to look at him.
He smiled back at me and I could see the whites of his teeth.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at one of these get-togethers before,” he said to me. “This must be your first time.”
“It is. Do I look that obvious?”
“Obvious? No, it isn’t that. But let’s just say I would definitely notice a woman like you.”
I could feel him staring at me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the smile on his face. Thankfully, the bartender finished my drink and I could hide my blushing face by burying it in my glass.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Where are my manners? I’m William Burton.”
“Alice Pratt.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alice. Might I ask what brings you here to this particular event?”
“I’m… just an intern.”
“Just an intern? You say that as if it’s a bad thing. We all had to start somewhere, Alice.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… I’m still getting used to all of this.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine if you just relax. In what sector exactly are you interning?”
“I’m… on the board of directors.”
I turned and looked at him. His eyes narrowed as if he was skeptical. I swallowed then turned back to my drink, running my fingers along the side of the glass.
“Interesting,” he said. “You’re an intern on the board… That Rafael certainly has some ideas.”
“It’s not just me,” I said. “I’m working with a couple of other interns, too.”
I pointed through the crowd at Wesley and Travis, who looked like they were enjoying themselves thoroughly at this point. William glanced over at the two of them before quickly turning his attention back to me.
“They’re just as young as you are,” he said. “Rafael does have some interesting ideas. But you… You are more curious, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“Not at all.”
“You do know that you’re the first woman who’s ever been considered as a board member, correct?”
“Yes, I’ve been told that before.”
I began to laugh. It wasn’t the first time I was told that I was breaking new ground in this particular company and at this point, it was amusing to me.
“I see that you’re not letting the pressure of the position get to you,” he said to me.
“No,” I shook my head. “I might be ready right at this moment but I’m prepared to do what I need to do for this company’s continued success.”
“Ah! Spoken like a consummate member of the board. You’re learning fast.”
“I’m working hard.”
He nodded to me then took a sip of his drink. I smiled back at him then looked around the room as if to search for somebody.
“Are you waiting for someone?” he asked me.
“No,” I said. “I was just observing everything.”
“Trust me, you’ll grow tired of the entire experience at one point.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Look around. You recognize some of the board members, don’t you? They’re talking and mingling but they’re really just doing their job. They have to do everything they can to please the shareholders. But don’t worry, I won’t expect too much from you.”
“So… you’re a shareholder, I take it.”
“Yes, that’s correct, Alice. I have a stake in Barnett Industries and some of its subsidiaries. That’s why I’m real happy to hear that you’re willing to do what it takes to get the job done.”
“It’s the truth, William. I’m… I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
“I’m sure you are.”
I took another sip of my drink as I leaned up against the bar. William continued to remain in the same spot next to me and the two of us observed the scene before us. I wasn’t sure what to think of him. But I did know that I didn’t feel uncomfortable around him and I was grateful that I no longer felt completely out of place like I did when I first stepped into the hall.
As I looked through the crowd, I noticed a small group of people gathering around together. They were chatting and murmuring louder than the other conversations around us. I squinted my eyes and then I finally saw it. Through the crowd of excited people, I could barely make out Rafael’s face. He was smiling as everybody tried to get his attention. He was turning and looking in every direction, trying to carry on several conversations at once. It was a combination of men and women who were all throwing themselves at him. Every single one of them was undeterred as they tried to get his attention.
“It must be nice to have his ear,” William said to me.
“What?”
“Rafael. You get to sit in during those board meetings and speak to him directly if you like. It’s rare that anybody, even a shareholder like myself, gets the chance to speak to him. His schedule is always full. Sometimes when I call his office I feel like reaching through my phone and strangling Tina so that she can get me an appointment.”
I laughed at his comment but my eyes were still fixated on everything in front of me. I had never seen Rafael in this manner before. I had seen him at a club when nobody was bothering him. I had seen him dressed-up in a fancy business suit commanding the attention of the entire boardroom. And now, here he was, in the middle of a sea of people who were badgering him for any type of response. I couldn’t imagine what it was like for him but he seemed to be handling it well. The smile on his face never disappeared.
“Are you looking forward to the evening’s affairs, Alice?” William asked me.
“I’m not exactly sure what’s going to happen tonight but I’m ready for anything.”
“Are you saying that because it’s your job or do you really mean it? Because I know what Rafael said to you. I know that the board members and all of the other employees who work for him are instructed to do everything they can to please the shareholders.”
“To be honest with you, maybe it’s a little combination of both.”
“Honesty,” he smirked. “Now that’s something I haven’t heard from a board member in a long time.”
“I’m not a board member. I’m just an intern.”
He smirked at me then took another sip of his drink. I did the same, still marveling at the amount of people that were surrounding Rafael. As I stared at him, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. The dress I was wearing was nicer than anything else I had in my wardrobe. There was a part of me that wanted to model it for him. But he was clearly too busy to notice me.
“I think they might be serving dinner soon,” William said
to me. “Would you care to join me?”
I took one last glance at Rafael before resigning myself to the tall man standing next to me.
“Of course.”
William offered his hand to me. He led me into the next room where the guests were now beginning to pour in.
Chapter 15
I sat at one of the dinner tables next to William. I was later joined by my fellow interns, Wesley and Travis. Each of them was accompanied by a female that they’d managed to draw the interest of. The six of us sat at the table as the dining hall slowly began to grow more and more populated.
I was so used to sitting in the boardroom that it was weird to see all of the people associated with the company all at once. An entire building full of employees and even more shareholders crowding into the room made me realize just how much money Barnett Industries was worth. And I was lucky enough to be on the 89th floor and give some input that could potentially affect every single person in this room.
But there was none more influential than Rafael himself. I watched him make his way into the dining hall, still flanked by several nondescript ladies and gentlemen. To think about that kind of power was amazing. He was in complete control of his company. He had the power to decide the fates of so many different people. He certainly looked up to the task as his smile hadn’t wavered.
“Look at him,” William said into my ear. “A pure professional in every sense of the word. The guy’s got it all. Everybody wants a piece of him and he takes it all with a smile on his face.”
“Yeah,” I replied. “He really looks like he knows what he’s doing.”
“And he does. You’re in those meetings with him, aren’t you? Is there any indication that he’s not capable of handling the position he’s in?”
“No, there isn’t. Rafael plays the part well. To be honest with you, I’ve never seen this part of him before, so it’s kind of a surprise.”
