actions.”
And before she asked the last question, she’d risen up on her toes before saying, “What scares you, Miss Sands?”
I thought about her question for a second and then fired back, “Winning.”
“Winning?” Her expression was quizzical and she’d momentarily stopped flipping through my portfolio. “Why is that?”
“I’d be scared at winning at everything. All my life I’ve struggled and my struggles have taught me strength. When I do something, I don’t want to think of it as winning because winning would mean that I’m always competing, always fighting, never getting satisfied. Ms. Delacorte, if you hire me for your company, I will do my best to be the best that I can be. I promise you that you won’t be at the losing end. I’ll be the voice of the creatures who don’t have the voice, I’ll be the best researcher on your team, a team player, a loyal worker. But know this, I’m not doing it to compete with anyone else. I’ll be doing it because I want to make a difference, a dent in the grand scheme of things. I’ll be doing it because it brings me unparalleled peace.”
Her bewildered glance took me aback and I thought she was going to laugh at me. Instead, she’d held out her right hand and gave me a firm shake, “Renee will call you later after she verifies your references. How does working for me sound, Miss Sands?”
So here we were. The grand scheme of things. My first presentation as an executive member of the team. I’d gone to these meetings many many times and presented just as much, but today was the day I was carrying on with my new title. Boss lady of the environmental research division.
Thanking Stephanie for opening the magnetized glass doors, I sat on the swivel chair at the edge of the conference table, closest to the wide projection screen and started pulling up my files on the computer.
Breathing in, I gave my former boss, Stephanie, a wide smile. She was now the head Project Manager and was the one who recommended me for this position. We’ve had our differences and I’d doled out many discussions with her on certain projects, but we had a mutual respect for each other. Under her guidance, I’d grown in my profession and I wasn’t stingy in showing her my appreciation, especially during the holidays. She loved shopping at the fancy places such as Net-a-Porter and Bloomingdale’s, so I often gifted her with generous gift certificates. She valued my stance on issues and during my most difficult times she’d given me reprieve by extending my leave of absence with her approval.
Three tall, dark-haired men in their standard form of attire – power suits – entered the room. Standing in my three-inch black heels, I adjusted the back of my fitted skirt before greeting them.
“Devon Wahler at your service,” the guy with the darkest blue eyes I’ve ever seen stated. His strong jaw and regal nose made me think of the man who graced those perfume commercials. Dripping with confidence, he reached his hand out and shook mine.
Wow . Firm, firm grip.
Okay, Nalee, this is not the time to be drooling over a potential client.
“Nalee Sands. It’s a pleasure meeting all of you today,” I intoned, hoping my voice didn’t drip with the potential drool accumulating in my mouth.
His amused smile was filled with meaning as he introduced the older gentlemen who came in with him. “Robert Briles, senior partner, and Justin Kirkland, managing partner.” The two men shook Stephanie’s and my hands and nodded their heads while Devon continued to speak, “We’re pleased that your company has looked at our proposal and hopefully this will signal the beginning of our project.”
“Gentlemen, no rush,” Stephanie chided, her carefully coiffed blonde hair moved in sync with her head. There wasn’t a strand that was getting loose anytime soon. She’d perfected the vibe of snooty, cold platinum blonde woman down to a science. Only her closest staff got to see the
And before she asked the last question, she’d risen up on her toes before saying, “What scares you, Miss Sands?”
I thought about her question for a second and then fired back, “Winning.”
“Winning?” Her expression was quizzical and she’d momentarily stopped flipping through my portfolio. “Why is that?”
“I’d be scared at winning at everything. All my life I’ve struggled and my struggles have taught me strength. When I do something, I don’t want to think of it as winning because winning would mean that I’m always competing, always fighting, never getting satisfied. Ms. Delacorte, if you hire me for your company, I will do my best to be the best that I can be. I promise you that you won’t be at the losing end. I’ll be the voice of the creatures who don’t have the voice, I’ll be the best researcher on your team, a team player, a loyal worker. But know this, I’m not doing it to compete with anyone else. I’ll be doing it because I want to make a difference, a dent in the grand scheme of things. I’ll be doing it because it brings me unparalleled peace.”
Her bewildered glance took me aback and I thought she was going to laugh at me. Instead, she’d held out her right hand and gave me a firm shake, “Renee will call you later after she verifies your references. How does working for me sound, Miss Sands?”
So here we were. The grand scheme of things. My first presentation as an executive member of the team. I’d gone to these meetings many many times and presented just as much, but today was the day I was carrying on with my new title. Boss lady of the environmental research division.
Thanking Stephanie for opening the magnetized glass doors, I sat on the swivel chair at the edge of the conference table, closest to the wide projection screen and started pulling up my files on the computer.
Breathing in, I gave my former boss, Stephanie, a wide smile. She was now the head Project Manager and was the one who recommended me for this position. We’ve had our differences and I’d doled out many discussions with her on certain projects, but we had a mutual respect for each other. Under her guidance, I’d grown in my profession and I wasn’t stingy in showing her my appreciation, especially during the holidays. She loved shopping at the fancy places such as Net-a-Porter and Bloomingdale’s, so I often gifted her with generous gift certificates. She valued my stance on issues and during my most difficult times she’d given me reprieve by extending my leave of absence with her approval.
Three tall, dark-haired men in their standard form of attire – power suits – entered the room. Standing in my three-inch black heels, I adjusted the back of my fitted skirt before greeting them.
“Devon Wahler at your service,” the guy with the darkest blue eyes I’ve ever seen stated. His strong jaw and regal nose made me think of the man who graced those perfume commercials. Dripping with confidence, he reached his hand out and shook mine.
Wow . Firm, firm grip.
Okay, Nalee, this is not the time to be drooling over a potential client.
“Nalee Sands. It’s a pleasure meeting all of you today,” I intoned, hoping my voice didn’t drip with the potential drool accumulating in my mouth.
His amused smile was filled with meaning as he introduced the older gentlemen who came in with him. “Robert Briles, senior partner, and Justin Kirkland, managing partner.” The two men shook Stephanie’s and my hands and nodded their heads while Devon continued to speak, “We’re pleased that your company has looked at our proposal and hopefully this will signal the beginning of our project.”
“Gentlemen, no rush,” Stephanie chided, her carefully coiffed blonde hair moved in sync with her head. There wasn’t a strand that was getting loose anytime soon. She’d perfected the vibe of snooty, cold platinum blonde woman down to a science. Only her closest staff got to see the
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