Addy
Having an office of my own has been one of the biggest adjustments of the last month because it’s too quiet in here. Occasionally, I can hear people going in and out of Marcus’s office, or even talking outside in the large shared workplace, but it feels lonely alone in these four walls.
Then, I scold myself. I’m head designer now, and I’ve earned my privacy! But the truth is that I enjoy being out among my co-workers, sharing ideas and the occasional gossip. It felt like I was part of the team then, instead of leading the team.
I sigh, dropping my head into my hands. I love this job, but it really takes a lot out of me. And I appreciate Marcus’s concern for my welfare, but I don’t want him to stress either. He already takes care of me so well, and the CEO has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need to hear about how I’m hating having my own space.
Abruptly, I stand up from my desk. It’s actually Marissa’s desk, a Scandinavian blonde wood thing with spindly legs. Maybe that’s part of the problem. This office isn’t mine, and I should try to personalize it. But that’s something to deal with another time. For now, I’m going to try and get work done somewhere that’s more comfortable.
I make my way outside to the design floor, and a couple people look up.
“Hey, Miss Maplethorpe,” calls an intern.
I smile.
“No Miss Maplethorping because it sounds like I’m a character in a Dickens novel. Call me Addy.”
The young man grins cheekily at me, at fabric sample between his fingers.
“Sure thing, Addy.”
I walk away, already feeling heartened. I head over to my old workspace, and sure enough, there’s my co-worker Jemima. The pretty blonde sees me and brightens.
“Addy! Welcome to the slums,” she exclaims.
I roll my eyes.
“Oh please. We both know this isn’t the slums. That’s accounting.”
Jemima laughs.
“You have a point. I don’t understand how they can get anything done in the basement with no windows, too! There’s no air either. How do they even breathe?” But Jem doesn’t wait for me to finish. “So what brings you down to my neck of the woods? We haven’t seen you in a while.”
I nod and sit down gratefully at my old stool.
“I’m at a standstill when it comes to ideas. I needed to get out of the office for a second and just switch up the scenery.”
Jem looks sympathetic.
“How can I help?”
I bite my lip for a moment.
“Well, I need to not think about work right now.”
My friend immediately brightens.
“Girlie, you’re in luck because I have some gossip for you!”
This time it’s my turn to brighten. I forgot how much I need human contact, and even these few minutes have been beneficial.
“Gossip? What is it? Something juicy, I hope.”
But then Jem frowns.
“I don’t know, Ads. Should I be gossiping with you? You are the boss now.”
My shoulders slump.
“Come on, Jemima. I’m going crazy here. Do you have any idea how lonely it is sitting by myself in that office? I really miss our good times!”
Jem relents a little.
“Yeah, it must be hard. I know that’s not what I would want, and you were the social butterfly too, helping so many people all the time.”
I curl into myself even more.
“Exactly. Being in an office is torture, and to be honest, I’m thinking about moving back out here, but I’m not sure it’d work out.”
Jem tilts her head at me curiously.
“But why not?”
I bite my lip hesitantly.
“You don’t think my being here would stifle things? I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”
Jem laughs.
“You could never make anyone uncomfortable, Addy. You sat with us for years! Yes, things have changed, but not that much. I think we all miss you down here, anyways.”
I nod happily.
“Good. I’ll think about it because I’ve missed you guys too. Now, you promised me some gossip.”
Jem grins devilishly.
“Oh, right! I went on a date last night.”
I roll my eyes because going on a date is not exactly news for my friend. She goes on a lot of dates, and runs through guys in New York like they’re water. Thankfully, nothing has changed.
“Okay, I’ll bite. How was it?”
Jem melts a bit, her eyes going dreamy.
“We met online. His profile pic was like, Leonardo di Caprio hot.”
I nod, impressed.
“Oh, damn. That’s hot.”
But then Jem squints.
“Yeah, but that’s the problem because this was no Leonardo. My date looked more like Jonah Hill in real life.”
I cringe.
“Ugh, sorry girlfriend. But do you mean current Jonah Hill or the old Jonah Hill? Because he’s been working out a lot the last couple of years.”
Jem shakes her head woefully.
“No, I mean Jonah Hill from Superbad. Complete with brown frizzy hair and a disturbed expression on his face.”
I have to laugh at that.
“Yikes. So what happened?”
Jem sighs.
“I stayed long enough for dinner because I didn’t want to be totally rude. But Jonah tried to get an invite into my apartment. Obviously, I turned him down and said goodnight. Then I called my friends with benefits for a hook-up instead.”
I laugh.
“At least you got a free meal out of it.”
But Jem is put out.
“But that’s not what I want! I don’t want free meals! I want a guy who actually looks like his pictures! Honestly, why do I bother trying to meet people online? They’re never as good as they seem on the app, and really, I should stick to meeting guys at bars like I used to.”
I grin.
“Didn’t you meet your friends with benefits online though?”
Jem sticks her tongue out at me.
“No, for your information, I actually met him in a bar. And he does not look like Jonah Hill. No FWB should because why would they be FWB if they did?”
Of course, I’ve never had a friends with benefits relationship, but Jem has a point.
“You’re right. Good thinking. And hey, the date may have sucked, but at least you got laid.”
Jem grins evilly.
“True. And Doug is really good in the sack.”
I sit up.
“But why don’t you date him then? He sounds like he has potential.”
Jemima rolls her eyes. “Doug definitely isn’t dating material because we just didn’t start off that way. Plus, he wears pants with palm trees on them, and I can’t be seen in public with someone dressed like that, even if underneath, he’s totally hung. Besides, I’m not exactly a one-man kind of girl either. I like playing the field. You’re only twenty-five once! Carpe diem!”
I shake my head.
“Carpe diem indeed. Just stay safe, girlfriend. You know there are a lot of crazies out there.”
She grins.
“I know, but so long as they don’t look like Jonah Hill, then I’m good with dating them. But what have you been up to? How’s your love life?”
I find myself blushing. It’s been torture not talking about Marcus with anyone, but that’s the way it is. Of course, my roommate knows, but that’s because I couldn’t keep it from Megan. She knows when I don’t come home to sleep, and lately, it’s been a lot. I’ve practically been living with Marcus, and it’s been heaven.
But at work, I’m very discreet.
“Oh, you know, the same,” I say vaguely.
Jemima eyes me curiously.
“What aren’t you telling me, Ads?”
“What do you mean?” my voice is about an octave too high because I’m terrible at lying. God, why did Jemima have to start asking me questions? It was much easier to talk about her.
“You’ve got something up your sleeve. Do you have a secret boyfriend?” she asks, rubbing her palms together.
“No, of course not!” I exclaim a little too vehemently.
“I don’t believe you. But if you want to keep it a secret, so be it. Make sure you tell me about it soon though because it’s about time you had some gossip about you. Carpe diem,” she says meaningfully again.
I giggle and wish I could tell Jemima everything. She might not judge me considering her own history with men, but she would be worried about me because it’s not generally a good idea to sleep with the boss.
That’s part of why Marcus and I are keeping our relationship a secret. We’ve been together for a few months now, but only a select few people know about us, like my mom. Of course, Pam loves Marcus. She swooned the first time she met my handsome boyfriend, and hasn’t stopped talking about him since.
I only wish we could be that open with everyone else because it’s not like me to keep secrets, but you have to do what you have to do. At that moment, Jem speaks, interrupting my thoughts.
“How are things going with the spring line, by the way?” she asks curiously. “Did you send the specs to the manufacturers? What did they say?”
I nod.
“Not yet, but soon. I’m nervous to hit send, but I think I need to just accept that I know what I’m doing. I wouldn’t have this job if I wasn’t good enough.”
“That’s my girl!”
“There is something else I want to talk to you about, though. The summer line.”
Jemima grins. “I’ve been working on it, and I’m sooooo excited about this line. It’s going to be the best thing we’ve ever put out.”
I blush. “Do you really think so?”
Jem nods furiously.
“I do. I know I’m not the target audience of the new line, but that’s kind of the point. We’re trying to be size-inclusive, and this is going to be incredibly exciting. The House of Steele is going to be the talk of the town.”
I blush and my breathing comes fast. I’ve poured my heart and soul into the new line, and it feels like everything’s riding on it: my reputation, my name, our business, and even my employees’ confidence. It makes me happy to hear Jemima raving because she’s been in fashion for a while now too, and she knows what she’s talking about.
“I’m really glad you like the idea,” I say.
She perks up.
“I love it! It’s going to be amazing. And one more idea: what if we did a plus-size bathing suit line?”
My eyes widen. “You think?”
Jemima crows.
“Absolutely girlfriend! Bigger ladies like to swim too, and why not design sexy swimsuits that show off their curves? Maybe in that trendy African batik print that everyone loves? It’ll be amazing.”
I nod.
“I think you’re right. Good thinking. Let’s definitely talk about it some more, and bring it to the team.”
She winks.
“You know they’ll love it.”
I smile at her, feeling lighter once more.
“I do think they will, and this is exactly why I want to move my office back out onto the floor. It’s conversations like this that get my creative juices flowing. I can’t stay in a tiny white office by myself all day.”
Jemima’s about to say something, but then Marcus’s assistant materializes out of nowhere.
“Hey Addy. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Sorry! You found me. What can I do for you?”
“Mr. Steele wants to see you in his office for a meeting.”
I force myself not to blush. I love when Marcus calls me into his office because sometimes, we have actual business issues to discuss. More often than not though, I end up bent over Marcus’s desk, enjoying his company in a wholly different way.
“Thank you, I’ll head over right now. Bye Jem.”
My friend grins.
“See you later, Addy. And don’t forget about the bathing suits!”
“I won’t,” I assure her with a smile before following Marcus’s assistant to his office. My heart is racing in the best way possible because I’ve been crazy stressed all day about the spring line, but now with these ideas for the summer line and my decision to move out into the shared workspace, things are going to be fine.
Now, a meeting with Marcus is just what I need to calm down … or rather, to heat things up all over again.