I was up all night going over those designs and putting the finishing touches on them. I tried to call him excited and wanting to share it with him, but the only thing that I got in response was his voice message service. I told him that it was no big deal and that I would see him in the morning. I was kinda hoping that he would reach out even if I was snuggled tight into my bed.
I finally got to sleep around 4:00 AM and that left me with 3 hours to dream about the possibilities. I woke up thinking that he was there with me. I lifted the sheet off of my naked body half expecting to see his smiling face nestled between my thighs, but there was nobody there. It felt so real that I could almost reach out and touch him.
I kept drifting in and out of that fantasy. I finally gave up around 5:30 AM. I had a sheen of sweat glistening on my skin. I looked at myself in the mirror and knew deep down that what I did was the right thing for everybody concerned. Office romances didn’t work and I couldn’t in good conscience drive a wedge between us because we couldn’t keep it in our pants.
I was pretty much a zombie in desperate need of caffeine which I found in his office waiting for me. The steam from the cup had me grabbing it and bringing it up to my lips without thinking about the scalding contents. I managed to avoid burning myself.
“I’m glad to see you. I don’t know about you, but I had a very productive evening. I want to show you what I came up with. It would not surprise me in the very least that you came up with your own additions. Let’s see if we are truly on the same wavelength. It could’ve been just one of those things and this way we can prove to one another that we can work together. It doesn’t have to be anything physical, no matter how much a certain party wants there to be something like that. There I go again making assumptions. I really do have a one-track mind.” August had reined himself in, but I did feel that there was more to what he had to say.
“I’ll show you mine…if you show me yours.” I was playing a dangerous game with that comment, but he took it in stride. He motioned for me to go first and I was tempted to start undressing to see that shocked look on his face, but I didn’t take it that far.
I opened up my portfolio and I put them alongside his and amazingly, they matched up almost perfectly. It was as if we were thinking the same thoughts. I wanted to believe that we could see each other out of the office, but I didn’t trust him to keep things friendly.
“I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it for myself. It’s as if we were both standing in front of each other, as we made these designs. I thought that you would make the perfect addition to my little family, but I didn’t think that we would be this much in sync. I was only playing last night when I said that Lionel was not going to know what hit him. I didn’t know how truthful that statement was until I saw this.” He gathered all of it up and we left there together about to go to war. There was no way to know how this was going to end.
Lionel was already in the conference room waiting for us to enter to give him what he wanted. He probably didn’t understand why he had to come in to personally oversee the designs. It probably made him nervous and leaving him to wait was a good way to keep him on edge.
“Lionel, it’s good to see you again and I do hope that everything has been well. I want you to meet my soon to be partner, Amanda Cochran. I know your feelings about women in general. I want to assure you that Amanda has some interesting ideas. There’s no reason to squirm. Take a look at what we have for you. If we can’t change your mind, then we will go back to the old favorite.” August was an artist just like me, but it didn’t matter how much he wanted this to happen. We thought that we had come up with something that he would be a damn fool to resist. The only way that we were going to know for sure was to see his reaction up close and personal.
“You’ve taken a real risk by bringing me something that I have no interest in seeing. I’m this close to awarding you the contract for three more buildings. I hope for your sake that you know what you’re doing, August. I’ve been married five times and you’d think after the third that I would know better than to stick my head in the Lions’ den again. The only thing that a woman is good for is to…” August put his hand up to stop Lionel from saying something that was going to make me want to punch him square in the face.
“I would ask respectively that you don’t finish that statement. Just take a look and see if this is something that makes you want to change your mind. I want the contract for the next three buildings, but I still feel that we can do better than what was acceptable back in the day. Judge it on the design itself and not who came up with it.” August was trying to wean him into it, but Lionel was fighting him every step of the way.
The worst thing of all was the silence. The clock was ticking and the tension that was in the air was making both I and August anxious. They say that no news is good news, but in this case, that wasn’t going to cut it.
After ten long minutes, Lionel stood up and kicked his chair back. He stood there staring at these designs and I half expected him to tear it up in front of our faces.
“How many years have we been working together, August?” His tone was indicative of somebody that was not happy.
“It has to be over 10 years. You know that I would never ask you to even consider this unless I thought it was a good idea. You of all people know that being stuck in the old ways is never going to make that statement anymore. You said emphatically that you wanted something that was going to showcase your company in the best possible light. You wanted a conversation starter and I think that we have done that.” August was playing the consummate salesman while at the same time appealing to his ego.
“I’m not foolish or senile. I know that eventually, I’m going to have to stand out of the way for the younger generation to take over. My son has been trying to convince me that there is a different way. I’ve been reluctant to listen to him, but maybe he does make some sense. I’m not sure how to say this… I like it. In fact, I think that if you could come up with various versions of the same theme that would give my company the facelift that I’m looking for.” Lionel had admitted that he was wrong to doubt August and his ability to see things from a different perspective.
“I’m kind of stunned. I thought for sure that you were going to reject it out of hand. I was going to try to fight you, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to have to. Are there any changes that you want to make, or are you finally going to give me freedom to do what I do best?” I wasn’t sure that August should have shined a light on Lionel’s ability to make those changes. It’s said that the client is always right and this was the motto that August lived by.
“I’m not sure. I’m going to have to give that some thought, but offhand I don’t see anything. Let me have until the end of the week and I’ll decide one way or the other. I think that we are on the same page. I apologize for my sexist attitude.” Lionel picked up his briefcase and took one last look at the plans. I saw the makings of a smile on his face.
“Don’t take too long. You want to break ground as soon as possible. I can have the construction crew at the site within 24 hours. All I need from you is the go ahead and for you to come up with the budget. Be generous, especially if you want this done post-haste with no delays. You know as well as I do that greasing the wheels takes money.” August went to him and gave him a warm handshake and a tap on the shoulder.
“There’s no reason why they can’t get started on the foundation. Get them started immediately. I want some preliminary drawings of the other three buildings by the time that I come back at the end of the week. I know that’s a little short notice, but I can make it worth your while with a sizable bonus for the both of you. They have to remain similar but with a unique signature all of its own. I’ll let the both of you iron out the details. It’s going to mean working long hours, but the payoff is going to be quite substantial.” He turned and went over with a very expensive looking pen gleaming in gold in his hand. He scribbled something down and then he passed it to August who deemed it necessary not to look at it, as a sign of respect, until Lionel left the office.
I thought that August showed remarkable restraint, but that all ended when the elevator had disappeared for over 30 seconds.
He screamed and I thought for sure that I was going to faint from his unexpected outburst.
“I think that we have a reason to celebrate. I have a bottle for such an occasion that I want you to share with me.” His face was lit up like the 4th of July. He hadn’t even looked at the paper that Lionel had scribbled down his offer on.
He opened up the paper in front of me and those were the kind of zeroes that could send my grandchildren to the best private schools’ money could buy. I didn’t even have one child and I was already thinking about the future like I was going to be part of this.
“Three more buildings from the same person is quite the coup. He must really think that you are able to get into his head. You make it look simple, but we both know that it’s not. It took me almost 5 hours just to figure out what he might find acceptable. I took those basic blueprints and I grafted something that was unique to him. Mind you, I didn’t do it alone and we play off of each other well.” I jumped back, as the cork to the champagne bottle that he had found went flying across the room.
“I know that it’s a little early in the day to drink, but I feel that we have more than earned it. I’m going to offer you 25% of what he proposed. I think that is being more than generous and that’s on top of the salary that I plan to give you annually with bonuses and stock options. This deal is only good until you leave this room. I hate to be ‘that’ guy, but I don’t have time to haggle. You’re not going to get anything better anyplace else. Besides, you’ll have to learn all over again those quirks of your boss.” He did make an interesting argument and I had already decided that I wanted to make this a long-term commitment.
“You mentioned this deal, but I haven’t seen anything on paper.” He put his finger up to his nose and reached into his suit jacket to pull out a proposal.
“I went on the assumption that things were going to work out and I had this made. It’s a lot of legalese, but the main point that you should be looking at is the figure at the bottom of the page. I have plans to take my genius and yours international. There is a Chinese delegation that has expressed interest. I’ve been reluctant, but having you there would help me to navigate the cultural differences between them and us.” August was basically saying that he wanted me to join him for an indefinite amount of time in China. I think on some level my post graduate work in cultural studies played into his decision.
“I have always wanted to see the world. I just never had the time and maybe this is that idea of having my cake and eating it too. I’m going to take your offer, but I will need some time to think about China. I have some obligations here, but I don’t think it’s anything that I can’t handle by e-mail or phone call.” With each new sip of the champagne, I began to feel more at ease and willing to take a risk for the sake of my career.
“I have been all over the world. It would be my honor to introduce you to some of the hot spots that are not known to the general public. There are tourist traps, but I have learned to listen to the advice of taxi drivers and bellboys. They know where the best places to go are, but for a price.” Weeks on end underneath him was only asking for something to happen. I had made it quite clear that my body was off limits.
“I am curious and it would be interesting to see how the other half lives. I’m assuming that we will have separate rooms. I don’t want you to get the impression that I’m cheap or easy.” I was only kidding, but I saw that he had taken my statement seriously.
“There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll have adjoining rooms, but there will be a lock on the other side. You’ve made your feelings crystal clear. I respect you for the work that you do. Having you around will help to loosen a few lips. I’m suggesting that you use your considerable womanly charms. Chinese men find American women fascinating.” I didn’t mind flirting. I was glad that he didn’t say that I was going to have to sleep with anybody. That would have been a deal breaker.
“I think that I can handle myself. I know what a man wants to hear regardless of nationality. They are all a sucker for a nice face and the curves that go along with it. I’m that forbidden fruit. I can dangle the bait without following through. I think that it would be interesting to have some late-night dinners together.” Without him trying to chase me around the office, I was finding that August was not the skirt chasing letch that I had thought him to be.
“I’m sure that we can fit that in, but I will be quite busy with my girlfriend.” That word was like a foreign invader to my personal space. He had said it nonchalantly and I didn’t even know that he was seeing someone. “I took your advice and I decided to grow up. I’ve been acting like such a little boy. I’ve always been interested in this one girl, but she never did give me the time of day. Last night, I caught her after she was done her shift at the diner and I expressed interest in getting to know her better. There was no sleazy come on and we just talked for hours. I’m going to invite her to come with us. I’m not sure that she will be receptive, but I need to make the effort.” I had no words and I felt this green streak of jealousy running down my back.
“Oh, my…would you look at the time. I have an appointment that I can’t miss. I won’t be gone long.” He didn’t try to tell me that I couldn’t go and it was a good thing that he didn’t. I needed some space and I really couldn’t breathe like some kind of anvil was lying on my chest.
“I want to get started on those three other buildings tomorrow morning. Take the rest of the day off and you deserve it for all the hard work that you’ve put in.” I was glad that he had said that and I had to have time to digest this new information about him having a girlfriend. I didn’t know why it bothered me so much, but it might have had something to do with the fact that he had transformed into the perfect man.
I had no interest in the man that treated me like a piece of meat, but this man was different and was giving me food for thought. I had no idea how I was going to handle seeing them together intimately and showing affection. It was looking like I was going to have to bite the bullet and find out.