When I think back to that June day so many years ago, only one thing stands out—this one memory, preserved in vibrant technicolor. There must have been well over a hundred pictures…caps and gowns and sparkling champagne, groups of my friends all huddled together…but the most vivid memory is one I have no photograph of at all.
I’m in my car driving away as my friends cheer and whoop and laugh, ecstatic with the liberation they feel at finally having a diploma in their hands. But through the window I see him. He’s there, with his parents, who are beaming at him as he stands proud with a bright assortment of tassels and ribbons wrapped around his neck—as any valedictorian would.
I know what my friends are thinking as the car speeds ahead. Goodbye Buffalo, goodbye high school, hello anywhere but here. But I was the one staring at someone through the back window.
And all these years later, as much as I hate to admit it, there’s been a part of me that’s been staring back ever since.
I found myself staring wide-eyed as I walked into the office.
“Don’t worry,” the girl walking me in said with a wink as I examined what must have been an outrageously expensive painting. “Most people make that face the first time they come in here.”
I knew the Torver Group was an illustrious company, but the interior of their office was truly mind-blowing, and must have cost a fortune. The reception room was painted deep gray and decorated with bizarre and brightly colored modern art. A Swiss coffee machine stood in the corner and a thick pile of luxury magazines were stacked in a neat pile on the center table. The furniture, consisting of high-backed cream chairs and a sofa, looked straight out of Versailles.
Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Buffalo anymore.
The girl, who introduced herself as Sabryna, was the assistant to my new boss, Johnathan Torver. She was a curvy black woman with bright eyes framed by dark red glasses. Sabryna had a cutesy, vintage sort of fashion sense, and wore a polka-dotted green and white dress with a plastic owl necklace.
“Sit down,” she said kindly. “Johnathan will be with you in a moment.” I perched myself carefully on one of the chairs, which were so pristine it seemed a shame to sit on them. Sabryna smiled at me as she typed away notes on her computer in the corner, and I tried my best to stay calm.
“Marissa?” asked a voice suddenly, and I nearly jumped.
“Yes,” I said, standing up. “That’s me.”
“Johnathan Torver,” said my new boss, shaking my hand. “Here, let’s sit down in my office.”
I followed Johnathan into his office, which was an organized, manly sort of place made up of mahogany furniture and high-tech gadgets. It was hard not to stare at Johnathan—he was undoubtedly an incredibly attractive man, with piercing blue eyes, dark blond stubble, and a muscular build showing through his button-down shirt.
“Welcome to the Torver Group, Marissa,” said Johnathan, leaning back in his chair. “I hope you know how thrilled we are to have you as our newest board member.”
“Thank you,” I said, my nerves still on edge.
“I expect you had a nice journey from Buffalo? You’ve settled in nicely?”
“Oh, absolutely,” I said, wondering if this ridiculously wealthy man could ever have the faintest idea of just how crappy my apartment was. “I’m loving Seattle already.”
“Excellent,” Johnathan said. “We’re really excited to have you join our board, as you know, after all your experience working with Buffalo Financial.”
I nodded, thinking back to my familiar cubicle at my old company. God, I really hope moving here was the right choice.
“So, it’s already Friday afternoon,” Johnathan said, holding back a yawn, “So we’ll just push your first day to Monday. However, our Christmas kick-off party is tomorrow, and it’d be a great chance for you to get to know everyone.”
“Oh,” I said, my shyness suddenly kicking in. “I don’t know if…”
“Come on!” Johnathan said with the true ease of a former frat boy. “There’s a really stupid ice sculpture and candy canes and everything.”
“Well, alright,” I said, realizing it wasn’t optional. I stood up and straightened out my skirt. “I’ll see you there.” I said, smiling, and shook Johnathan’s hand again.
I took a deep breath as I left the office. New boss, new job, new Marissa.
I just hope the old Marissa would be able to handle the transition.
***
When I got home I spent an hour or two putting my things away in the apartment, arranging and rearranging until I was exhausted. Seattle was a strange city…full of dirt and grime and towering skyscrapers that made me nervous just looking at them. It would take a while to feel at home here.
I logged onto Facebook to see that Johnathan had sent me a friend request along with a formal invitation to tomorrow’s party. I sighed, clicked the accept button, and confirmed I’d be at the office at six p.m. sharp tomorrow.
I scanned the faces of the people who had R.S.V.P.’d yes, my stomach already lurching. An evening of small talk with these people would be painful, but unfortunately, very necessary for my success at the company. The people here, judging from their photos, looked far from the type of coworkers I was used to in Buffalo. The profile pictures ranged from tailored professional portraits to vacation photos in front of places like the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower. What on earth was I going to have to say to these people? What was I supposed to—
I froze. Oh, god.
I doubled over the picture and the name to make sure I wasn’t completely hallucinating. This had to be some sort of joke.
Kirk.
After all these years, Kirk.