Ashley

“Knock, knock.”

“Hey there, Ross. What brings you around?” I asked.

“I wanted to drop in on you and tell you we’re moving you to a different floor.”

I felt my heart drop to my toes as the blood drained from my face.

“Oh, really? That’s a shame. Am I headed back to Accounting?” I asked.

“Oh, no. No, no, no. You’re coming up another floor.”

“You’re moving me to the top floor?” I asked.

“Yes. You’re part of corporate now. That’s where we all are. It’s taken us a little longer to clear out an office for you. It hasn’t been used in a while, and the window washers just left.”

“Window washers?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. They come by a couple times a month. Anyway, I’m setting you up with our office designer for the day. She’ll be coming by to get you in a few minutes, and the two of you will be picking out furniture for your new space.”

“Are you sure that’s necessary? I’ve settled in nicely here. I promise this is fine,” I said.

“Nope. You’re not staying here. If you like the furniture here, we can have it moved upstairs. But I figured you would rather want new furniture for your office instead of this used stuff.”

“Well, this ‘used stuff’ is pretty nice,” I said with a grin.

“I forget you worked in a cubicle a week ago. Her name’s Deborah.”

“Who?”

“The office designer. I believe those are her heels clicking on the floor now.”

“Ross? Is that you?”

A powerful voice wafted down the hallway as a smile grew across Ross’s face. A powerful woman came into my office, donning a powerful black pantsuit with a bright white blouse underneath. Her dark brown hair was neatly pinned into a twist on her head, and her jewelry was very muted. Sterling silver studs, a delicate silver chain that hung loosely around her neck, and something that looked like a wedding band around her left ring finger.

“Deborah, this is Ashley. She’s the newest addition upstairs. She’s never had an office of her own, so don’t let her skimp on you,” Ross said.

“Oh, a newbie. I love newbies. We’re going to make your office perfect for you, Miss ...?”

“Ternbeau. But you can call me Ashley,” I said.

“Ashley, it is. You ready to go up and see your new space? I can’t wait to outfit it for you.”

Her cheery voice put a smile on my face as I stood up from my desk. I slipped all my work off to the side and grabbed my purse as Ross smiled broadly at me. I wasn’t used to being treated like this, to being spoiled with all these nice things. Being pampered like this was something I’d never dreamed of in my wildest dreams, but I was enjoying it already.

We took the stairs up to the last floor and made our way down the hallway. We passed by the waiting room and the receptionist. We passed by Jimmy’s office, and I felt my eyes lingering on his door. Deborah was talking a thousand miles a second about always having fun designing the female offices, and we rounded the corner before she stopped at a door.

“Well, this is you,” she said.

“Wait, right here?” I asked.

I looked back at Jimmy’s office. Just a few long strides away from mine.

“Yep! Ready to see it?”

Deborah pushed the door in, and I was rendered speechless. The room was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows that covered the expanse of the back wall. The truncated wall to my left that created the corner of the hallway had built-in book-shelving and the carpet was plush underneath my feet. I walked into the middle of the room, my jaw swinging to the floor as my eyes took in the beautiful space.

It was mine.

This place was all mine.

“Why don’t we start with the three main pieces of any corporate office. The sitting space, the desk, and the closet.”

“The closet?” I asked.

“Yes. Most corporate offices have a closet that sits in the corner to hide a few outfits from sight in case they have to go from the office to a party or a dinner or a meeting of some sort.”

“Oh, no. No. I don’t have that kind of job,” I said.

“Trust me, you’ll want one. And if I’m not mistaken, through that door in the corner is your own personal restroom. I can help you stock that with things as well.”

I walked over to the door in the left-hand corner and tossed it open. I turned on the light and watched it illuminate a very spacious private bathroom. It even had a walk-in shower in case I needed to take one.

I was overwhelmed by the expanse of this place.

I stood in the middle of the room as Deborah handed me magazine after magazine. I circled a few pieces I loved, but it took us a while to settle on a desk. She wanted to try and sell me on a massive cherry mahogany mammoth of a desk I would never need. But everything else was easy to settle on.

The plush carpet was a blueish gray, so a pale yellow couch and chair set would go in the corner along with a delicate marbled coffee table. The clothing closet I was apparently expected to use came in a blond wood finished in a matte gloss that would soak up the setting Miami sun wonderfully. Or so Deborah said. She ordered a mixture of pale orange and rich crimson towels and necessities for my bathroom, and then we got to work on the decorations.

I got to pick out a few pictures to be hung on the wall and added curtains I could draw along the entire back wall if the view became too much. I ordered a paperweight, though I wasn’t sure what I would need it for, as well as a slew of pencils, pens, and all the necessities that went with having a desk. Deborah was insistent I get a crystal glass set to put on the coffee table, and I wasn’t sure what for. Until she told me I could fill it with my favorite drinks and offer them to guests and investors that came to visit for whatever reason.

I wasn’t sure who would be visiting me in my office, but she made it seem as if I needed it.

Two hours and almost four hundred thousand dollars later, the office was outfitted. She promptly put in the order and said I’d be ready to move into my new office by the middle of the week, and I smiled. Something in my gut told me I had Jimmy to thank for this. There was no reason for an Account Representative, no matter who I looked over, to have an office space on the top floor of an office building. With a view of the ocean and someone to help me personalize an office.

But it was happening, and I wanted to thank him.

I poked my head out and watched as Deborah left me in the empty office. I couldn’t get over how close Jimmy and I were going to be on a daily basis. Just a few long strides from my front door to his, and if he left his door open, I’d be able to see right into his office. I wanted to go thank him, to tell him it was all too much and express to him how grateful I for everything he was doing for me.

For everything he had already done.

I wanted to tell him about all the things I could do now. The home I could move into and the dog I was able to adopt. The care I could afford for my mother now and the foods I could pay to eat. I could take care of myself the way I wanted to and give myself things I hadn’t thought about in years like pedicures and manicures and building a decent savings account.

Not to mention the retirement account I now had with this new position.

But I knew that would be weird. Spewing my entire life like that for him would be weird, but anything less felt odd. Knocking on his door to simply peek in and say “thanks” would probably make me look desperate. Or clingy. Or needlessly trying to find a way to be around him.

The last thing I needed to do was ruin how much good this was bringing me.

So, I slipped by his office, made my way back to the lower floor, and got back to work.

I could always tell him another time. If the moment arose naturally.