Chapter Two
“Alexa’s here,” Janet said as she opened the reception hall doors.
Alexa walked right in and greeted everyone with a big smile on her face. She was wearing a tight black dress and six-inch high heels but she wore the little outfit with pride. She knew she had an amazing figure and with all eyes on her she knew she stole the moment. It was the perfect entrance.
She waved at Janet and then walked on to greet Old Jim, who was still staring at her with a warm look of affection.
“Have a happy retirement,” Alexa told him as she hugged him and kissed him on the cheeks. She then handed him a small box, neatly gift wrapped with a pink bow on top, and took a seat right beside him. “I’ll miss all our conversations over lunch.”
“I’ll miss them too,” he replied as he began opening the gift. “Now I’ll be stuck at home watching reruns of shows older than I am.”
Alexa laughed and watched the old man. She had given him a locket with their pictures inside. The look on his face was something she’d never forget.
“You’re so sweet, my dear,” Jim said as tears began to well up around his eyes. “I will miss you.”
“I miss you already,” Alexa told him. She then looked up and observed the people going about, dining and chatting while the company president, Denver, was at the podium talking about all the good times he’s had with Jim. Alexa flagged a waitress passing by and took a glass of wine. It was a tad bit too sweet but still delicious and warmed her to the bone.
Jim then tapped her on the shoulder, “Have you met the guy they hired to take my place?”
“No, not yet,” Alexa answered as she smacked her lips and placed the glass down on the table. “I hear he’s really good, though.”
Jim raised an eyebrow and nodded, “I have to agree, he is. He used to work for that Japanese electronics company and pulled them back up just four months after they declared bankruptcy. Right before Denver pulled him to our side he was also in negotiations to work for Apple.”
“Impressive,” Alexa shrugged. All old guys that had some sliver of intelligence could succeed in this field. “I mean, he has got to have a large list of triumphs at his age, right?”
“Oh, he isn’t an old wolf,” Jim said to her surprise. “Gary’s twenty-eight or twenty-nine, I think.”
What? That was a shocking blow for Alexa’s mind. “Wait, you mean he’s my age?”
“Can’t believe it?” Jim asked. He then pointed to the direction right behind her, “You better believe it, little lady, he’s here now.”
Alexa spun around and saw a man standing five feet behind her, holding a wine glass and chatting with some of her officemates. He was lean and tall, roughly six feet and three inches if she were to guess, and had a nice tan that went with the autumn-brown color of his hair. He had a neatly trimmed beard and thin, sharp lips. He almost looked Mediterranean if not for the deep blue hue of his eyes and the New York accent.
“That’s him?” Alexa silently mouthed to Old Jim. Jim nodded back and then raised a hand to call Gary to their table. Alexa panicked and tried to put Jim’s hand down but the young Vice President-elect had already noticed and immediately took a seat right beside her.
“Gary de Saint, meet Alexa Summers,” Jim introduced one to the other.
Alexa shook Gary’s hand, “Wow, that’s a grip.”
“Sorry,” Gary said, all the while his eyes locked onto hers. “I’m just used to giving more pressure.”
That was a weird thing to say, Alexa thought. Maybe he likes to work on cars. “Congratulations on the new position.”
“Congratulations that I retired,” Old Jim butt in. All three laughed.
“He is right, though,” Gary commented as they listed to the speech. “I wouldn’t be here without Jim letting go of his seat.”
Denver then called out Jim to give a speech of his own. Old Jim looked back at Alexa and Gary, gave them a wink and then wobbled his way up to the podium where he began greeting everyone and thanking everyone for attending.
“I’m going to miss that old man,” Alexa told Gary.
“I hear he was nice,” Gary said. “I guess now we’re going to be working together.”
Alexa sipped her wine and looked back at him, “Yes, I guess we are. I hope you got the files I sent in two days ago.”
“I did,” he replied. “I already went through them. You do amazing work. It’s no wonder Jim managed to get by even at his age. You should take some credit.”
She laughed at the suggestion, “Nobody credits the secretary.”
“Secretaries have their own rewards,” Gary said in a sly tone which quickly got her to gaze at him in wonder. “Everyone needs a reward now and then, especially when being as diligent as you.”
“Show me,” Alexa told him. “I haven’t met a single person who knows how to give me what I want.”
Gary smirked in amusement and said, “What do you want?”
Alexa leaned in closer and whispered to him, “Everything.”