One Look At You Read Online Free
Author: Sofie Hartwell
went up with the guy to his suite? Did something happen between us? How is it possible that I don’t even know, can’t even tell? My brain is about to burst from all the questions. I take a deep breath and dissemble unconcern.
“You’re right. I should just put this behind me.” He nods in agreement. “Thank you, Mark. Thanks for the ride. Most of all, thanks for just caring.”
“Sleep in for the rest of the day. You’ll feel better.”
I say nothing, but I know a big part of me wants to remember exactly what happened.
CHAPTER 2
I hastily wave at Robert, the concierge, as I walk through the huge lobby. Tower 88 is one of the dozen tallest high-rises in Los Angeles. It’s a postmodern edifice built by the world-famous architect, Lucas Palermo. Everyone in the financial district simply refers to this tower of glass and off-white steel as ‘The Tower.’ Its forty-eight floors house some of the biggest names in banking and industry. I work at the national headquarters of Gallo’s, the third largest coffee chain in the world, and our offices are on the top floor in the penthouse.
In my senior year in high school, I was fortunate enough to be hired on as a trainee. Mitch, the night manager, liked my work ethic. He put in my name for one of the corporate scholarships. I was one of the ten chosen that year, and as a result I managed to graduate with a business economics degree from UC San Diego without having to take on a crushing student loan. I was then offered a job in the finance department of Gallo’s, where I’ve been for the past three years.
John Bailey is my immediate supervisor. He’s in charge of Accounts Payables. I’ve been his assistant for a little over a year. John is a hard worker but, at the end of the day, he can’t wait to go home to his lovely wife, Ana, and their three year old toddler, Kent. Ana is only eight years older than me, but she fusses over me like a mother hen. Her favorite pastime is trying to fix me up on a blind date. I adore her but, sadly, her efforts have been fruitless.
I go into John’s office. “Good morning, John. Did you have a chance to go over the spreadsheet last night?”
“And a good morning to you, too, Liv. I haven’t even had my first cup of java and you’re already raring to start?” He smiles good-naturedly.
“You know how Mondays can be so frantic. Might as well start with the big stuff.”
“True. But today we have bigger things to attend to,” he says with a frown creasing his forehead.
“Bigger things? Like what? It took me a week to get all the numbers for this file. What can be bigger than that? Is the Board having a special meeting or something?”
“No. No board meeting or anything like that. But Ralph is leaving, and his successor is asking for a bunch of reports.”
“Mr. Donaldson is leaving? And someone’s ready to take over?” I’m surprised by the turn of events. Ralph Donaldson has been Chief Financial Officer for over ten years. I would have thought that it would take some time to find his replacement, and yet it seems that they already have someone lined up.
“I know. I couldn’t believe it myself when they called this morning.”
“Why is he leaving, though?” John and I have an easygoing relationship, so I know he doesn’t mind that I’m indulging in gossip right now.
He lifts an eyebrow and says, “Well, rumor has it that he’s been recruited to head RKM Food Group. We’ll find out soon enough, I guess.”
“So who’s taking over?”
“Unconfirmed. He’s officially taking over next Monday. Ralph has emailed the department heads to prepare the reports that the new CFO has requested. I’m afraid you’ll be having no social life for the next five days.”
“What else is new?” I respond flippantly. “What do you want me to start with?”
John hands me a printed list and I study it carefully. “Wow, the new CFO doesn’t ask for much, does he?” The man is detail-oriented and obviously
“You’re right. I should just put this behind me.” He nods in agreement. “Thank you, Mark. Thanks for the ride. Most of all, thanks for just caring.”
“Sleep in for the rest of the day. You’ll feel better.”
I say nothing, but I know a big part of me wants to remember exactly what happened.
CHAPTER 2
I hastily wave at Robert, the concierge, as I walk through the huge lobby. Tower 88 is one of the dozen tallest high-rises in Los Angeles. It’s a postmodern edifice built by the world-famous architect, Lucas Palermo. Everyone in the financial district simply refers to this tower of glass and off-white steel as ‘The Tower.’ Its forty-eight floors house some of the biggest names in banking and industry. I work at the national headquarters of Gallo’s, the third largest coffee chain in the world, and our offices are on the top floor in the penthouse.
In my senior year in high school, I was fortunate enough to be hired on as a trainee. Mitch, the night manager, liked my work ethic. He put in my name for one of the corporate scholarships. I was one of the ten chosen that year, and as a result I managed to graduate with a business economics degree from UC San Diego without having to take on a crushing student loan. I was then offered a job in the finance department of Gallo’s, where I’ve been for the past three years.
John Bailey is my immediate supervisor. He’s in charge of Accounts Payables. I’ve been his assistant for a little over a year. John is a hard worker but, at the end of the day, he can’t wait to go home to his lovely wife, Ana, and their three year old toddler, Kent. Ana is only eight years older than me, but she fusses over me like a mother hen. Her favorite pastime is trying to fix me up on a blind date. I adore her but, sadly, her efforts have been fruitless.
I go into John’s office. “Good morning, John. Did you have a chance to go over the spreadsheet last night?”
“And a good morning to you, too, Liv. I haven’t even had my first cup of java and you’re already raring to start?” He smiles good-naturedly.
“You know how Mondays can be so frantic. Might as well start with the big stuff.”
“True. But today we have bigger things to attend to,” he says with a frown creasing his forehead.
“Bigger things? Like what? It took me a week to get all the numbers for this file. What can be bigger than that? Is the Board having a special meeting or something?”
“No. No board meeting or anything like that. But Ralph is leaving, and his successor is asking for a bunch of reports.”
“Mr. Donaldson is leaving? And someone’s ready to take over?” I’m surprised by the turn of events. Ralph Donaldson has been Chief Financial Officer for over ten years. I would have thought that it would take some time to find his replacement, and yet it seems that they already have someone lined up.
“I know. I couldn’t believe it myself when they called this morning.”
“Why is he leaving, though?” John and I have an easygoing relationship, so I know he doesn’t mind that I’m indulging in gossip right now.
He lifts an eyebrow and says, “Well, rumor has it that he’s been recruited to head RKM Food Group. We’ll find out soon enough, I guess.”
“So who’s taking over?”
“Unconfirmed. He’s officially taking over next Monday. Ralph has emailed the department heads to prepare the reports that the new CFO has requested. I’m afraid you’ll be having no social life for the next five days.”
“What else is new?” I respond flippantly. “What do you want me to start with?”
John hands me a printed list and I study it carefully. “Wow, the new CFO doesn’t ask for much, does he?” The man is detail-oriented and obviously
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