The next day passes by quickly. My last day of freedom I had spent preparing for work and so it wasn't too eventful, but that's alright. As I stand outside of the tall, gray building I shudder at it's cold and intimidating vibe and take another sip of my black coffee. I like the bitterness of black coffee... well if I am being honest I really just love black. I mean not only does it go good with pretty much anything, but it's also just an awesome stand alone color. My mom used to always complain about me wearing nothing but black from head to toe. She thought it was just a phase, but boy was she wrong! Ten years later, I'm still covered in it, with a black beanie on the top of my head, a Rolling Stones t-shirt, black ripped jeans, black nail polish, and Balenciaga sneakers...yes I know it's my first day at work, but I have known the owner of the company for years, he won't care what I wear. Honestly, he's like a big brother to me. Someone I have always really looked up to, and now I'm gonna be working for him.
Opening the large double doors is a pretty woman with a scowl on her face. "Hi," she says cordially, nodding for me to follow her to wherever I am going first.
"Quite the ensemble you have there." I think I hear her mumble under her breath. I'm not sure because as soon as I enter the room my breath knocked out of me. Standing not more than five feet away is a girl, and not just any girl, but the girl. What a small world this is, huh? You think you have lost your chance with something and BOOM! It slams into you with such great force you aren't even sure that it's real anymore.
"Um, Cole? I don't have all day," the woman rolls her eyes at me reminding me of Cadence. I look up at her for the first time and notice her name tag. Deanna.
"Hey Deanna," I catch her attention as her name leaves my lips. "Who is that girl over there? She's a bit young to be working isn't she?" I ask even though I already know the answer. I just need to know more about her. I look at the outfit she is wearing today. Wow is all I can say. The girl is wearing a silver bomber jacket, black skinny jeans, and white platform sneakers. Today her hair is up in braids... I wonder what it would look like down...?
As I am thinking, Deanna interrupts me yet again. "Did you hear me?" I shake my head and again, she rolls her eyes. "I said that she is an intern. She goes to FIT, you know the best fashion college in all of New York City?" I nod again. "Yeah, it's a shame that Parker has really only used her for coffee orders, she seems like she has an eye for clothes doesn't she... I mean I don't give a shit, but you seem to care a lot so... ."
"Absolutely. She has a unique style...do you think Parker would let me work with her? I mean she's an intern, but she would bring a unique look to the clothing if we let her." I sound a bit desperate, and I think Deanna's catching on, because she grins and looks knowingly at me.
"Cole... why don't I show you to your desk and then you can flirt with your coworkers," she smiles for the first time since I met her (yes it was exactly five minutes ago, but still). Rolling my eyes, I shrug, taking one more glance at the girl before following Deanna up the stairs. "It is your first day after all... you aren't gonna get treated any different just because you and Parker are like old friends or whatever." She nods to an office and I go ahead, open the door and grin. It's a small office, sure, but it's all mine! The office is painted grey, and it had only one floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the main road. On the grey desk sat a desktop computer, a notebook, and a stack of papers sitting under a paperweight. In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at a high, and there was a swivel chair in the middle of the office. My own office... all for me. It wasn't much, but it was something.
"Oh my God, Deanna. This place is like freezing." I look down at my short-sleeved shirt. I knew I should have brought a jacket. "Yeah, I don't know why, but Timothy likes it cold," she shrugs, and I notice her short sleeve dress and raise an eyebrow at her choice of clothing. "What? I like to look good... even at work." she grins at me, and I smirk. I like this girl, but she is in way over her head with Timothy as a boss. Well "co-chair". Like he would ever share the spotlight with this girl. Deanna did not come across as someone who Timothy would purposefully hire. Not his kind of person. I shrugged to myself and sat down in a swivel chair. Damn, I had always wanted one of these at my old home. My father would always tell me that it would be hard to focus with one (well he told me a lot of bull shit) but look at me now. My own office, my own desk, and my own swivel chair. Checkmate, dad.
"So, what's your coffee order, Cole?" Deanna interrupts me from my thoughts. I blink at her a few times and she rolls her eyes at me once again... this woman has a serious attitude program. Like... who does she think she is talking to me like this. "Umm... a double blended venti frappuccino, half a pump of peppermint, and add whipped cream please," I look at her as innocently as I can.
"What the fuck do you think this is, a Starbucks?" instead of waiting for my answer she writes down my order anyways and calls a name. "Hey, Callie! Could you come over here please?" Deanna looks over her shoulder grinning. "Oh look Cole, it's your girlfriend. She's our coffee girl, so if you ever need anything just ask her." Deanna flips her hair and walks away, nodding to the girl.
"Hey, what's up?" Callie (I think that's her name) asks me.
"Umm... Deanna said that you're the coffee girl?" I look at her apologetically. Obviously she's just an intern who got stuck with coffee runs when she had better things to be doing with her time.
Callie rolls her eyes and nods at me. "Well... that's not my only job, but for Deanna it may as well be. That's literally what she calls me "Coffee Girl"." She fails at hiding her smile, and looks at me and I nod understanding her. She's obviously not going to let someone like Deanna make her quit an internship as prestigious as this.
"So... what was your order?" asks Callie, changing the subject.
"No, no, no, tell me. I may seem like a new guy to you, but Parker and I are old friends, and if you're having issues with Diana-"
"Deanna." she corrects me, politely.
"Whatever," I wave my hand in the air. "Don't worry about my coffee order. I saw the other day how much you have on your plate, I can order my own." I look at her freckles, which are dotted all across her cheeks and nose, they are a dark brown just like her hair, which is a silky black.
"Oh my God! I am so sorry, I thought I recognized you from somewhere!" her cheeks turn a bright red and she looks way younger than she did five minutes ago. More child-like in some ways. "We met at the coffee shop, huh? That was a rough morning for me, no wonder I forgot." Flustered she tugs on one of her dark braids with her nails, biting her lip nervously.
"Don't worry about it, I don't give a shit!" I shrug, standing up and walking toward her. Wasn't that a lie? Didn't I want her to remember me? She was so different from any girl I had ever spoken with. She was honest and her eyes gave away her thoughts. Touching my hand to her cheek, I feel her freeze under my touch. "Sorry, my bad," I mutter, walking out of my office and down the hall, leaving her to her own thoughts.
What the hell is the matter with me? I just got out of a long-ass relationship two days ago. The last thing I need is a distraction from my real passion. I look around the huge building. My future is here, with Parker and even Deanna. I needed to focus on fashion, my one true love.
"Cole Hayden, as I live and breathe!" calls Timothy from his office. As I walk down the hallway to him, I glance around at the photos, all of different outfits and styles. This was where I belonged. As amazing as Stockton was, I knew that if I stayed there I would become just like my dad: bitter and resentful.
"Timothy, how are you?" I nod to him.
Tim shook his head in disgust. "What the fuck is with all this from 'how are you' shit? You're acting as if I'm your boss or somethin'."
"Well... aren't you?" I cock an eyebrow, leaning against the wall. I look down at Deanna who is currently telling off one of the models.
"Not for long, my friend," Tim's grin spreads wide across his face. His dark bushy eyebrows and broad face make him look like a grizzly bear and when he smiles... well let's just say he was never going to model for his company.
"What do you mean by that?" by now I'm used to Tim's grand schemes, but by the sound of his voice he is planning something and it's not going to be good for everyone.
"Have you met my co-worker Deanna?"
"Yeah, of course. She gave me a tour of the place, why?"
"She's a bitch, huh?" he chuckles under his breath. I narrow my eyes at him. Tim is definitely planning something...
"I mean..." he doesn't let me finish before saying, "She is, don't lie to me. She fired our last intern for getting her coffee order wrong. The models hate her, the stylists despise her, and I... I can't stand her. So, I'm giving you her part of the company and she's gonna be fired by next week." He smiles at me as if it's the best plan he's ever come up with.
I shake my head, "Tim... that's hella risky. What if she tries to sue you? I mean... I'm barely out of college, bro. I need some time to get a hang of all of this, not to mention..."
"Quit making excuses Cole! This is what you have always wanted to do, way before me. You have a way with clothes, I don't know what it is, but you do. You could literally be my boss in another lifetime."
I roll my eyes... Timothy was lucky he had so much money, because he could be a real dumbass when it came to basic things. "You can't just fire Deanna, she's co-owner of the company!" I shake my head at him, trying to think of a way out of this. I had only just met Deanna, but I could tell she wouldn't take being fired very well.
"At least think it over, Park," I plead. "Don't just fire her, talk to her. Tell her why... tell her that you aren't happy with the way she does business. It's not uncommon in the business industry for owners of companies to have different ideas of how to run it. Talk it over with her. I'm not going to support you on this if you don't." Before he can say anything else I walk out of the room. Tim was born into the life of business... I mean it was basically handed to him, but that did not mean he was good at it. He would need help... it just sucks that it will be from me.