12-15-2014, 11:05 AM
Emily sat and wondered more about Giovanni. She turned towards Ayden and met her eyes, and made a quick nod towards Giovanni silently asking what she thought of the guy. Ayden shook her head slightly. Emily nodded in understanding. There was something about the guy she didn't like, and Emily was aware that her own judgement in men was lacking.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ring of her wallet. She pulled it out and an exasperated look came over her face. It was her personal assistant Andrew. She wasn't really upset that he was calling, but she had really wanted a couple weeks without having to work. She knew it was too good to be true.
She turned towards her friends. "Excuse me. I need to take this."
She stood up and walked away, going to a quiet area of the gym. She could still see the group from where she stood and faced them as she leaned against the wall. She answered the call.
"Hello, Andrew."
She hid her frustration well.
"Ms. Shale, we just finished the board meeting and as your proxy, I thought I should call you and let you know what was discussed."
Emily sighed. This really did frustrate her. "This can't wait until I come back?"
"I know you're on vacation. If I didn't think you needed to know this before your return, I wouldn't have called."
His tone wasn't angry - merely matter-of-fact.
She sighed again, feeling bad for her reaction. "I'm sorry - you know how stressful things have been and how much I need this break."
She could almost hear his smile. "No worries - I understand.
His voice became more serious. "The board was discussing our international endeavors. We're already an international company and are thinking about branching out. International HQ - maybe a new division as well. Nothing concrete yet - except that they think Moscow is the logical choice for a location. They left out the details - it's a big decision and the board thinks that you should be a part of making that decision."
Emily blinked as the multitude of decisions she had made in the last month and the decisions she would have to make soon ran through her head. All of it was overwhelming and she could feel the tears beginning to well up from the sensation. God, she didn't want to cry.
"You're upset, I can tell. Tell me what's going through your mind."
His tone was the same that he had used when he found her crying as a little girl.
"So much...I'm just overwhelmed. So many decisions to make."
Andrew sighed. "Don't think too hard right now. We'll go through the details and everything when you get back. You're on vacation, so keep relaxing. I know this is a big deal, but I didn't want it all thrown in your lap when you get back to Chicago. I just wanted you to know. There are no decisions to make yet, and when there is, we'll be here to help you."
Emily took a few deep breaths to calm down. The tears were still falling and she wiped her eyes. She knew he was right. Things would be okay, but everything in her life had changed so fast. She missed her mom and dad so much.
"Emily, are you okay?"
Emily was glad that he could switch so quickly between her assistant and friend.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just a lot to process. This...this is a big deal."
Her tone became more formal and businesslike. "Thank you for informing me. I expect a report on what we need to decide with figures when I get back."
Andrew flipped back to professional. "Of course, Miss Shale. I will begin working on it first thing in the morning."
His tone once again became lighthearted. "Have fun and be safe."
"Thanks. Goodbye, Andrew."
Emily hung up her wallet and wiped at her eyes again. Wow - this really was a big deal and she couldn't help but think about it. She went to the bathroom to wash her face before returning to where Ayden, Connor, and Giovanni sat. "I'm back. What did I miss?"
Despite the redness still in her eyes she smiled.
Edited by Emily Shale, Dec 15 2014, 11:08 AM.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ring of her wallet. She pulled it out and an exasperated look came over her face. It was her personal assistant Andrew. She wasn't really upset that he was calling, but she had really wanted a couple weeks without having to work. She knew it was too good to be true.
She turned towards her friends. "Excuse me. I need to take this."
She stood up and walked away, going to a quiet area of the gym. She could still see the group from where she stood and faced them as she leaned against the wall. She answered the call.
"Hello, Andrew."
She hid her frustration well.
"Ms. Shale, we just finished the board meeting and as your proxy, I thought I should call you and let you know what was discussed."
Emily sighed. This really did frustrate her. "This can't wait until I come back?"
"I know you're on vacation. If I didn't think you needed to know this before your return, I wouldn't have called."
His tone wasn't angry - merely matter-of-fact.
She sighed again, feeling bad for her reaction. "I'm sorry - you know how stressful things have been and how much I need this break."
She could almost hear his smile. "No worries - I understand.
His voice became more serious. "The board was discussing our international endeavors. We're already an international company and are thinking about branching out. International HQ - maybe a new division as well. Nothing concrete yet - except that they think Moscow is the logical choice for a location. They left out the details - it's a big decision and the board thinks that you should be a part of making that decision."
Emily blinked as the multitude of decisions she had made in the last month and the decisions she would have to make soon ran through her head. All of it was overwhelming and she could feel the tears beginning to well up from the sensation. God, she didn't want to cry.
"You're upset, I can tell. Tell me what's going through your mind."
His tone was the same that he had used when he found her crying as a little girl.
"So much...I'm just overwhelmed. So many decisions to make."
Andrew sighed. "Don't think too hard right now. We'll go through the details and everything when you get back. You're on vacation, so keep relaxing. I know this is a big deal, but I didn't want it all thrown in your lap when you get back to Chicago. I just wanted you to know. There are no decisions to make yet, and when there is, we'll be here to help you."
Emily took a few deep breaths to calm down. The tears were still falling and she wiped her eyes. She knew he was right. Things would be okay, but everything in her life had changed so fast. She missed her mom and dad so much.
"Emily, are you okay?"
Emily was glad that he could switch so quickly between her assistant and friend.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just a lot to process. This...this is a big deal."
Her tone became more formal and businesslike. "Thank you for informing me. I expect a report on what we need to decide with figures when I get back."
Andrew flipped back to professional. "Of course, Miss Shale. I will begin working on it first thing in the morning."
His tone once again became lighthearted. "Have fun and be safe."
"Thanks. Goodbye, Andrew."
Emily hung up her wallet and wiped at her eyes again. Wow - this really was a big deal and she couldn't help but think about it. She went to the bathroom to wash her face before returning to where Ayden, Connor, and Giovanni sat. "I'm back. What did I miss?"
Despite the redness still in her eyes she smiled.
Edited by Emily Shale, Dec 15 2014, 11:08 AM.