A Key to the CEO's Heart

There was a huge fountain in the middle of the garden. The neatly trimmed bushes and scrubs formed low hedges that made up the perfect circulation leading the people through the greenery world. I couldn’t stop exclaiming in my heart as I walked deeper into the garden, and that was when a gazebo next to the fountain suddenly entered my sight. The gazebo was distinct from a traditional one, it wasn’t built round nor hexagon, it was built on a rectangular concrete base. The thick wooden pillars stood by the four corners holding the rectangular frame up on top, the rafts laid horizontally on the frames, while the thinner one laid closely to each other on top of the raft structuring the roof. With the same materials, the corner brackets added essential supports to the structure. 

Minerva, the largest architectural design company in the USA, initially belonged to the Iverson family, it was named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, learning, art crafts and industry. My parents were fine architects, Jack and Lea Iverson, they started everything with this company, they developed their industries and soon built their own empire——the Iverson Group, they became one of the leaders of business in Chicago. Since young, I dreamed of becoming a great architect like my parents, I read my books about the history of architecture, I played with building designing simulators, I visited every museum, gallery and exhibition about all the architecture in the world, I even did my research about the best architecture school in the world so that my dream would come true. 

A week after we received the invitation, we attended the awarding ceremony of the competition right at one of Jamie Lee Peyton’s properties in Chicago——the Blue Horizon Hotel. Victor dressed himself in a slim fit pink suit with a floral shirt and a white tie inside, while I dressed up in a navy blue suit with a classic white t-shirt underneath. We chose a seat not too close to the front to keep ourselves low profiled, while not too far away from the stage so that we could take a good look at Jamie Lee Peyton’s face. As the ceremony started, the CEO of Minerva——Jamie Lee Peyton, was invited in by the host to give an opening speech. At the moment as he stepped up onto the stage, Victor and I finally had our opportunities to fetch his true appearance in sight. 

After deciding my female name, Victor began my makeover session first thing next morning. First, he took me to the beauty treatment. I was forced to undergo hair removal treatment, they plucked my facial hair and nose hair with tweezers; they waxed my armpits, chest, legs, and even my private part! Believe me, you won’t want to know how painful that felt! After the hair removal treatment, they gave me a relaxing facial and spa treatment. Glad it was free of charge. Afterwards, Victor took me to the malls he often shopped to get me some essential clothes and accessories for Henrietta Chandelier. We went to the office lady session right away. Victor chose plenty of clothes in different styles and colors with the

April, 2021.   Today, the time has finally come. After I ensure I am one hundred percent prepared to step on the route of my revengeance, I set off from my penthouse for Minerva.   As I arrive at Minerva, I look up to the beautiful contemporary high rise building that my parents built.   It was a long time ago I last had the chance to take a glance at it. It now looks a little bit different from what was printed in my memories, but I think it is alright for now, because once I take Jamie Lee Peyton down and take over the company, I will turn the building back to how it looked like during its earliest days.   Deeply, I take a breath. Once I pick up my courage, I take my step and walk into my battlefield.