Chapter 3: Charlotte's First Day

The weekend flew by like a breeze.  I stood in the Human Resources office waiting for them to give me my badge.  I dolled myself up for the picture.  I wore a pink blouse and black pencil skirt.  My red hair was twisted up halfway and my makeup was done just right to complement my skin.

“Miss Charlotte Reece?” I looked up, distracted from my thoughts.  

“You can head up to the 54th floor, Mrs. Helms will be waiting for you.” 

“Thank you,” I reply as I rode the elevator up to the 54th floor.  When I exited, I saw Kate waiting for me just like she had the day of my interview.  “Lauren called from HR and told me you were on your way up, so I figured I’d wait for you.  Here is your badge and  I got you a coffee too! I wasn’t sure what you liked though.”   Kate was so sweet.  She is going to make a great mother soon.  

“Thank you, Kate,” I said laughing as I took the coffee from her hand.  “You seem cheery today.” She blushes at my remark.  “Thank you, Charlotte, I am just excited, it is not very often I get to hang out with someone all day that isn’t Mr. Woods.”

I smiled hearing his name, “so, what’s first pn the agenda?”  

“Well Charlotte, I am going to get started on today’s folders, I need you to run this up to Mr. Woods office and hand him the pile of folders from yesterday.  I meant to take them up last night before I left, but my ankles were the size of softballs.  I just had to go home.” 

As I exited into the lobby that led to his office, I noticed the door was open a crack.  I could hear voices inside.  I could clearly hear his, and the other was a female. 

“Nathan, we have to do this, the priest wants to talk to us before we walk down the isle and today is the only day he can do it!”

“I can’t today Alyse! I told you that! I have a meeting with a big client later that I can’t miss- “

“No! Have Tobias do it! You let him take over for everything else why not this?!” 

Clearly, they were angry with each other.  This was an argument I did not want to walk into the middle of but I did not want Kate to have to do much moving around or lifting if I could help it.  I want to make this week as easy as possible for her. 

I knock on the door and wait.  

“WHAT!” I heard Nathan’s stern voice.

I bowed in the doorway holding the folders in my arm.  I looked at the woman who was standing next to the desk.  She was beautiful.  .  She had long blonde hair and the prettiest deep blue eyes.  They weren’t the ice blue eyes like Nathan’s, but the deep blue ones that anyone could get lost in.  She had on a tight pink dress and pink shoes to match.  Her phone in her hand as she was furiously texting with someone.  

“You can come in Charlotte,” Nathan said, his voice calming down once I entered.  I walked over and placed the files on the desk. “Kate asked me to bring these up to you, I am sure she will have more later.” 

I turned to walk away as Nathan grabbed my hand.  “Charlotte wait, I want you to meet Alyse.”  Alyse saw our connection and her eyes flickered to me.  

“Why do I want to meet your assistant Nathan?” she snarked at me.  “I don’t talk to bottom dwellers, you know that.”  She turned her gaze to her perfect manicured pink nails, the same pink as her dress.  

“Alyse stop.  I wanted you to meet Charlotte because she is not just my assistant, but also my friend.  She was my best friend until her and her mom left when I was fourteen.”

Alyse looked at him, “this is that girl? The one who was the daughter to your nanny? Good riddance, I see why you gave her a job here, once a low life, always a low life.”  

Nathan glared at her, boring his icy blue eyes right into her.  “That is enough Alyse, if you want me to meet the priest today, you will show Charlotte respect.  I will not have you talking about her like that.” 

Alyse huffed, “fine, 2pm don’t be late.”  

She grabbed her purse off Nathan’s desk and walked out of the room, her pink stilettos clicking as she walked. 

“Sorry about her, she can be a drama queen when she doesn’t get her way.  Thank you for the files.”  

I listen to him speak while my eyes remained trained on the door that Alyse just left from.  When I saw their picture last night, she looked like a sweet girl, this woman was anything but sweet.

“The picture doesn’t do her justice.”  I turn back to Nathan.  He looked at me confused. “What picture?”  

“The one online, I looked you up last night after I received my congratulations email.”  

Nathan sighed.  “Yeah, she can be a handful.  But I guess there are worse fish out there.” He laughed. 

“Well congratulations on your engagement.  Hopefully you two will be very happy.”  I forced a smile on my face, my stomach in knots.  I don’t know why I am feeling like this.  It is like I am jealous of Alyse.  My feelings for Nathan, whatever they are, should be gone, but the moment I saw him again, those sparks came right back.  

I could tell by his reaction the other day, that they never did for him.  I shake my head and look at Nathan.  “It was nice to meet her, I should get back to Kate.”

“Sure,” he nods as I go to leave, “hey Charlotte?” 

“Yeah?” 

“We should get lunch sometime.”