Love and Work

Maeve rushed down the stairs, her blonde hair flying behind her as she hastily grabbed a muffin from the table, biting into it. “Good morning, dad,” she greeted, her voice muffled by what was in her mouth.

Her father lowered the newspaper he was reading. “In a hurry?”

“Yeah. Noelle is waiting for me outside. I asked her to meet me very early this morning,” she answered. “Okay, can’t talk much, bye!” She said, scurrying out of the house. Just as she stepped out of the house, she noticed Noelle standing outside, dressed in a pair of black pant and a black jacket. “Here,” she shoved her bag into Noelle’s hands.

“Good morning, Miss Casalengo,” Noelle greeted, promptly collecting the bag.

“Where is that dumbass?” Maeve fumed, ignoring Noelle’s greeting. “Oh there he is,” she said as she sighted her driver getting into the car. “Come with me,” she ordered Noelle and the both of them walked towards the car. Noelle opened the door for Maeve to get in then, followed after hers. As soon as the door was closed, the driver started the car.

“My schedule for the day?” Maeve asked, swiping her phone out.

Noelle flipped open a notepad. “You have two interviews at talk show today, and a meeting with Dylan Bass,” Noelle said. 

“Good. You have the address of the shows and their numbers?” She asked. “What time?”

“One is by ten this morning,” Noelle flipped the notepad. “Another by two and then, Dylan Bass is expecting you in his home by five in the evening.”

“Okay, that’s perfect then,” Maeve said. “How are the invitations going?” She asked.

“Hmm…..I’m almost done,” Noelle answered. 

Maeve narrowed her eyes at her assistant. “You have to finish up before tomorrow,” she said in a sharp tone and Noelle hurriedly nodded her head. 

“Miss Casalengo?” Noelle called in a small, timid voice.

“What?”

“I….I was going through the list of the people I’m to invite and I observed something,” she paused. Maeve raised a brow at her to continue and she did so hurriedly. “Mr. Dominic Fitz name isn’t there,” she said. “So I’m wondering if you omitted it and if I should include his……”

“No,” Maeve snapped.

Noelle thought she wasn’t hearing clearly. “No?” She repeated.

“No. I don’t want that man anywhere near my party,” she snapped, her eyes darkening as she glared at Noelle. “I must not see him there. Do not invite him.”

“Yes……yes ma.”

The car rolled to a stop in front of the company’s building. The driver climbed out of the car, turning over to pull the door open for Maeve. She climbed out of the car and the moment the flashes of cameras started pouring in, she slid on her shades, waited for the men in suit to surround her and started to walk into the building, not taking a moment to glance back at her secretary who was struggling to find her way in in the midst of the paparazzi.

They were scattered greetings of “Good morning Miss Maeve,” and “Good morning Miss Casalengo,” which she ignored, heading straight for the elevator. Noelle rushed after her, forcing herself into the elevator before it slid close. She panted slightly, swatting the hair that stuck to her forehead due to sweat.

“Can you breathe loudly somewhere else?” Maeve asked in an irritated tone.

“Sorry,” Noelle mumbled.

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. They walked out of it and Maeve walked straight to her office, paying no attention to the woman scurrying behind her. She stopped in front of the door and turned slightly. “Why are you so slow?” She snapped.

“Sorry.” Noelle hurried to the front, pushing the door open for her. She stepped aside slightly for Maeve to enter, then followed her in. “Um…..we can’t wait long,” she said to Maeve who raised a brow at her questioningly. “We have to be on our way if we want to get your hair and makeup done before the interview,” Noelle informed her.

“Oh right.” Maeve sighed. “You are right.” She rose to her feet and grabbed her phone. “Come on, let’s go. Text my driver to meet us outside now,” she ordered, walking out of the office and back into the elevator. Once the elevator slid open, they walked out of it.

They left the the building amidst stares from people which Maeve ignored of course. She was an expert at this, ignoring glares or stares from people, avoiding the paparazzi.

Maeve and Noelle climbed into the car with Noelle giving the driver the location they were going. Maeve sunk into her seat and closed her eyes, feeling a slight headache coming on. She hadn’t slept at all the previous night, then, she had to leave the house very early.

“Miss Maeve, I contacted your make-up artist and your stylist. They’ll be meeting us there,” Noelle said, flipping through her notepad.

Maeve’s eyes flew open. “I have a makeup artist and a stylist now? Since when?”

“Oh, I hired some when I was told you’ll be coming,” Noelle answered. 

Maeve pursed her lips. “I see.”

“Have you eaten this morning, Miss Maeve?” Noelle asked. “I can get us something when we get there if you haven’t.”

Maeve closed her eyes again. “I’m fine, thanks.”

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep but it didn’t feel long when Noelle tapped her carefully on her shoulder and announced, “We are there.”

Maeve’s eyes flew open and she glanced outside. “Oh right.” She brushed her backwards with her fingers. “Yeah, let’s go.” The door opened and she climbed out of it, walking into the building with Noelle scrambling after behind her.

As they walked in, a middle aged woman with brown hair approached them. “Maeve Casalengo,” she called. “Here you are.”

Maeve recognised the woman immediately. She was the host of the talk show. “Hiii.” The both of them hugged and air kissed each other. “Can I just say how excited I am to be on your show?” She said, silently hoping she looked it. She certainly wasn’t feeling it.

Noelle stepped forward. “Miss Maeve? Your make up artist and your stylist are waiting for you,” she informed her.

The next couple of hours happened in sort of a whirlwind. She sat for her makeup, got dressed, hair her hair styled and in the next few hours, she was on air. Even while on air, it all felt like a rush. At first, she was talking about herself and having fun while doing it - there was nothing that got Maeve going than bragging about herself - and the new thing, the show was over and they had to drive to the next one.

The next one was just as tedious and by the time she was done, Maeve was exhausted. But she still had a meeting with Dylan Bass though and that was a meeting she could not afford to miss. So, the driver drove to Dylan Bass’ house and once the gate was opened for them, he drove into the garage and parked there.

Maeve climbed out of the car and walked towards the building. She pressed the doorbell and some seconds later, the door is opened by a middle aged woman in an apron. 

“Hi, good evening,” Noelle said, coming to stand beside Maeve. “We at here to see Dylan Bass? We have an appointment.”

The woman opened the door wider, stepping aside for them to walk in. “Mr. Bass will be down in a minute,” she said. “In the meantime, please take your seat while I get you something to drink,” she said, walking away.

Maeve sat on the couch while Noelle stayed perched on the arm of the couch. There was a short, awkward silence as Maeve typed away on her phone while Noelle looked around uncertainly.

The sounds of footsteps on the stairs had Maeve putting her phone away hastily. She rose to her feet as Mr. Bass appeared at the top of the stairs. “Uncle Dylan,” she exclaimed as the man walked down the stairs.

A smile bloomed on Dylan Bass’ face. “Maeve! You mean, I can see you again, after all these years?” He joked as they hugged tightly. 

Noelle stared at them in confusion.

“I’m so glad to see you,” Maeve exclaimed.

“So am I, so am I,” he said as they pulled away and sat on the couch. “So, new COO?” He asked, a teasing tilt in his voice. “That’s amazing. Congratulations, I’m proud of you,” he said.

Maeve beamed. “Thank you,” she answered. 

“When did you get back from Spain?“ he asked.

“During the weekend.”

“And you are taking on a new job already? Wow, I like that,” he said. “I like that.” He glanced at Noelle who was behind him. “And this is your assistant?” He asked.

“Yeah. Noelle Gentry,” Maeve answered for her.

Noelle gave him a tentative smile.

“So, Uncle Dylan, I was told about the project you had coming on,” she stated briskly.

“Going straight to business. I like it,” Dylan Bass mused. “Yes, I…I have a project I’m working on and I’d like to hire a company to oversee it.”

“Well, I don’t think I need to tell you what you already know.”

“Which is?”

“That we are the right company to hire of course,” she answered. “I went through the details of this project, and I can boldly tell you, that we are best people to hire.”

“And I don’t doubt that for a minute,” he looked amused, “but don’t forget that you’d still have draw up a proposal.”

“Of course. I’m working on it,” Maeve answered. And she really was. It was one of the things she stayed up all night, working on. “But I’d like you to keep your mind open about handing the project to us.”

“Of course Maeve,” Dylan Bass answered. “However, there are a lot of companies just as competent who have submitted their proposals also. So, you will need to impress me, Maeve, even far more than others.”

“I’m not going to disappoint you. But…..just for the sake of it, can you tell me what other companies have submitted their proposal?”

“Of course. Fitz Industries for one,” Dylan Bass answered.

A dark look appeared on Maeve’s face. “Of course,” she said curtly. “Well, Uncle Dylan, thank you for sparing us time this evening,” she said, rising to her feet. 

Dylan Bass stood up too. “Anytime, Maeve.” They hugged again before they bade each other goodbye and Maeve walked out of the house with Noelle following behind her:

As they entered the car, it took a while for Noelle to realize that Maeve was fuming.

“Dominic Fitz,” she muttered underneath her breath. “Ugh.” She turned to Noelle. “What do you know about Dominic Fitz?” She asked.

Noelle adjusted herself on the seat. “Not much,” she said carefully. “Just what the news says about him.”

Maeve scoffed. 

“Should I invite him?” Noelle asked again and Maeve turned to glare at her. “It will be like checking out the competition. You want to keep your enemy close……”

“Don’t invite him,” Maeve snarled. “I don’t care what it is like. I must not see that man anywhere near my doorstep.”

“Yes ma.”

Then, Maeve turned around and pressed her body closer to the door, closing her eyes. If she had just opened her eyes, she would have seen her assistant swiftly typing on her phone. And if she had just leaned very slightly towards her, she would have seen her sending an invitation to dominicfitz@g***l.com.