Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Okay,” she said, sounding far more mature than her three years. I gave her a hug and a kiss, and reluctantly turned her over to the child-wranglers of Dawning City.
Then, I squared my shoulders and left for my office. Thankfully, I’d planned ahead and left my apartment extra early. Leaving Ada had been difficult, but it didn’t take long for the lump in my throat to subside. I had a lot to think about after all – today was no doubt going to be a big day, and I was already looking forward to having a glass of red wine and kicking off my heels in the evening.
The HAUTESCENE office was bustling and smaller than I’d expected, but still very chic. A receptionist in perfect Instagram makeup and a tight red dress gave me a curt smile and led me back to my office, which was right outside the office of the CEO and my boss, Nell Taylor.
“Nell will be right with you,” the receptionist said, giving me another tight little smile before walking back to the front desk on impossibly high heels.
I took a deep breath just in time to see an older woman with blonde hair tastefully streaked with white emerge from her office. She had bright eyes and a wide smile and when she shook my hand, I sensed a lot of frantic energy beneath her tanned skin.
“Harper, so good to see you again,” Nell said. “Welcome. We’re so glad to have you on board.”
“It’s great to be here,” I said honestly.
“I hope you brought your A-game,” Nell continued. She took my arm and began guiding me around the office and introducing me to this person and that. After a few minutes, I began to relax. Working at HAUTESCENE was clearly going to be just like working at Ulrich Sports ... except a lot more fashionable. Nell went through a list of tasks that I’d be handling every day, and I took notes on a yellow legal pad that I’d tucked into my purse. I’d transcribe them onto my phone later, but I didn’t want to give her the wrong first impression. Nell was of a different generation, and the last thing I wanted was to make her think that I was slacking off.
“So, Harper, do you have any questions for me?” Nell asked, at the end of the tour. I had taken so much information in that it was almost overwhelming, but I shook my head.
“No, not yet,” I replied. “I’m so glad to be here – this seems like such a great culture.”
“Launching an internet magazine is competitive,” Nell said, slowly nodding as she spoke. “But I have a feeling that you’re going to do very well here.”
I smiled. “Great,” I told her.
Nell sent me down to “human resources” ... which so far consisted of just one part-time consultant who had come in to the office to help me with paperwork. By the time I was done filling out the tax paperwork and employee records, it was almost noon. My stomach grumbled, and I laughed nervously.
“I know, I’m starving too,” the HR rep, Cindy, said. “Tell you what – there’s a square a couple of blocks over that’s always loaded with food trucks. The taco truck is out of this world: they do a Korean-style barbecue taco that I’ve literally dreamt about.”
I laughed. “That sounds great,” I told her. “And I could use a walk. You want me to grab anything for you?”
Cindy shook her head. She closed her laptop and slid it into a chic leather tote.
“I have another office to check in with later this afternoon,” she said. “But I’m sure I’ll see you around. Welcome to the team, Harper.”
“Thanks,” I said. “It’s great to be here.”
I left the office and turned my face up to the sun, grateful for the fresh air. The day had heated up considerably and I took my blazer off and draped it over my shoulders as I walked down the street. Before I walked over to the square that Cindy had mentioned, I checked in at Dawning City only to see that Ada was hard at work with a couple of other girls, coloring in a book and concentrating so hard that the tip of her tongue poked out of her little mouth.
“She’s doing great,” Stephanie stage-whispered to me as we watched. “I think she’s very advanced for her age. You’re sure you never took her to pre-school?”
I shook my head. “No, but my father was a great babysitter. He spent all day reading to her and playing imagination games.”
Stephanie smiled, and I felt a slight pang of guilt for the way I’d felt towards her earlier. Leaving my little girl hadn’t been easy – and I knew it wouldn’t get easier for a long time – but seeing her making friends and blending in at daycare made that sting lessen by quite a bit.