Taking The Leap

Hayley

I paused working on my new design. This was terrible. How could I handle this situation? The potential clients had requested a meeting at L'Baroque but with my husband in attendance.

Should I be truthful and cancel the meeting or should I... No I can't think of doing that.

I can't ask Kyle to come with me. I can't do that it rather my pride won't let me do it. Neither will Amber or my brother Joe, they both will roast me alive.

Feeling that there was nothing I could do about it, I continued working on my design but with a fully worried heart.

The door opened again. Mary must be back, I had told her to come back in twenty minutes. My twenty minutes must be up.

But I was met with silence.

"Mary?" I called out, not looking up.

"Ma'am it's not Mary." I looked up to see Veronica. She was one of the junior interior designers with a really great portfolio. What was she doing here?

"Hello Veronica." I leaned back against my chair.

"I hope I am not intruding on your time. I wanted to discuss something with you."

"Take a seat." I gestured for her to take one.

"Thank you." She smiled tightly.

I nodded giving her time to compose herself and tell her purpose for this unexpected visit.

"I am here to discuss with you about the decision you made concerning the work you chose to be on the cover of the GQ's Decor front page." She paused taking a deep breath.

Oh I see. I guess she was dissatisfied about the results. Her works were among the ones chosen for screening by me and the top officials of the company.

"And you feel like you have been robbed and cheated?" I questioned her with an arch of my brow.

"Yes, no. No Mrs Banes, I don't mean it like that."

"So what do you mean?" I asked with a straight face. I secretly admired her resilience in coming to confront me in my office.

"Ma'am, I feel like I was not given enough credit for my work." She explained.

Really, Veronica is among our top designers, she has a lot of untapped potential. And I personally chose her work to be nominated for GQ's Decor front page.

"I understand but you have to know that the decision-making process wasn't only done by me."

I saw that got her attention because she sat up straight.

"Yes, I chose the designs for possible nominations. But the senior designers and board director also had a say. Ams besides GQ picks out the one that looks appealing to them." She shook her head in understanding.

What I didn't tell her is that, we vote and the one with the highest votes gets passed to GQ for possible nominations.

"Oh I see." She bit her lip nervously.

"Personally I think your work is great. And over time and slight improvements, you will become unstoppable." I told her with a smile.

"Thank you ma. I appreciate your honesty." She stood up ready to leave the office.

"You are welcome."

"I will take my leave now ma'am." Sje nodded at me.

"Please Veronica on your way, can you tell Mary to come to my office?"

"Yes I will do that."

My talk with Veronica has given me the courage to do the unthinkable. I will be going to that dinner with it without Kyle.