Krystina
5 Years Later.......
"Congratulations Krys!" I hear as I get off of the elevator, and make my way into the main office.
Everyone on the floor is gathered in the sitting area, giving me a round of applause. Their faces smile up at me, while their mouths exclaim congratulatory words. And right there, smack dab at the center of it all, is my best friend, Savannah.
I've been working at Paramount Advertising since I moved to Chicago. I was hired as an intern fresh out of college. After interning for a year and a half, I was promoted to a Media Buyer. During that time, my team and I were in charge of deciding the best place, or way, to get our ads seen, which would in turn, determine the ads impact. After slaying in that department for two years, I moved on to be a art director,which basically meant that I was in charge of coming up with the adverts. Now, a year and a half later, I've been promoted to Head Creative Director, which means I run the whole damn ship. Mr. Welsh, the CEO, made the grand announcement at our quarterly company dinner this past friday. It is a promotion well deserved, if I may say so myself. My last big project, a commercial and billboard for a popular clothing line, increased our clientele by 32 percent.
"I knew you were up to something when you left out early this morning without making breakfast. You never leave the house before 8:30a.m." I tell her, hugging her tightly. "'Going to the gym', my ass. I had to eat a pop tart for breakfast because of you." I jokingly shove her, before pulling her into a hug.
"Well, I wanted to put together a little something for you. Show you how much we appreciate you. No one deserved this promotion but you. Our clientele has increased, our pay has increased, as well as our exposure, and it's all because of you. So, cheers to Krystina. May she bring us more clients and more money!" she says laughing loudly.
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"Mr. Welsh wants to see you in his office." My assistant tells me through the intercom an hour later.
"Thank You Priscilla."
When I first started working here, it felt like freshman year of high school all over. I was inexperienced and fresh out of college with no idea how to start any of my projects. I thought all of my ideas were cheesy and overdone. My creative juices were on standstill. It wasn't until the Starbucks barista downstairs wrote my name in the most atrocious handwriting possible, that I was finally struck with some artist inspiration. Two and a half years later, I made her my assistant.
I quickly head out of the office and onto the elevator. Mr. Welsh's office is on the top floor, being CEO and all of course.
Mr Welsh, or Kent as he has me call him, is probably the fittest 65 year old man I've ever seen. He's been married for 37 years, and has a wonderful son I'm proud to call my friend and coworker. Over the 5 years that I've worked here, he's become the 'father' I've always yearned for. My relationship with my own dad is practically non existent, so when I was going through my struggles and in need of a male perspective, Kent was always there to lend a hear and offer advice.
When I get off of the elevator, his secretary escorts me to his office.
"You wanted to see me sir?" I greet him as I walk in.
"Yes, yes. Come in. I heard you had a bit of a celebration downstairs?" He asks amused.
"Yeah." I laugh. "Courtesy of Sav."
"I know I told you this on Friday night, but you truly deserved the promotion, Krys. The things you've done for this company......I'll be forever grateful." He tells me sincerely.
"Thank You. And it's no problem, really. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love working here. With all the new things I've experienced, I should be the one thanking you!" I tell him.
"You're the most hard working, dedicated employee I've ever had. Which is saying something given your situation, yet you still persevere through it all. I'm very lucky to have you here, and I know it." He says pulling out a thick file from under his laptop.
"Now on to business. We have a very high profile potential client interested in a few commercials and paper ads. They'll be sending a representative over later in the afternoon, some time around four. The company, S&S Toys, has a few new toys coming out, and they want to introduce them properly, which is where we come in. Think you're up for it?"
"Of course. I'm very familiar with the brand, actually." I tell him smiling. They have a line of "blue collar" action figures that range from businessman to firefighter, and each one comes with a job description and costume. Kids love them.
"As I assumed you would be." He tells me knowingly.
"Alright then, here you go." He hands me the file on S&S. "Try to go over as much as you can before the rep gets here this afternoon.."
I take the elevator back down to my floor, immediately heading over to Savannah's cubicle.
She's on the Sherri Hill website, as usual. Ever since getting engaged this past Christmas, the only thing that can hold her attention for more than a few minutes is wedding planning.
I clear my throat to get her attention. She minimizes the tab and brings up the contract she's supposed to be working on before turning around.
She plasters an innocent smile on her face, "Hi!".
"You're not slick. I'm meeting a client at four. Do you think you could do pick-up if I'm not done in time?" I ask her.
"It looks like I'll be getting off on time, so it shouldn't be a problem." She tells me, dropping the facade.
"Ahh. What would I do without you?" I sigh playfully.
She grabs my shoulder and starts to pat it, "You'd be lost without me, darling." She tells me with mock seriousness.
"Yeah yeah. Get back to work, slacker." I yell her way as I leave her space.
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"Ms. Green. Your four o'clock is here." Priscilla informs me.
"Thank You, Cilla. Please send them in."
The door opens and Priscilla escorts a man into the room.
He's tall with lightly tanned skin, dark hair, a suit that he definitely got tailored to fit his built figure, and a bright smile.
I recognize him immediately.
"Fernando?" I ask shocked.
"Well look what we have here!" He says calmly as I rush to greet him. His eyes show a jumble of emotions. Confusion, shock and anger, are the ones I notice, yet it doesn't deter me in the slightest.
My first thought is to hug him, but given the circumstances, I decide against it.
"Oh my God. I can't believe it. It's been so long." I say.
"Yeah, well who's fault is that." He replies with a hint of sass.
Before I left home 5 years ago, Fernando had been one of my closest friends. When Sav and I left town that summer, we left all that behind. Savannah tried to keep in touch with everyone, but it never really worked out. She could never give a solid answer on why we left the way we did, and I think everyone just grew tired of the vagueness and distance.
"Oh, come on. Don't be like that. You're here now on business and there's nothing we can do to change the past." I tell him, hoping he'll allow us to swiftly move past this subject.
"Fine. But we'll have to catch up later. I have another meeting after this, so lets get right down to business." He tells me while taking a seat.
"Alright."
We spend the next hour discussing the previous projects I worked on, and comparing them to the previous ads they've done at S&S.
"We want it to be something new and eye catching. We don't want to go with the traditional designs we usually settle for."
"Why do you stick with the traditional design, if you know it's settling?" I ask him.
He laughs. "You know how Steph is, Krys. He's a stickler for tradition. We've been using the same font and designs that his father used, since we started." He says lightly.
My heart skips a beat, and for a second I think I heard him wrong.
"Umm, did you say Steph? Steph as is Stephen? As in Stephen Sims?" I ask him bewildered.
"Uhh yeah. Didn't you look at the file?" He asks confused.
"No." I had been swamped with overseeing and signing off on other smaller projects. I hadn't had any time to read over anything except the product description.
"So, what? Do you work with him?" I ask hesitantly.
"Work with him?" He laughs, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "Krystina, Steph owns the company. What did you think S&S stood for?"
I damn sure didn't think it stood for Stephen Sims, that's for sure.
Man, the universe must really hate me.
How is it, that on the day I start in a new position, my first client just so happens to be my cheating douchebag of a an ex.
Coincidence?
I think not.
Fate definitely has it out for me.
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