Gretchen and Heather are another story. Gretchen, as I recall from my interview, is a bit, shall we say, high strung. In professional attire and a tight updo, I can tell she has never missed a day of work in her life and crosses every T and dots every I. Heather is about ten years younger than Gretchen, about my age, but is wearing far less clothing—a lot less, actually—yet looks presentable for the office. I suspect her purple chiffon dress is really a shirt. At least her black leather knee-high boots cover up some of what is being revealed.
As the five of us exchange pleasantries, the rest of the staff files in. The entire staff consists of thirty-seven people. Less than I thought. I don’t know their names or titles but vow to remember them all by the end of the week.
Erik starts the meeting by welcoming me to the team. I gracefully rise from my chair with embarrassment. I feel my ears starting to turn red.
“We are particularly excited to have Kat on board because of her expertise in site surveys and logistics, which will come in handy for our next project. We will be covering a charity event right here in New York City that will be broadcasted on network Labor Day weekend. The airtime has already been bought. Now we just have to fill it. It’s a quick turnaround, but I know this team can do it.”
There is a buzz of excitement in the room before Erik continues. “There will be seven headliners who will be performing at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center.
“It’s an integrated project with the Asher Family. All proceeds go to fund music programs around the country. This is a New York event, but we’re representing the entire country here.”
As Erik runs down the list of events, I learn what everyone around the table does.
Gretchen will be the liaison between us and the various record labels we have a partnership with. Most importantly, she is in charge of booking the musical guests. Alan, a tall, thin man with a goatee and button-down flannel, runs the camera crew. Chet, with his wide steroid-looking frame, is the lighting director, and Kal, who is sitting in the corner, not at the table, runs audio. Each has a team of people they manage.
Our stage manager, Richard, is a frail-looking man, while our head writer, Harvey, is a heavy-set gentleman wearing a brown sweater. “Heavy Harvey” is how I’ll remember him. The director, Seamus, will lead the technical team from an offsite control room. Erik is the executive producer, and Malory will be serving as senior producer, which means I will report directly to them.
“Kat, you will be working alongside Heather on full-scale production, making sure the tech team, set designers, talent… everyone is on schedule, budget, and check scripts.”
Heather’s grimace is obvious from across the room. For a pretty girl, she looks unattractive when she frowns, something I can tell she does a lot.
I turn to Malory. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“Of course. When isn’t there a little office drama?” Malory whispers, with a laugh, into my ear.
An hour later, the meeting is over. Malory and I rise from our chairs and make our way back down the hallway, turning into a room diagonal from the conference room.
“And, this is your office.”
My office?
Shocked, I wasn’t expecting to have a space of my own. It’s not very big. Then again, it’s more than I expected. To the right is a sleek, rectangular glass desk with an iMac, Avaya phone system, and the most delicious-looking black Herman Miller chair.
Yes, I have a thing for office furniture.
In front of the desk is a charcoal-colored club chair, while mahogany filing cabinets line the wall behind. Crisp white walls offset the dark furniture. The space is modern and chic, bare but beautiful.
In my excitement, I leap to the wall of glass at the far end of the room. “I can see the Empire State Building from here!” The view is slightly obstructed with other buildings, but I can see it nonetheless.
“Only the best. Erik insisted on it,” Malory says, walking in behind with her Blackberry in hand.
I raise a brow. “Insisted?”
“Everyone is a vital member of the team. It was part of the character of the company Erik didn’t want to lose when he sold to Asher Industries.” Malory props herself against the desk. “Speak of the devil…”
“Hey, can I come in?” I hear Erik’s voice coming from the doorway. “Again, I really want to welcome you to the team. It’s a pleasure to have you here. You’ll fit in great.”
It takes everything I have to turn my gaze away from the stunning Manhattan view. “Thank you, Erik. I can’t wait to get started. Everyone here seems great.” Giddiness swims through my veins.
Erik steps into the room and stands next to Malory at the desk. “Great. Well, I did come here on official business. You have a meeting with Alexander Asher first thing Friday morning. I tried to get you on his calendar earlier, but the end of the week is all he had available. He’ll be on the floor for the morning meeting.”
I’ve heard of Edward Asher. Who hasn’t? But I’ve never heard of this Alexander Asher character, and I’m not about to let Erik hear me say that. If I have to meet with him, and he’s an Asher, then he’s clearly a big deal.
“On the floor?”
“His office is in the penthouse,” Erik explains. “The entire building houses the various businesses of the Asher family.” He says the family name in a sarcastic highfalutin manner. “Our little shop only occupies floor twenty-four.”
The Asher building has forty-two floors. I only know this from being in the elevator. If there is an Asher business on every floor, then this is not a typical office building. It’s an empire.
“Does he come to all the meetings?” You would think I would know more about the man now that I’m an Asher employee. Maybe I should have researched this a little bit more.
“Not usually. Since he bought the company, he lets me run things. That said, this project is very important to him, so he’ll be quite involved.”
“It should be interesting,” Malory says in a low-pitched, singsong voice. Looking down at her feet, she flicks the foot of the chair in front of her with her heel.
Erik lets out a grunt from deep inside his throat. “Well, ladies, I’ll leave you to it.” He taps twice on the wall and departs.
I take a seat in my new fancy office chair and recline back. I can get used to having my own office.
As the door closes behind Erik, I swing my seat in a circle and come back to glare at Malory. She always acts like she knows something I don’t. “Have you always been so mysterious?”
Malory takes a seat in front of me and crosses her legs. “Yes, but you were too busy picking out paint colors for the living room to notice.” She smirks, offering another jab at my domesticated life.
I prop my feet on the desk. I’ve always wanted to do this—lean back in my office chair and prop my feet on my desk. At my previous companies, I’ve had a cubicle where the person sitting next to you can hear every move and conversation. But in here, I’m free to do whatever and say whatever I’d like. “So what’s the deal with Heather?”
Malory’s Blackberry vibrates. She looks down and starts typing a response to an email. Without taking her eyes off the screen, she answers my question. “Oh, she’s had a stick up her ass since the day she started. She thinks you’re here to steal her job. She doesn’t like other women, especially attractive women, so you’re up Shit Creek.”
If she doesn’t like attractive, then she must really hate Malory. She is one of the most glamorous creatures I’ve ever met.
“Um, this new mom is no sex kitten. Maybe two years ago, but not now.”
Malory looks up from her Blackberry, her eyes squinting at me as if try to decide if I’m telling the truth. “Kat, are you out of your fucking mind? You know you’re freaking gorgeous. But don’t worry. Once Heather understands you’re happily married, she’ll realize you aren’t the competition.”