Plan Interrupted
Autor:in
Valerie J. Clarizio
Gelesen
263K
Kapitel
38
Chapter One
âHereâs to Elizabeth, the youngest Director of Investments at Palmer James Company, and the soon-to-be youngest Managing Director,â Jody said as she held her wine glass up high.
The clang of their glasses reverberated in Elizabethâs ears, adding to her nervous excitement about her new promotion from Associate Director to Director, and her transfer from the New York office to the Chicago office.
âI canât believe weâre all going to be living near each other again. It will be so much fun, and just like old times when we were in college. Iâve missed you.â Hollyâs smile stretched from ear to ear.
âOh, by the way, Iâve got a great house for you to look at tomorrow,â Jody added. âItâs the last one available in a new development project my dadâs company recently completed. Itâs gorgeous, brick, has three bedrooms, a huge kitchen, a large open entryway, and a den designed as if made specifically for you. And just wait until you see the size of the living room. I canât wait to show it to you.â The excitement in her tone, as well as her bright gaze, was unmistakable.
âAnd thereâs more, my dad is giving me a condo in this same development, which comes with a membership to the new golf course that borders both my condo and the house Iâm going to show you. Weâll practically be neighbors.â
âSounds great, I canât wait to see it.â Elizabeth tried to match her perky friendâs enthusiasm, which was always a challenge for her.
After finishing their celebratory meal consisting of seared salmon with crab salad with avocado sauce, Elizabeth reluctantly headed out for some clubbing with her friends. Though she was tired from her travels and ready to call it a night after dinner, they managed to guilt her into going out.
As she sunk into the booth, she watched her friends dance and flirt with the handsome, well-to-do gentlemen who caught their attention. How could they be so carefree at their age? They were in their late twenties, for crying out loud, and it was time to curb the giddiness.
It was no secret her conservative and well-reserved nature always prevented her from behaving in the same lighthearted manner as her friends, even back in college. Holly and Jody focused more on the social activities rather than the academic component like she did. It was probably her fatherâs fault she was wound so tight. If he hadnât always implied that a womanâs place was in the home, she probably wouldnât be so gung ho on proving him wrong by excelling in the workplace; and the Palmer James Company was just the place to do it since it was owned by her fatherâs long-time friend.
From the very first moment she stepped foot in the New York office, she knew what she wanted. She dreamed of becoming the youngest Managing Director and someday running that very branch.
While she watched her friends on the dance floor, nervous anticipation consumed her. She couldnât wait to get to work on Monday and hit the ground running, knowing sheâd need to prove her abilities in the Chicago office if she wanted to go back and manage the New York office someday.
Jody returned to the table, grabbed her hand, and tugged her to the dance floor. âCome on, dance, smile, and have a good time. Youâre way too young to be this uptight.â
Elizabeth conceded and followed her friend to the dance floor, but the entire time she moved to the beat of the music all she could think about was work. She needed to be successful; just had to be. She needed to prove to her father that having a daughter could be every bit as fulfilling as having a son. Maybe, just maybe, climbing the ranks at Palmer James Company would get her father to notice her once and for all.
