Plan Interrupted
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Valerie J. Clarizio
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259K
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38
Chapter One
āHereās to Elizabeth, the youngest Director of Investments at Palmer James Company, and the soon-to-be youngest Managing Director,ā Jody said as she held her wine glass up high.
The clang of their glasses reverberated in Elizabethās 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.
āI canāt believe weāre 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. Iāve missed you.ā Hollyās smile stretched from ear to ear.
āOh, by the way, Iāve got a great house for you to look at tomorrow,ā Jody added. āItās the last one available in a new development project my dadās company recently completed. Itās 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 canāt wait to show it to you.ā The excitement in her tone, as well as her bright gaze, was unmistakable.
āAnd thereās 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 Iām going to show you. Weāll practically be neighbors.ā
āSounds great, I canāt wait to see it.ā Elizabeth tried to match her perky friendās 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 fatherās fault she was wound so tight. If he hadnāt always implied that a womanās place was in the home, she probably wouldnāt 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 fatherās 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 couldnāt wait to get to work on Monday and hit the ground running, knowing sheād 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. āCome on, dance, smile, and have a good time. Youāre way too young to be this uptight.ā
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.
