Double Bossed

Alexandra

Two days later I was sitting at my desk and preparing my schemes and sketches of that old hotel’s interior. I was already in contact with several material suppliers, checking if everything I wanted to include in that interior was available. If I could show to the new owner that I was already prepared and knowledgeable of my job, I would increase my chances of getting the job.

I had expensive taste, but it was refined, and so far all my previous employers had only been praising me. My positive experiences motivated me even more. This project didn’t only have a sentimental value, but it would also propel my career in the right direction.

After I finished with my

work, I visited the website that posted the information about the auctions and latest purchases of buildings and lots. I kept my fingers crossed that they had already published the news I was waiting for.

I clicked on the page with the name of this building and looked if there was anything new...

Bingo!

I saw that someone named Oliver Talon from the development firm LQT had won the bid for this place. So the sale had already been made and he was its new owner.

I exhaled the breath that I’d been holding in and tapped my pen nervously on the desk. Okay. So now I needed to learn more about LQT.

I wanted to pitch to Oliver Talon and get the bid to decorate the interior of the hotel. I had to figure out what his company was all about and tailor my presentation and portfolio so I could convince him to hire me.

I went onto the website of LQT, hoping to learn more about them so I would see what the best approach in this situation was.

After half an hour, I gathered all the information that I needed. Strangely enough, there was no photo of Oliver Talon, and I found myself wondering what he looked like. From what I could gather in their bio, LQT had three owners and all of them were young. It was impressive that they started LQT right after leaving the military, and the business was apparently booming these days.

If they were expanding and getting more influential, working for them on this project would mean even more for my career.

Okay. I could do this. I would show Oliver Talon I was smart and competent and he would have no other choice but to take me as his designer for the project.

4

Oliver

“Fuck yeah, man! You nailed it!” Grant told me and patted me on the shoulder.

I looked at my friend whom I trusted the most. “You can be damn sure I did,” I answered back, taking a long sip of my drink.

Several days had passed since I secured the bid for the run down hotel, and I was in the middle of a meeting with Grant and the real estate team in the board room.

Everyone was congratulating me on getting the winning bid for the hotel. We were drinking bourbon straight for this occasion, and I had to admit I felt really good and excited about this. There was nothing better than that feeling of getting something I really wanted. And I always got what I wanted.

“And considering how many bidders participated, this is a big win.” Grant winked.

“Yes. That building is very popular, and I wonder why its previous owner didn’t put it earlier for sale. It’s a shame he left it just like that.”

“This sale came in the right time. That area is attractive to contractors these days,” Bradley, one of the agents told me. “It’s no wonder that sale was all over the news.”

“Right. I knew securing that bid was going to be tough, but I did it, so kudos to me.”

“Well, that is hardly a surprise, Oliver,” Bradley said. “You are always good with these things.”

“Yeah, man,” Grant agreed. “This is just one of your many conquests. You really have some skills.”

I grinned and shoved left hand into my pocket. “Of course, I do. What did you think? That I was fooling around here?” I took another sip of my bourbon.

“As if. Of us three, you are the one who works the most. Seriously, man, smile a little. I bet you are already thinking about all things that are needed to be done, right?”

I shrugged my shoulders, knowing how right he was.

Grant was a capable businessman. He was smart and hard working, and he was also a chick magnet. It was no wonder since he was very muscular, much more than me—even though I was pretty muscular myself—and his dark brown hair and gray-blue eyes represented an attractive combination for the ladies.