Yours Completely (Reign 2)

“Yep,” Erica said with no shame. “I have officially gotten you to be social with at least me for a short time. Your psyche can thank me later.”

I laughed and took a drink of hazelnut yumminess. In all honesty, this was nice. Getting out of school and chatting. The smell of roasted coffee beans combined with the soft glow of the shop made my shoulders relax. It was far from the florescent lights of my last lecture hall and maybe Erica was right, maybe getting out of the college from time to time was a good thing.

“Well, I suppose we should get a little accomplished,” she said, pulling her trendy glasses from her head to her face, her attention going back to my proposal in front of her. She took one sip and went back to reading through the draft spread out on the table. Her sensible heels clicked under the table in a slow, tap, tap, tap, as she flipped another page, then another.

I started sweating a little.

“I’m still working through some ideas…” I started, then trailed off. I needed to let her read it before I started freaking out. Which was difficult, because sitting across from someone while they silently looked over your work was agony.

“Working ideas or not, this is the most thorough rough draft I’ve ever seen.” She smiled at me. “It’s clear you worked hard on this, and it’s going to be great.”

Tucking a lock of short brown hair behind her ear, she swung her glasses back to the top of her head and intertwined her fingers before resting them on my paper. She was simple and lovely and didn’t have to try.

“What do you think about going a step further? I know statistics is your area of focus, but you’re interested in finance, right?”

“Yes. I eventually want to be a financial analysis.”

“Okay, so you want to work with businesses and advise them on how to invest their money and how to keep their business strong, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I think bringing in a real world experience would be great. We need to present a really strong case to the thesis board, and I think perhaps some insight into an actual business would be beneficial.”

I tossed her words around in my mind for a moment. It was Erica’s job to help me make the strongest project possible, and she would then stamp her approval on it and take it to the thesis board. Her support was basically gold.

“What do you mean take it a step further?” I asked.

She glanced at my paper. “Since you haven’t had experience in an actual financial firm, I think the board would love to see how you could apply the methods you’ve outlined to an actual business.”

I folded my lips because, while I had left out the part about my father owning a financial firm, I also didn’t mention that I had worked there for a heartbeat this past summer. That was, until I started doing payroll for Jack’s resort. Yeah, all that I left out. Because I wanted this to be my thing. Start to finish, my project, with no mention or even hint of anyone else. Problem was, the only two people I knew who owned businesses were Jack and my father. Both of whom I couldn’t go to, even if I wanted to. Which I didn’t.

“I think getting an inside look at how a company is run will help flesh out your thesis. This is a great start,” she tapped my paper, “But if you could shadow a business owner, see how they keep themselves in the black, it would benefit you and your project greatly.”

Shadowing the owner of a company. Trying to get an interview was one thing, but shadowing? If I Googled “business owner in Denver,” how long it would take to find a corporation, get an appointment with the head of it, much less an interview, then get to Denver, since there were no real “big business execs” in Golden.

“With the holidays coming up, it may be hard to shadow a big business owner anytime soon,” I admitted.

“Oh, it doesn’t have to be a big business,” she said. “Just someone who owns their own and has some success. I’m sure there are a bunch here in Golden. You don’t have to think skyscraper VP’s.”

Funny how my mind had gone there on its own. But it was a relief to not need that kind of company. Also a relief I didn’t have to go into Denver. Erica did have a good idea, though. Only problem was—who was I supposed to shadow? Instead of worrying too much about that now, I smiled and nodded. “I can do that.”

Erica smiled back and handed me my paper. “Great!”

She took another pull of her tea and motioned toward the counter again. “Now, let’s get back to this other business at hand. You going to leave your number for the cute waiter?”

I tried not to choke on the last long gulp of my latte. “I don’t think so.”

Erica shrugged. “Well, maybe next time. I know of a lot of coffee shops in the area.”

“Can’t wait,” I said, and thanked her for her advice. Getting up, I put on my coat and turned to walk out.

“Your work ethic is impressive, and I’m anxious to see what you bring me next,” she said with so much support in her voice it made my shoulders feel a little lighter.

“Thank you. I’ll see you next week.”

I headed across the street toward the side parking lot by my lecture building. It was already dark, since the class was in the early evening and the winter months were right around the corner. There were only a few scattered lamps and my car sitting alone in the far corner

of the lot.