Daisy’s Secret Crush

***Daisy’s POV.***

It has been more than a week since I am back from Bristol and I am feeling a lot better now. I have a stable job and a pleasant apartment. My savings are perfect and I am getting good new projects too.

My boss, Clara, is very happy with my work, not only with Theo and Ryan’s projects that I have done recently but also with others that came for me this week. Some of the colleagues are acting competitive, but some are really nice. My parents were happy to see me happy.

I try my best to not go to meet them but instead ask them to spend the weekend with me in my apartment but they deny it, saying they have to go for a small getaway. I was disappointed at first as I didn’t want to be left alone on the weekend but then Noah called me.

“I am coming because I have to pick some things. So, I thought as you are back in town, we would have lunch and catch up.” He says.

“Sure. I will meet on Sunday then.” I say.

“Good.” He says.

That means I have to get through Saturday. I clean up on Saturday. Even though I clean every little corner, it still ends up being completed before noon. I am pissed now. So, I start a thriller movie marathon and order a pizza with extra cheese.

“So, how is it going with Theo?” Noah asks as I eat fries., the next day.

“Nothing. Why?” I ask and look anywhere but at him.

“Don’t lie, I know you both were at the same place.” Noah says.

“How?” I was shocked.

“You were in Bristol and as per the news so was Theo.” He says.

“That’s because I was there for my friend Toby. I told you about it and Theo was there with Olivia, who happens to be Toby’s girlfriend.” I tell him half the truth.

“What was the job about?” He asks.

“NDA.” I say.

“Okay. I won’t ask much. But nothing happened between you both? Did you not tell him anything?” Noah asks.

“First, nothing happened.” I won’t tell him about that night, “And second, I told him.”

“Why do I think there is more than you are letting me know about both of your answers?” He asks with suspicion.

“Well, he asked me to have dinner with him on the last day I was there and I thought to meet up and tell him how I feel and end my misery once and for all.” I say.

“But?” He asks.

“Instead, I ditched him. I gave a letter to the host to give it to him and ran off to the airport.” I say and sigh.

“Thought so.” He says, “Did my brother call you or anything?”

“Nope.” I say.

“Well, then, what are you going to do next?” He asks.

“Move on.” I say while he looks at me and shakes his head with a smile like he thinks that is impossible for me to do.

On Tuesday, Clara called me into her office and asked me, “You have an offer.”

“What offer?” I ask as I sit in a chair when she gestures to me, too.

“One of my oldest clients is going to open up a company of his own. Here in Manhattan. It would be an architecture firm and he wants two interior designing firms to collaborate with his company. One is ours.” She says.

“Congratulations.” I say with a broad smile, thinking maybe she wants me on the team.

“Thanks. I would not have done this collaboration, but he is a well-known person in his business. He wants us to design the interior of his company and also to work with him on the projects his company would have in the future.” She says.

“That would be a great opportunity and obviously he would choose you, as the Andersons prefer you only for their projects.” I say, and Clara’s secretary comes to put coffee and shortcakes on the table for us.

“Thanks.” She says and when she leaves she turns to me, “But they are also looking for fresh blood.”

“You and your analogy with blood. What does it have to do with me?” I ask, confused.

“Straight to the point, good. That is what I admire about you. I am looking for a partnership with you.” She says.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Partnership?” I ask.

“Yes. You told me on the second day of your working here to my face that you want your own firm one day. Nobody does that, you know.” She says, but her words don’t sound condescending.

“I am sorry if I offend you. You are a good boss and that is not butter polishing. I had the worst boss, so I know. You gave me excellent opportunities and challenges to make myself better. You also taught me so many things in such a short time.” I say.

“And I like that about you. So, I am offering you a partnership to open a firm for yourself. I will invest in it and you will run it as you see fit.” She says.

For a few seconds, I look at her like she has asked to make a cake, then shake my head and ask, “Oh! I… Oh my gosh! That’s just… Why would you do that?”

“Because my client wants another firm, and I told him that I am going to make a mini Trend House too. So he said he can hire your firm once you get active.” She says while I am still in shock at what is happening.

“It is… hard to process. My startup. But why me? There are more experienced people here who would be excellent partners for you.” I say.

“They would be, but none of them has guts. They are competitive, no doubt there, but they don’t have the spark that you have. Also, I want someone young who would later on take care of my company.” She says.

“What?” I ask in another shock.

“I would have given it to my daughter, but she has her father’s traits. So, I have to find someone else who would understand this better.” She says with a smile, and her eyes soften when she mentions her daughter.

“This is too much for me to process, Clara.” I say.

“I know. You have one day to decide. Till then, let nothing go out of this room. And one more thing, I would personally monitor your firm’s work for two years and after that, only you are free from getting fired as a CEO.” She says and I nod.

I walk into my cabin and put my head on that table. My start-up that I dreamed of achieving after two years can become true this year only. I would get everything I ever wanted.

But it is such an enormous responsibility. Would I be able to handle it? I would be a boss and have to run a firm by myself. It feels like Christmas has come early.

When I go home, I look at the mail that Clara sent me. It includes information related to the new firm I would run and the terms and conditions in it. As Clara is the CEO and is also investing, she would definitely expect nothing less than perfect from me.

And if she has chosen me for it, then she must have thought about it a lot before deciding. Also, there are terms and conditions which I have to keep in mind. I wanted to call my parents to give this good news, but it has to wait until everything is decided. When I think of them, a sudden thought of Theo comes to my mind.

How I wish to tell him my dream is coming true too.

Next day, I sat down with Clara and other senior colleagues. They asked me some questions to examine me; I think and then gave me the paper of partnership to sign. They also hire a lawyer for me to deal with legality.

“They would finish the paperwork within a week. We are going tomorrow to see the site of your firm. So be ready. While it gets cleaned up and renovated, hire people and also you have to look after designing it too. If everything goes perfectly, you will open your own firm by September.” She says with a smile.

“That’s great. Maybe if we work diligently, then it will be completed before my birthday.” I say.

“Your birthday is in September?” She asks.

“Yes.” I say.

“Great. We will hold a party on your birthday only.” She says and I smile.

The company which would be my firm’s first job and collaboration would be finished getting constructed by the end of September. So we will sign the contract paper when my firm becomes active. I can’t wait till now.

After leaving Theo, I wanted time to go fast to get rid of my pain, but now I want time to run fast because I want to achieve my dream as soon as I can.

Next day, we went to a site which is a four-storey building under renovation which will be finished by this month. Clara and I look around and she tells me that the architecture of this building was designed by that client.

I have yet to hear his name as Clara signed an NDA and I can’t know it until I sign it too. But a verbal agreement is made between us to not reveal anything about this to anyone.

Half of August goes by in either designing my new building or hiring people for the firm. But the first person I hired was Dani. I literally begged her to join as she would be very useful with her resources and as a good friend, she said yes with the condition to have her own cabin which I designed myself.

She helped me hire many good employees along with other things. The designer we hired also helped design the conference room, breakroom and lobby. My office was designed by Clara personally. She had been very supportive throughout everything.

“Here.” She said as she put a card in my hand.

“What is this?” I ask as I look at the baby pink envelope with golden wave patterns.

“Look for yourself.” She says.

I do so and see it is an invitation card for the party of my new firm’s opening. My eyes fill up with tears of joy as I look at it and Clara passes me tissues as she smiles.

“Thank you.” I say and spontaneously hug her.

“You’re welcome.” She says and I get back to the car and admire it.

“I would need more of this. I have tons of people to invite. And don’t send your invitation card to Anderson’s family.” I say.

“Why?” She asks in confusion.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you before because I didn’t want anyone to think I was getting favours. But now that everything is perfect, you should know, I am the goddaughter of Richard Anderson.” I say and anticipate her reaction.

Clara looks at me in surprise for a second, then says with a smile, “No problem. Tell my secretary how many you want and she will give you.”

After she leaves, I jump in the air with the card in excitement. It has been a while since I have been so happy.