Page 27 of The Chance
The end of summer brought a chilly wind that only added to my already somber mood. My job was the same old shit, and to add salt to my open wounds, Linda admitted that she'd fallen head over heels with Brody. She was even talking about the future and suggesting thathewas actually her BSE, now that they'd found common sex ground.
Cradling my jaw in the heel of my palm, the incoming whoosh of an email notification sounded. It popped up on my work computer screen, adding to the twenty other unread job specific emails. This one was different. It was a formal interview for a design job in Belfast. Smiling inwardly, I recognised my father’s part to play in this surprise meeting. He was quite the dominant type, always acting without thought, sure in himself that his decisions were 100 percent warranted. On this occasion, he’d knocked the ball out of the park. I would gladly leave my current position and take up a role in design.
I had a few days to gather a portfolio of my best work and investigate the company. It was headed by Jules Devlin, an entrepreneur from County Cork who wanted a qualified graphic designer to head her advertising team. And yes, that person had to be me. It was the big change I needed. A distraction from my wounded pride and crushed heart.
* * *
"Good afternoon, Miss. Knight, Ms. Devlin will see you soon." The receptionist nodded for me to sit in the waiting area.
She had big green eyes and a bright white smile that oddly put me at ease. The building was modern and minimalist, clean and fresh – exactly where I imagined myself to work.
I dropped down onto the button tuck armchair and tugged at my camel coloured midi skirt. Crossing my ankles, I gazed at my glossy stilettos, sighing softly as the natural light streaming through the windows caught the black patent sheen. The shoes made the outfit like the perfect accessory. It was imperative that I focused on the little things to stop my mind from wandering to Sebastian.
"Miss. Knight, she'll see you now," the receptionist announced.
My lungs expanded when she said my name. I breathed in through my nostrils with a controlled breath and trotted over to meet her. "I love your shoes," she whispered with an eyebrow waggle.
With a reciprocal smile, I strutted into the room with the intention of bagging my dream job.
Ms. Devlin rounded her glass desk and stuck out her petite hand. She had a glossy black hair cut to her jaw and a thick fringe straighter than a ruler, framing dark eyes. Fine lines creased her cheeks when she smiled warmly. It wasn't her sleek cut that enamoured me, rather her tailored skirt suit that looked like it had been made just for her, and the bold green blouse hidden beneath the jacket that popped with colour. My gaze automatically drifted to her matching emerald boots that screamed style and expense.
"I'm Jules. Do you like them?" Her voice was high pitched and bubbly. "I bought them online. A vintage store that I should have shares in by now."
My fingers curled her palm, touching a gothic gold ring on her middle finger. "I'm Lexi Knight. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I've heard great things about you and your work."
My father always kept his feelings about my creativity hidden. He assumed I'd get a proper job – as a solicitor. Don't get me wrong, he appreciated my talent but so does a father whose daughter makes him a snowman out of cotton wool – a crafty cute hobby. To hear that he actually thought my designs were good made me light up.
"I can't believe he said that. I‘m surprised." I was almost gushing pink hearts from my eyeballs.
"Really?” She looked almost shocked. “He rarely makes such glowing recommendations. I guess we’ll see if I agree with him - show me what you've got."
Jules waved her hand to the chair, inviting me to sit.
Knowing my father was proud of my talent gave me the boost I needed to sell myself, or rather my skills. Jules stayed quiet, assessing each image in turn.
Once she'd finished flicking through my best, she looked up and said, “When can you start?"
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I love your flare and you certainly have an eye for detail. To be honest, I was hesitant to see you. Endorsements are usually biased - the person may not actually be the right fit, but on this occasion, I trusted my instinct and agreed to meet with you, Lexi. He was right, you are perfect."
Perfect! I'm fucking perfect... my heart poured out onto the pages like it was trying to return her appreciation, and the corners of my mouth stretched to my diamond earrings.
"You'll be based both here in Belfast and in my office down south. Does that work for you?"
My eyeballs popped. "Dublin?"
"Yes, is that a problem?"
"No."
Eleven
Floating home on a bittersweet high of success, I stopped off at the supermarket to buy my father his favourite brand of coffee and a box of Turkish Delight. Living at home had its perks, I could be with my parents as an adult and enjoy their company, getting to know them as people, not just parents. Being the almost mature woman that I was, meant I could appreciate them in a whole different light. Sure, my father was dominant, and a tad dismissive of my 'crafting hobby', but that's because he wanted the best for his little girl, and I loved him with all my heart. Now I had to tell them that I was preparing to leave the nest as a fledgling in flight, destined for a proper career in design.
As I scanned the isles looking for coffee, a hand brush against my thigh. "Lexi."
