Fated to be Yours (2 page)

I trip over a crack in the sidewalk as I fly out the front door of my apartment building and almost tumble into my car parked on the side of the road. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Thanks again for the call.”

“It’s what I do. Drive safe, but hurry. Remember, the speed limit is just a suggestion.”

I start my car and pull into the driving lane. “I’m pretty sure it’s the law, which would be illegal to break.”

“It’s only illegal if you get caught. I’ll see you in a few. Bye.”

“Bye, Kara.”

I toss the phone into my open purse on the passenger’s seat and pull into the busy morning rush, hoping that it’ll be a smooth sail to my building downtown.

Luckily it was only a twenty minute battle with the rest of the Friday morning workforce, as I enter the lobby and head toward the bank of elevators. There’s a substantial crowd already gathered and waiting, which makes me cringe internally. I know what’s going to happen before I even enter the car when it arrives. I’ll get pushed into the back corner, too far away to press the button for my floor. And no one will be getting off on that floor either so I will end up riding the elevator until everyone leaves before riding it back down. It’s a little pathetic, but I’m too shy to ask for help. It’s something that Kara’s been trying to work on with me. It’s still a work in progress.

Ten minutes later I walk through the doors of Mattson and Associates and practically sprint to my cubicle toward the back. I avoid the stares of my coworkers, who know exactly how late I am and proceed to pass their silent judgment upon me. Again, nothing new. Just something else for me to compartmentalize and deal with at a later time.

I place my jacket on the hook and flop into my chair while noisily tossing my purse into the bottom drawer of my file cabinet. A few people walk by and eye me up with all the noise I’m making before walking past and continuing their duties. But I don’t have time to give them a second thought. I quickly grab my notepad and pen and make my way across the hall to Kara’s office.

Kara Thomas is one of Mattson’s senior account executives. She’s been making a name for herself by taking on the bigger accounts that we’ve been signing and was even featured in one of the local business magazines. She works hard and has the business savvy of someone who’s been in the game for twenty years, but also has a heart of gold, as she shows with me often. Like my morning call, making sure that I’m getting to work on time because something important is happening. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m about to find out.

I enter her office and take a seat on one of the two chairs placed directly in front of her desk.

“I’m late. I know. I tried really hard to get here on time but, you know, things happened.”

Kara looks up from her computer and smiles. Her green eyes are laughing behind her glasses.

“Which floor did you travel up to today?”

I readjust myself on my chair and look down at the notepad on my lap. “The twentieth.”

She whistles softly. “That’s a new record. There couldn’t have been that many people left in the elevator at that point. Why did you wait so long?”

I shrug. “It was embarrassing enough to be caught riding it past my floor. I wasn’t about to purposely highlight it by selecting a floor beneath where we already were.”

Kara sits back and twirls her chair to face me. “Tess, what have I been saying to you?”

“That it’s okay to ask for help. It’s just, I don’t know, embarrassing.”

“They won’t bite, you know.” She pauses and then laughs. “Well, I can’t actually say that because there could very well be people in this building who get their kicks by biting strangers. You need to watch out for those.”

We both laugh and I feel better about my morning, which I knew I would because Kara always has a way to brighten my spirits.

“So you have something exciting to tell me?”

Kara practically bounces in her chair with excitement. “Yes! Have you ever heard of the Tree of Life Foundation?”

I shake my head. “No, I haven’t.”

She flips open a folder on her desk and hands me a pamphlet that I flip through quickly.

“It’s a foundation which is based in London whose goal is to help underprivileged children by giving them a place to belong through private and government funded centers. They have several of them set up across Europe and are looking to expand to the United States. They heard about the work that we did for the Excelsior Foundation last year and knew right away that our company would be the perfect fit. And the Twin Cities is their first stop, which is quite an honor.”

“I agree, especially considering they could have started in New York or Chicago.”

“They said they prefer to start in smaller metro areas and Chicago and New York were too big. Either way it’s good for us and good for the community.”

“I agree. Any place that helps children is okay in my books.”

I smile at the thought of someone helping kids who have very little and trying to give them a better life when no one else wants to or has the means to. Once again, my past comes into my thoughts but I quickly shake it off because now is not the time to dwell on it.

“Agreed. And guess who they requested by name to lead the project?”

With a smirk, I pretend to think of an answer. “Let me guess, Collins?”

A paperclip comes sailing by my head, making me bark out a laugh.

“Hilarious,” she says, sticking her tongue out at me. You’d never guess she was ten years older than me by her actions. She acts more like a teenager instead of a serious, modern businesswoman. “I hope you have a passport because you’re going to need one.”

I blink several times. “A passport? Why?”

“Because you and I are going to London. They wanted to meet in person to sign the contracts, rather than conduct everything over the phone and emails. Which I completely agree with. It’s easier to do business face to face. They also wanted to give us a first-hand look at the centers so we know what we’re working for.”

“They?”

“The Board of Directors. Well, not all of them. Just three of them. The president, vice president, and their head of operations. Here, I’ll email you the itinerary so you can get everything prepared for next week.” She quickly pulls up several things and after a few clicks on her keyboard turns back to face me.

“This is so short notice.”

Kara nods. “I know, but this just fell into our laps and we have to jump on this as soon as possible. So Chris authorized our business trip and has made all the essential arrangements. Now I just need to know if you have a passport.”

I smile and nod. “I do. I picked one up a few years ago in the off-chance that I needed to go out of the country.”

“Planning on doing a crime spree?”

“No, nothing like that,” I say, shaking my head. “In case I ever wanted to go to Canada or Mexico I’d need to have a passport.”

“So, crime spree.”

I laugh. “No crime spree.”

Kara sticks out her bottom lip and then rolls her eyes. “At least you have a passport so we’re set there.”

“When do we leave?”

“Sunday morning. I’ll pick you up so we don’t have to park our cars overnight. Can you be ready to go by eleven?”

I nod emphatically. “Of course! I just can’t believe that you want to take me with you.”

Kara tilts her head slightly. “What do you mean? When have I ever gone on an out of town business trip without you?”

“Well, never, but there’s always a first time for everything.”

“Nonsense. You are my best friend and the greatest assistant a woman could ever ask for. Of course you’re coming with. I wouldn’t hear anything else about it.”

Tears threaten to well in my eyes, but I blink them away. “You’re too good to me, you know that?”

She waves a hand in front of her face. “Think nothing of it. Besides, you could use a break. When was the last time you took a vacation that didn’t involve you sitting at home because I forced you to take a day off?” I stay silent and she nods her head. “Exactly. You need this and I couldn’t be happier to do it for you.”

“Thank you, Kara.”

Kara looks at her watch and smiles. “I’m also making the decision that we’re having a short day today because we need to pack and shop for next week. So you are to leave this office at noon and not one minute over. Then you are to drive straight home and get packing.”

I stand from my chair, noticing that I didn’t even write one note down the entire time I was here. Kara rounds her desk and quickly hugs me. I squeeze her back and pull away.

“It won’t take me long to get ready. I don’t have many nice items so packing will be easy.”

She walks with me out to my cube and stands at the edge of the wall. “That’s not the only reason we’re leaving early. I’ve also booked you a massage appointment with Jenny at Panache this afternoon. And before you object, I’ve already paid for it so you can’t turn it down.”

I bring my hands in front of my mouth and gasp. “You didn’t.”

“I did. Two o’clock so you better not be late. Do I need to call and remind you?”

I shake my head. “No call will be necessary. I’ll be there. Thank you, Kara. You’re too much.”

“It was nothing. Now get to work because we’re leaving in three hours.” She smiles at me again and turns to leave.

I stare at my computer, still half in shock over her announcement. London. She wants me to go to London with her. I’ve always dreamed of going to London but never once thought I would be able to go. Since vacations were non-existent for me growing up, I just assumed they would be the same in my adult life. Not that this is a vacation. It’s a business trip but knowing Kara she’s still going to find a way for us to have fun and explore the city.

Opening my email, I glance over our itinerary and see we will be there through Friday. We meet with the board on Monday afternoon, then go on two different tours Tuesday and Wednesday before meeting with the board on Thursday for an all-day meeting. They probably wanted to block off the entire day because who knows how long the meeting will go. It’s smart, that’s for sure. Hopefully, it won’t take all day so we can have some down time before we leave Friday morning.

Okay Tess, time to focus on your work
I scold myself. Bringing my attention back to the task at hand, I start sending out my various emails for Kara, confirming appointments and sending contracts to all the necessary parties involved with her current clients.

Before I realize it, Kara is standing at the entrance to my cube, tapping the face of her watch while trying to suppress a laugh.

“What am I going to do with you? You’re supposed to be gone by now.”

I turn and shrug apologetically. “I got caught up in my work. It happens.”

“You work too hard. This will be good for you because it’s going to be a well-deserved break.”

I stand and put on my jacket before grabbing my purse from the bottom drawer. “We’re still working, just in a different country.”

She shakes her head and walks with me to the elevators. “No, this will definitely be different than your regular work. Did you read over the itinerary?”

“Yes. Meeting, site tour, site tour, meeting, then return home.”

Kara nods as we ride the elevator to the lobby. “Yes, and somewhere in there we’ll go out and see the city. We can’t work the entire time we’re there. That would be silly.”

I laugh as we walk out into the crisp autumn air and cross the street to the parking garage. “That doesn’t surprise me that you would want to find any loophole to have fun.”

“Besides, we need to see the sights since you’ve never been there and who knows. Maybe you’ll run into the man of your dreams and fall desperately in love with him.”

That makes me laugh. “You’re crazy. I’m fairly positive it won’t happen. We’ll only be there for a week. That’s not an ample amount of time to get to know someone and determine you’re in love with them.”

“You don’t know that. The heart knows what it wants. Time is inconsequential when you meet the right person. Besides, wouldn’t that be fun?”

“If you say so.”

She walks to her car and opens the door. “Life is too short to not have fun. I suggest you try it sometime. Live a little. Put yourself out there by doing something crazy and impulsive. In the four years I’ve known you, you have yet to do something that will put yourself out there. And I know you’re shy and don’t like attention, but can you promise me one thing?”

“Do I dare?”

She leaves her car to give me a hug. “Promise me that you will do something impulsive and not think of any consequences that may arise from it.”

I chew on my bottom lip and shrug. “I’m not sure I can promise something like that.”

Kara holds me at arm’s length and smiles. “Just take a chance. Please?”

I nod. “Okay, I’ll do something impulsive while we’re there. Will that make you happy?”

“Tremendously. Now hurry up and get ready. Don’t forget your massage at two!” she says, climbing into her car with a wave.

I walk to my own car and start it up, eager to get home and start my preparations for the week ahead.

I
WALK INTO MY APARTMENT
, feeling completely refreshed after my massage. I really need to thank Kara for the gift because it was exactly what I needed. I’ve never had one before, but I know that I will be putting money aside in my budget to get another one. Jenny had some magical hands and managed to ease all the tension from my body. Not an easy feat but she did it.