Chapter 6 First Day At Work

Allison left with Rachael, feeling like the job interview had gone surprisingly smoothly, perhaps thanks to Elizabeth. Being out of work for years had made her feel out of touch. Mark's amiability was unexpected. He was polite and respectful, unlike the strict bosses she had known before. Rachael soon showed her to her new office. "Ms. Turner, this is your office. Let me know if anything needs changing." Allison surveyed the office, finding it equipped with everything a designer might need. Even the pens and papers were her preferred brands. "Everything's been so thoughtfully arranged. Thank you." Rachael offered a small smile. "It's our job to ensure you have a comfortable workspace. If there's nothing else, I'll get back to my duties." "Thank you," Allison responded. Allison settled into her desk, which reminded her of her first day as the boss of her little jewelry store. Alone in the spacious office, she took a moment to admire its layout. The floor-to-ceiling windows were lined with potted plants, a touch Allison deeply appreciated. After she was done inspecting seeing everything was in perfect shape, she walked out of the office and headed home. As she walked out of the company in joy and stopped a taxi, she hopped inside and headed home. She stopped at a clothing store to get some new clothes which she bought with some cash left with her. After she was done shopping, she stopped another taxi and made her way back home. She told Elizabeth how the interview went so smoothly, she thanked her for it and she moved to another important thing she had to work on; which was her children's education. Allison asked Elizabeth if she had a school she could recommend for the twins. Elizabeth recommended a school for the twins, the school is about four streets away. They decided to go check out the school with the twins. The twins were already dressed, she took them to school and registered them there. She and Elizabeth head back home. Allison had a proper breakfast as she got home. After breakfast, she began to work on some designs based on the client's request she saw her monitor. Elizabeth who didn’t know anything bout jewellery design was busy watching reels on social media. After Allison was done with the design, she decided to take a break and engage in something more fun. She turned on the TV and switched it to her favourite channel, she was so engrossed in the show. She spent hours watching the show and neglected what he was drafting. While Elizabeth was on his social media, she slept off and Allison managed to escort her to the room. The twins walked inside, Allison walked to them and she welcomed them both with a hug. “How was school James,” Allison asked with a smile on his face. “Fine,” he said. “And you,” Allison asked facing Juliet. “Fine also,” she said. “Do you guys like the school?” Allison asked. “Not bad,” Juliet said. “What about you James?” The twins gave her a good reply, which made her feel some relief about school, so she prepared lunches for them. After it got dark they made dinner and they all went to bed excluding Elizabeth, who had an urgent meeting with a client and she won’t be coming back home. Allison woke up very early, prepared breakfast and dealt with other chores. While the twins were having their breakfast school bus arrived, they weren’t done so the bus left. Allison took them to school herself and headed straight to work. Allison signed in at the entrance with her fingerprint and headed to her office, she settled into her desk, feeling a familiar comfort she hadn't known for years. She quickly logged into her work account. Mark had sent her a document for another set of new design requests. Allison focused on her work, reviewing the file thoroughly before beginning her sketch. She worked non-stop from morning until late evening, even having her lunch delivered by Rachael. Noticing her office light still on, Mark stopped by and knocked."You're still here?" "I just wrapped up the design based on the client's brief from your file," Allison replied with a smile. "I was just getting ready to leave, and then you walked in." Mark looked at her and said, "You know, the client gave us a week. You don't need to hurry you still have about six days to do the job." He couldn't help but admire her dedication. He examined the sketch she had made. Allison had captured every detail beautifully, showcasing her talent even on a small piece of paper. "I've always worked like this, I prefer to finish things in one go," Allison explained, remembering her old work habits. Glancing at his watch, Mark asked, "I'm off to a charity banquet. Would you join me as my date tonight?" Allison paused, thinking about her children at home not knowing if she should accept or reject his proposal. "I need to check in at home first." "Of course," Mark replied, stepping out to give her privacy. She called Elizabeth, hoping she was back with the twins, and then Elizabeth took the phone and assured her that the twins would be fine with her. She disconnected and was so happy that Elizabeth was there with the twins. Reassured about her kids, Allison picked up her purse. "Boss, everything's clear on my end." They both walked out of the company and headed to the parking lot. On their way to the lot, they talked about their next design and how they would rank the most-selling jewellery company in the world. He opened the door for Allison to enter, showcasing how much respect he had for ladies. He hopped in the car and drove off to their destination. Soon, they arrived at the venue of the charity banquet. Rachael was there, holding a set of formal clothes for Allison. Mark must have planned it all to bring her to the banquet. "You may want to change into this; it was prepared in a hurry. I hope it fits," Mark said. Allison was surprised and grateful. She hadn't expected Mark to think of such details. "Thank you, I'll just take a moment to change," she responded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. Mark gave a gentle smile. "No rush." Allison was then led to a makeup room set up for the event. Rachael’s makeup expertise was impressive. Allison realized that everyone around Mark was exceptional was remarkably skilled. As she looked at her transformed reflection, she remembered attending such events before, but never feeling as radiant as she did now. Rachael, seeing her in the mirror, remarked, "Looks like I did a pretty good job." "You're being humble. It's been ages since I've gotten this dressed up. Thanks," Allison said. Rachael gathered her things to leave. "It's all part of the job. You should head to the banquet now."