Invest In Me

“Oh, Mom, if you could see me now,” she said in a low voice and carefully observed every single corner of her room. She had to do some cleaning.

Bella found herself in a desperate need to talk to someone, so she fished her cell from the purse and dialed Amy’s number.

“Bella? Are you okay? How are you?” Amy asked from the other side. Bella had called her previously to inform her friend of her going to the big city.

“I am doing fine, sis. I don’t want to disappoint you, but it is worse than home. The apartment is a huge mess…” Now she lowered the tone of her voice. “And my roommate Sam is one of the weirdest people on the planet. She talks strangely and I don’t understand a thing she is saying. It is like a totally new language.”

“I am so sorry to hear that, sis. I’m sure it will get better. It’s just the first impression, you know. Over time, it will all settle down and I’m sure that you will get what you deserve.”

“Thanks, Amy,” Bella said. They talked some more, about home, New York, Sam and Amy’s family.

Eventually, they said goodbye to each other and hung up. Bella sighed again. She looked at the watch on her wrist. She had time until her meeting with the consultant of the company tied up with her property. Deciding that she had nothing to do in the apartment, she placed the bags on the bed and headed outside. Sam was still playing on her laptop and didn’t even see Bella leave.

Her fears became her cruel reality; she became a part of those crazy people who walked as if without directions. Bella halted a taxi and hopped in. After telling the cabbie the address, she relaxed a little. She was a control freak, and she was going to order everything in its rightful place. She was determined to do that.

The building of the corporation was the most beautiful and scariest one yet. The number of floors was huge, but she had to get inside. It was the only thing that she could do. At the reception, she was greeted by a pleasant-looking woman.

“I am looking for the office of Mr. Hall,” Bella said. Her voice was almost inaudible thanks to the crowd in the lobby. Who knew how many employees did the company have?

“He is on the fifty-second floor, madam. Is he expecting you?” The woman on the reception offered her a kind smile.

“Yes, he is. I have a meeting with him today,” Bella said and thanked the woman for the information. She was glad that she found at least one normal person in this city.

Coming from the south brought a Southern accent, which Bella was sure was frowned upon here in the city. That was why she practiced speaking slowly before the mirror. She didn’t want to be understood lightly. This was serious business, and she had every right to what she needed to speak about.

Bella followed the majority of the people, for she knew that they must be heading to the elevators. She wasn’t going to climb fifty floors using the stairs. Her theory was proven correct as a huge group of people waited before two steel doors. Then, the doors opened, leaving another group of people. She managed to squeeze inside and click the desired button.

Bella had no idea that elevators moved so fast. As a matter of fact, she hadn’t even boarded one in her life ever before. The moment it went up, she sensed her stomach jumping with it. It was a terrible feeling. She thought that she would have to wait at least half an hour before she had come to the floor, but was proven otherwise. The numbers changed in a flash, and in no time she stepped resolutely on the fifty-second floor of one of the biggest corporations in the country.

The whole floor was separated with glass walls and she wondered how these people had privacy. And there were more than fifty people working there at present. They were all dressed in suits and the women in skirts and shirts. Thanks to her detailed background research she had done before arriving in New York, she was able to identify Mr. Hall. He was standing with a colleague of his, holding a cup of steaming coffee. Thinking of coffee, her stomach grumbled. She hadn’t put a single bite that day.

Bella was unsure if she was able to approach him according to the business protocol, but she didn’t care. Once she set her eyes on him, a great wish started burning into her to get over with everything and return to her home as soon as possible.

“Tuesday night. Does that work?” he spoke to his colleague. Mr. Hall was a tall and a rather gaunt man with high cheekbones. He had gray eyes, a long bit-crooked nose, and a three-day-old beard.

“Mr. Hall, I am terribly sorry to interrupt you.” She was standing between them now, blinking frantically. Her heart raced in her chest, climbing to her throat.

“Oh, miss, I am terribly sorry, but can you please tell me your name? I don’t know who you are. Have we met before?” He darted his look from the colleague to Bella. The gray eyes froze her on the spot.

“No, we haven’t, sir. But I have a meeting with you in around half an hour. It is about my property,” Bella said in one breath. She felt all eyes on her and that was terribly embarrassing. Warmth started to creep up to her cheeks.

“Yes, yes, I remember now. Please go into my office, it is right there on the right. Will you please wait for me there? I will come in a second, okay?” He smiled coldly.

“Okay,” Bella replied and started toward Mr. Hall’s office. She let out a breath and was immensely glad that it was over. With one last look behind her shoulder, she saw Mr. Hall continuing his chit-chat with his colleague. Bella thought that it was one of the most offensive things anyone had ever done to her.

With firm steps, she went into the office, opened the door, and sat on one of the leather chairs for the guests. Everything was just like in the movies. Luxurious furniture, papers on the table, a state-of-the-art computer, and several pictures of Mr. Hall’s dearest. It was right there that she realized that her whole world had changed. Her previous country life was shattered into pieces and a new one was being built before her eyes.