Day 102: Tales Of Office Surprises And Judgemental Men
Day 102: Tales Of Office Surprises And Judgemental Men
Day 102 Of How To Move On From A Man — 1LD
If you’re new here to 1 Lovelock Drive, welcome! Let me fill you in on what you’ve missed.
I’m Andie and my ex, Douglas, dumped me. This is my break-up, so to speak. Douglas is a power player in Melbourne, worth more than I could ever comprehend.
I have no idea why we broke up.
I work and live at 1 Lovelock Drive. There, my best friend James and I are building Highway, our unisex clothing line. Our two other best friends, GG and Sophia, are investors.
GG is dating Douglas’ brother. Awkward.
My friends have been acting strange since the breakup. Since things have changed, I’ve found papers in James’ briefcase outlining plans for an expensive office space for our business.
I’m not far from Douglas’s office.
Yet, it’s important to note this prestigious city skyscraper isn’t my ex’s. Though despite there being a Gallo who occupies the top five floors, I felt safe being in the vicinity.
The energy around Taylor had always been different compared to Douglas. It’s probably why his empire felt less threatening, far from intimidating.
Perhaps it was the fact he wasn’t my ex.
But once I ascended the lift and stepped out onto the top floor, pomp and circumstance engulfed me.
Much like Douglas’s office, the decorations were stark, clean, and modern. Only a pile of finance magazines stacked on a glass coffee table was all you could consider decorations. That and the Gallo name in clean print on the glass doors.
It felt like he is squatting here like he isn’t permanent but in the most elegant way.
I looked for a reception desk.
Unable to find one.
Only hallways and office doors. I suspected many guests didn’t find themselves on this floor. It was far from welcoming. After a minute or two, a young man, dressed in a neat yet juvenile suit, appeared from behind one of the doors.
“Can I help you?”
It was a good question, one I wasn’t entirely sure I had the answer to. I know I needed to see Taylor. What for? You would have thought the journey into the city would have provided enough time for me to figure it out.
“I was wondering if Taylor Gallo was available, please?”
The man looked me up and down. “May I ask who you are?”
“I’m a friend of his.”
“A friend? And what are you hear for?”
I wasn’t sure what he expected me to say. “To see my friend.”
He studied me, again. I hope he didn’t think I was more than a friend, here for a good time. I wasn’t trying to blow him in the middle of the workday.
Oh shit, please don’t think that of me.
“I’m sorry, Taylor doesn’t know I’m dropping by. If he has two minutes, that would help me, please.”
I felt the twinge of begging enter my voice. “What is your name?”
I swallowed. I contemplated using GG’s name, but they would probably know her by face.
“Andie.”
The man walked off down a corridor and disappeared behind a door. The lobby was silent until I could hear his footsteps once again.
“Mr Gallo isn’t available right now. He can fit you into his schedule tomorrow, at five. Come up here and wait right where you are and someone will collect you.”
It would seem I didn’t have a choice in the time or appointment or anything.
“And dress professionally. It’s a meeting you’re having, not afternoon tea with a grandparent.”
A meeting? With Taylor? Now an unnamed assistant was pushing me around. I thought I was popping by to say hello. I always think I know what is happening. But I never seem to get it right.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
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