Holiday Chapter 1 -- Leigh's Stories

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Date Posted: 09:33:13 09/13/01 Thu
Author: Leigh
Subject: Holiday Chapter 1
In reply to: Leigh 's message, "Holiday" on 22:56:37 09/12/01 Wed

Chapter 1

The silver Jaguar pulled smoothly into the parking stall marked "Reserved" in the underground parking of one of the world's most prestigious and successful advertising agencies--Section One. A few moments later a tall, slender woman dressed in a thick white sweater, faded jeans, and dark brown boots emerged from within. Her long blonde hair was swept back and fastened with a plain clasp leaving the exquisite beauty of her delicate features open to view.

The parking lot was sheltered from the bitterly cold wind, but it did nothing to stop the icy winter chill from seeping in. The woman shivered as she reached back into the car for her coat and slipped into it. From the pocket, she withdrew leather gloves and put them on. Finally, grabbing her briefcase in her right hand, she turned, locked the door, and closed it firmly behind her.

As she walked briskly toward the VIP elevator, she glanced at her watch and grimaced. The morning flight from Chicago to New York City had been delayed due to bad weather. She should have arrived back an hour ago. That would have given her plenty of time to prepare for her morning appointment.

"Good morning, Nikita!"

The woman looked up as Charlie, the morning security officer, called out cheerfully to her, his hand lifting in a friendly wave. A fond smile flashed across her face as she returned his wave.

"Morning Charlie!" The warmth of her breath misted as it mingled with the cold air. She usually spent a minute or so chatting with the elderly guard but there was no time today. "Got to rush," she explained with an apologetic expression.

Charlie smiled and raised his cap to her. "Quite all right. Glad to see you back safe from your trip!"

Nikita Wolfe pressed her gloved fingers to her lips before waving goodbye and hurried the last few yards to the elevator. Even with her coat, the chill was getting to her.
Reaching the elevators, she paused to enter her code and then reached into her pocket for her cellular. Time to check in with Rose. Speed dialing, she connected with her assistant's com unit and heard the familiar, firm, voice on the other end.

"Nikita! Where are you?" Without waiting for a reply, the older woman began to bring her employer up to speed on the day's events. "You have exactly fifteen minutes before your first appointment. At 11 o'clock you have a video-conference with Section 3. They've already faxed over their quarterly reports and I've placed it on your desk. You're scheduled to look over the final layouts for the Revlon account at 12: 30. Peter called to remind you that the color schemes for the VF spread needs to be finalized. Stephen called--wants to know if you're free for dinner. You have a late luncheon scheduled with your mother, and your father has left three messages for you already this morning. He wants you to call him ASAP."

A rueful smile curved Nikita's lips as she listened to Rose. In many ways, her assistant reminded her of a cross between a mother hen and a miniature hurricane, bustling from one department to another co-coordinating the day's activities and collecting the morning reports for her boss. Thank god for the com units that Birkoff had designed. It was so much easier and less time consuming now to just connect with Rose through the com unit rather than try and track her through the maze of offices. Speaking of Birkoff, Nikita remembered that her brother's birthday was coming up. Friday to be exact. They were holding a surprise party for him that weekend out at the family estate. She made a mental note to call and check on the special gift she had ordered for him.

The elevator doors opened and Nikita stepped into the oak-paneled car and pressed the button that would take her up to the executive suites. "I'm on my way up right now," she informed Rose. "Is my 9 o�clock here yet?"

"Not yet," Rose answered.

"Good. Call my mother and see if she's available to meet him. My flight was delayed and I'm going to need a few minutes to get dressed. Ask her to stall for a little while and I'll meet them in her office as soon as I can."

"Anything else?"

The elevator doors opened and Nikita stepped out into the brightly lit offices of the executive floor. Turning right, she headed to her office in the far corner. "No, everything sounds fine. Contact Peter, though, and set an appointment for this afternoon around 2:00."

"And Stephen?"

Nikita grimaced. That was another problem she'd have to take care of soon. "If he calls back, tell him I'm busy and I'll get back to him. Otherwise, just let it go."

"Will do," Rose replied, and ended the transmission. She shook her head. It looked like Stephen would be dining alone tonight.

She almost felt pity for the young man. He had been dating Nikita for almost a year now. It was obvious that the handsome stockbroker was madly in love with her young boss. Unfortunately for him, Nikita didn't return his feelings with the same intensity. Oh well. Rose shuffled the folders in her arm and continued on her way. If she were in Nikita's shoes, she'd probably be reluctant to marry too.

As the eldest child and only daughter of Paul and Madeline Wolfe, the founders and owners of Section, Nikita stood to inherit millions. It was also understood in the business that she would take over the helm when her father stepped down. Birkoff, Paul and Madeline's other child and heir, had never taken an interest in the business as Nikita had.

The two siblings were quite opposite in appearance and personality. Nikita was strikingly beautiful and had inherited her father's dynamic personality. She had the ability to win clients, both male and female, with her charm and warmth. And at the age of twenty-six, she had already proven her capability to run the multi-million dollar company and she had earned the respect and loyalty of their employees.

Birkoff, on the other hand, though equally friendly, was shy around strangers. He hated the limelight, preferring instead to spend his time down in the research department. The kid was a virtual genius when it came to computers. Despite their differences though, it was obvious to all who knew them that never were two siblings closer than Nikita and Birkoff. She absolutely adored him and was fiercely protective of him. "Too protective," Birkoff often liked to complain with a smile.

Nikita crossed over to the far side of her office and opened a door that led into a smaller room that contained a couch, end table with a lamp, a small closet and a connecting bathroom with a shower. She used the room to sleep in when she was working late at the office, which was quite often. Closing the door behind her, she quickly stripped down to her underwear and reached for the navy colored skirt and crisp white blouse hanging in the closet. Dressing as quickly as she could, she twisted her hair up into a French knot and secured it with pins. Grabbing her make-up bag, she searched for and found her mascara and applied a thin coating to her lashes before touching up her lipstick. Hurrying back into the other room, she slipped on a pair of matching navy heels and took a quick appraising look at her reflection in the mirror. Perfect.

Opening the door, she moved toward her desk and picked up the file that Rose had left there for her morning appointment. She had been at Section 2, their Chicago branch, over the past week. Nikita had been tempted to take some down time after returning, but her mother had called and asked that she handle this case personally. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was 9:05 and sighed.

She was late.

Not a very good impression, especially as this was her first meeting with the new clients. Flipping the folder open, she scanned the fact sheet as she exited her office and headed down toward the opposite end of the hallway where the offices of her mother and father were.
She quickly read over the file as a refresher. The clients owned art galleries throughout Europe and now wanted to expand into the United States. They were in search of an advertising agency that would handle the promotion of their newest gallery being opened in six months time right here in New York City. Deep blue eyes moved to the financial part of the report. Very impressive, she thought, and reached up with her hand to rap twice on her mother's door, then turned the knob and entered.

Madeline glanced up to see Nikita entering and a warm smile appeared on her face as she addressed the gentleman sitting in front of her, with his back to Nikita.
"Ah, here she is." Madeline smiled and nodded toward the approaching Nikita. "Mr. Samuelle," she stated, "I'd like for you to meet my daughter, Nikita."

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Replies:

Holiday Chapter 2 -- Leigh, 09:38:34 09/13/01 Thu