Читать книгу Love Without a Home - Shari Mong - Страница 11

Elisa got to the office with her coffee and bagel precisely at eight a.m. She had seen the same man again that she saw yesterday leaving her office out on the sidewalk holding that same stupid can again, begging for money. He looked at her and she turned away in disgust. He had attempted to say “Hello” to her but she ignored him and went into the building.

She wished that he would find another sidewalk to do his begging of society. As usual, she was dressed to the nine and alert. Guy had left her townhouse and said he would see her Friday to take her to the Greek Isles. It was Wednesday today and tomorrow she was working diligently to be able to take the rendezvous with Guy.

No sooner did she get into her office when her photographer, Carl Drixel, knocked on her door. “Come in,” Elisa said. She was sitting at her desk and was about to call her assistant to bring her in the quarterly reports. Carl opened the door and came in, Elisa looked up. “Yes, Carl” He hated to disturb her, but this was urgent and she would not like it.

“Um, Miss Drinnings, I am not sure how to tel--,” Carl began but Elisa interrupted him.

“Just get to it Carl, I am going to be up to my neck in reports. Sit down.” Her stern voice commanded that he do so and so he did.

“We have a problem Miss Drinnings,” Carl was nervous and looking down at this hands.

“What problem is that Carl?” This is not what Elisa wanted to hear.

“Getting the winter edition of Pose Magazine is going to be late.” Carl was rubbing his hands.

“Why is that?” Elisa asked sternly.

“You have the layouts I gave you so what is the problem? I want that winter edition of Pose Magazine on my desk before let me say, winter. So whatever problem you have you need to resolve it and soon.”

She threw her pen down and sat back. “Carl do you realize that in the fashion world not only is how you present your work important, but also timing is everything as well if you want to overcome your competition?” Elisa was sitting upright and rigid.

“Yes Miss Drinnings, but--,” Elisa interrupted him again.

“Then you will find a way to get this winter magazine done in the time I have specified. I do not care if you have to work 24/7 on this.

I know you value your job Mr. Drixel, and I value Pose Magazine as the leader in the fashion world, what people will be talking about, and girls who want to model for Pose Magazine. Now, I trust you will have this done in the time that I have allotted you, Mr. Drixel, or I will just have to do some rearranging. Do we have an understanding?” Carl knew what she meant by rearranging. “Tell those publishers of Pose Magazine that too.”

Elisa leaned forward and put her hands together. “Yes Miss Drinnings we have an understanding. I will be working around the clock to get this finished in time.”

“Good Mr. Drixel, now if there is nothing left to discuss, then this meeting is adjourned.” “Yes Miss Drinnings.”

As Carl got up to leave, Elisa said again, “Timing is everything Mr. Drixel. Always remember that.”

He shook his head yes and left her office. Elisa called her assistant in and told her she needed the third quarterly report. Her assistant got right on that. Elisa got up with her coffee in her hand and looked out her office window. She could see the guy that she saw coming into work. They lived in two different worlds and she wanted to keep it that way.

Her assistant knocked on the door and Elisa turned around. “Here are the reports that you asked for Miss Drinnings.” Sissy said.

“Thank you Sissy, put them on my desk.”

Sissy did as Elisa asked her. “Is there anything else I can do for you Miss Drinnings?” Sissy asked her.

“Yes there is,” Elisa walked over and opened up her Louis Vuitton purse. She pulled out her pocketbook a one hundred dollar bill.

“Give this to the man on the street out there. Don’t tell him who it is from, but ask him to please remove himself from the sidewalk and use another one.”

“Who are we talking about Miss Drinnings?” Sissy was confused.

“Come here Sissy and I will show you.” Sissy walked over to where Elisa was standing. She looked out the window. “See that man down there standing with that dirty plaid shirt on and jeans holding out a tin can?” Elisa asked her.

“Yes Miss Drinnings.” Sissy answered her.

“That is the guy.” Elisa handed Sissy the one hundred dollar bill.

Sissy took it. “I will do it Miss Drinnings.”

“Good Sissy. I always know I can count on you.” Elisa took another sip of her coffee. She had hoped this would work. A hundred dollars to a homeless man could seem like a million. She just hoped it would feel like it to him and do the job. Sissy walked out of the office. Elisa sat down and went straight to work.