Читать книгу Love Without a Home - Shari Mong - Страница 16

Elisa woke up. She had slept so soundly. She got up to take a shower and start her day again. She remembers when she was told that she would be the Chief Editor of Pose Magazine. Elisa had worked late nights while putting herself through college. After getting her degree in business management, Elisa started taking on more tasks. She had become Maggie Bench’s (who was the former Chief Editor of Pose Magazine) assistant.

Maggie was hard to work for and demanded nothing less than perfection herself. She had given Elisa a hard time. Maggie had called Elisa into her office, which is now Elisa’s.

“Come in,” Maggie said in a deep voice. Maggie was a heavy smoker. Elisa opened the door and walked in. Maggie was sitting down with her hands folded across her lap. Even sitting down, Maggie could be intimidating. Her deep green eyes could penetrate right through you. She had dark hair. “Sit down please, Elisa.” Elisa sat down as Maggie commanded.

“You are probably wondering why I called you in here.” Maggie said lighting up a cigarette.

“Yes ma’am,” Elisa said softly.

“I know I have given you a hard time Elisa and for your benefit,” Maggie said puffing on her cigarette. “But I like you. You are a lot like me I have seen. I remember the day you came to Pose Magazine Elisa. You were like everyone else walking through that door.

You thought that you were the right person for the job. You thought that you were what Pose Magazine needed. I watched you and you are probably wondering why I gave you such a hard time.” Maggie puffed on her cigarette again and looked at Elisa with a smile.

“No ma’am, never,” Elisa said shaking her head.

“You’re lying Elisa.” Maggie leaned up on her desk and snuffed out her cigarette. Elisa could not stand the smoke and the smell but said nothing. “I watched you for a long time. I liked your work, your designs. You were dedicated, and possessed a refined personality for fashion. You were a go-getter.

“That is why I gave you a hard time Elisa, to push you because I saw the determination you had for Pose or otherwise you would not have spent any late nights working. Plus, when I needed anything, you were there. That Sissy at the time, she did not know what she was doing and nothing about fashion, but you did Elisa. Sissy was not a go-getter like you Elisa.

“I wanted to push you to your full potential. You had an eye for fashion. I could tell that by what you wore and what you drew. Pose Magazine got great a review from your designs and that is when I really knew Elisa that you were what Pose Magazine needed. When you went to get your business degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing, I knew you wanted to go even farther.

“I don’t give out these remarks lightly Elisa, but I know loyalty and dedication when I see it. I do not know about your past and I am not concerned with it. My concern is the continued success of Pose Magazine. I have been with Pose Magazine for over thirty years now and I, like you Elisa, did not let anything stand in my way of getting what I wanted and achieving success.

“I made you my assistant because of this.” She got up and walked over to where Elisa was sitting. She sat down on the corner of the desk. Her demeanor was overwhelming. She looked straight into the eyes of Elisa and Elisa was almost sure she could read what was in them. “That is why after some long and tumultuous thinking, I am resigning from Pose Magazine as Chief Editor and I want someone with the capability and poise to run Pose Magazine and keep it successful.

Why am I resigning is not important, but what is important as I have stressed before is the continued success of Pose Magazine and being the leader in the fashion world.” She put her hand on Elisa’s shoulder. “And you my dear, I am giving you the position of Chief Editor of Pose Magazine.” Elisa could not believe what she was hearing. All her time here at Pose Magazine as a designer’s assistant and now the assistant to the Chief Editor, it was what she had dreamed of.

She had proven herself a viable candidate in Maggie’s eyes. Her hard work and dedication had paid off. She had stepped on some toes she knows, but she had gotten what she wanted. She had gotten what she felt she deserved.

“Thank you Maggie, but I am not sure what to say.” Elisa was still absorbing this.

“I don’t want a thank you Elisa,” Maggie lit up another cigarette. “I want you to continue to keep Pose Magazine a success in the fashion world. I trust you. When I am out and I look through a Pose Magazine and listen to the fashion world, I want to see Pose Magazine still being the top fashion Magazine. Do you understand me Elisa?”

“Yes ma’am,” Elisa said. “I will not let you down Miss Bench, I promise.” Just like Elisa, Maggie wanted her workers to call her by her last name and not her first.

“Good, that is what I want to hear,” Maggie said puffing on her cigarette and blowing out smoke rings. “Don’t let my decision be wasted Elisa.”

“I promise you Miss Bench you will be proud of me and I will keep Pose Magazine a success.” Elisa said with confidence.

“Good to hear Elisa, even though I will no longer be working directly with Pose Magazine, I will be indirectly involved with Pose Magazine.

Any questions Elisa?” Maggie asked her.

“Yes, what about the others, will you tell them?”

“I will hold a meeting in my time Elisa, do not worry about that. I have made my decision and that is final. You need not worry. This meeting is adjourned Elisa. You may leave.” Maggie sat back down.

“Yes Miss Bench.” As Elisa walked to the door and put her hand on it to open it, she turned back around. “I promise you again Miss Bench; I will not let you down.”

“I am sure you won’t Elisa.” Maggie answered. Elisa left.

When Maggie did finally have the meeting with the other Pose workers, she announced her resignation from Pose, but would continue to be indirectly involved with Pose Magazine. Sissy Epson was distraught and upset; she felt that she deserved that position, not Elisa. Elisa looked over at Sissy and could see the disappointment and distraught look in Sissy’s face.

“Well if there are no questions,” Maggie said. “Elisa here will be your new Chief Editor of Pose Magazine starting as of now.” They all got up to leave. Sissy grabbed her things and walked out of the room. Elisa followed her.

“Sissy, Sissy,” Elisa called after her. Elisa had liked working with Sissy, but now she would be Sissy’s boss. Sissy had been there at Pose Magazine before Elisa.

“Sissy wait up please,” Elisa was chasing after Sissy. Sissy stopped and turned around to face Elisa.

“What Elisa,” Sissy said sternly. Elisa sensed the tension and hurt in Sissy’s voice.

“I did not know that Maggie would choose me for the Chief Editor position Sissy, you have to believe me. She called me into her office and we had a long talk. She told me and I was ecstatic yes, I have worked hard for this position.”

“So did I,” Sissy said vehemently, “I was here a hell of a lot longer than you and I have worked my heart out too for Pose Magazine. I deserved that position. You took it away from me. I should have gotten it.”

“Look Sissy,” Elisa said, with consternation in her voice. “I got the position; Maggie obviously saw a lot of talent in me. My designs received great reviews for Pose Magazine. Some of us, Sissy are meant to go to the top while others are more suited for the bottom step of the ladder. I am your boss now, and if you don’t like it, you can leave Pose Magazine anytime. Just leave your resignation on my desk and pack your things.

“My concern and always has been Sissy to keep Pose Magazine on top and a success. If you do not want to be a part of it, I say ‘sayonara’. I know we have worked together, but I moved up the ladder and if that is a problem for you I don’t care. What will it be Sissy?”

Sissy just stood there with her lips in a tight line. Elisa had cut her to the quick. Sissy loved Pose Magazine and was not about to leave. “I will not give you the benefit of the doubt of me leaving Elisa. Pose Magazine is my love just as much as it is yours and I care about it too and its success. I will work even harder Elisa much, much harder.” Sissy said defiantly.

“Good Sissy,” said Elisa. “That is what I like to hear. I was told that you did not know what you were doing on anything and nothing about fashion Sissy, but I beg to differ. I liked that you stood up to me and did not walk out of here and give me your resignation. That shows me Sissy that you love Pose Magazine and want to see it stay on top.

“I have worked with you Sissy. I know by working with you what you say is true, that is why I want to make you my assistant. You do not have to give me an answer now Sissy, but think about it and let me know.” Elisa walked away leaving Sissy speechless and watching Elisa walk away, her eyes wide.

A week later, Sissy knocked on Elisa’s office door, now saying Elisa Drinnings, Chief Editor. “Come in,” Elisa said. Sissy walked in. Elisa was looking through some Pose Magazines. She looked up. “Oh Sissy hello, please sit down.” Sissy did as she was told. “What is it Sissy?” Elisa asked her taking a sip of her coffee. She did not like to be interrupted from her work unless she called her workers in or it was of the utmost urgency.

“I have been thinking about what you asked me a week ago Miss Drinnings, and I would be honored to be your assistant and whenever you need me I will be there.”

Elisa smiled. “Well Sissy, I am delighted that you took the offer. You were my first choice and I know when I need you, you will be there. You have proven that to me when we worked together. I expect nothing less from you Sissy.”

“Is there anything else Sissy?” Elisa asked her.

“No Miss Drinnings, unless you need anything right now.” Sissy said, standing up to walk out of the office.

“Not right now Sissy, but when I do, I will let you know.” Sissy smiled and left the office. Elisa smiled to herself; this was her office now, the office that she had so long dreamed about, Chief Editor of a very successful fashion magazine, and it was just the beginning.

That was five years ago, after her mother passed away. Her mother would have been proud of Elisa had she lived to see it. Elisa had come a long way from Ohio to New York and there was no turning back. She took another sip of her coffee and got back to work.