There were murmurs of approval and nodding heads. John grinned, and
Penny even applauded. Corey Steele, smiling next to her, reached over and wordlessly gave her arm a squeeze.
She moved on to the next slide. The new logo interspersed with some stock
Nitrovex materials, now in a smooth, curving layout. Clean, fresh, but not too modern. Her designs. And they liked them, judging by the approving nods.
This was supposed to be the part where her brain did cartwheels. Where she
pumped her fist with a silent yes. But it all felt as flat and sterile as the blank white walls of the conference room.
The final presentation over, the Nitrovex members filed out, some shaking her hand, congratulating her as if she were now one of the team. She smiled, perfunctorily.
The last to leave was John.
“Kate, I knew from the start you had a feel for my company.”
“Oh, John. I have a whole company behind me. I'm just the spokesperson.”
“No, no, I was right about you.” John adjusted his seed-corn hat. “I've enjoyed having you around here the past weeks. Kind of feel like I know you,
you know? I mean, you are one of us.”
She just smiled. And for the first time, she didn't argue that fact. It even felt
true. “I appreciate that, John. Very much.” She began folding her laptop, unplugging cords, now for the last time.
John checked his watch. “You leaving soon?” he asked.
She cocked her head. “Soon as I get packed up.” No reason to stay, was there?
“Planning on stopping by the bakery before you leave? Might not be back this way for a while, you know? I'm partial to the bear claws, myself.”
Why did he seem to be stalling? “No, think I'll just hit the road.”
He nodded. “Sure. I'll leave you to it, then. And congratulations.” He smiled,
hand out. “You deserve it.”
She returned his smile and handshake, and he left.
Did she? Maybe it was time to follow her dream, those dreams she'd left here, painted over like her mural.
Running her own design business? The idea thudded her heart, but not with
fear. She had found herself already working through the details in her mind over
the weekend after last weeks' session with her design department. Just for fun, right?
Start with a home office, maybe use a virtual assistant for the paperwork.
The first few months might be thin, but with her experience and some jobs from
Nitrovex? It might work.
The idea of it all exhilarated her. And surprised her.
Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She fished it out of her purse.
“Hello, Katie? Are still you in town?” It was Carol, calling from her cell phone.
“Not for long. My meeting is over.”
“Oh, dear.”
Kate's brow furrowed. “Why, what's wrong?”
“Oh, nothing serious, really. Nothing too serious, anyway.”
Kate heard a clanging noise in the background and some shouting. “Are you
okay? What's going on?”
“Well, it's nothing really. I was just hoping you could stop by the
Community Center before you leave. There's a—”
Another loud noise that sounded like a cymbal drowning in a tuba cut her off. Then more clanging and shouting.
