by Hattie Black
A Billionaire's Obsession
1
Wanting Her
Hattie Black
Copyright © 2015 by Hattie Black. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of the author.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, incidents and events are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 1
10:00 am, one Monday in the middle of August, 23 year old Renee Wainwright sits in the modern and chic waiting area of the widely popular and rapidly growing BYWINSTON branding, marketing and event planning firm. She had just completed her third interview, and was told to wait in the lobby while the three person panel deliberated.
Renee was positively hopeful. It was her 3rd call back after all. She looks around the sitting area, and notices one young man with spiked hair wearing a thin black tie with a black and white checkered shirt, and another woman with black rimmed glasses, blonde bangs, and tresses, and a burgundy sweater.
"I guess this is the competition." Renee whispers to herself under her breath. She glances down at her own apparel. Renee is dressed in black washed out slacks, a black blouse with ruffles down the center, and her thick curly hair worn up in a top-knot bun. Of course she is wearing her trusty black ballet flats - that Renee almost never leaves home without. Eventually the conference room door opens, and one by one each candidate is called back into the large room with an oval glass table, surrounded by silver high-back chairs. When Renee is summoned, she immediately springs up and speeds walk toward the room. Whether good or bad news, Renee is anxious to learn the final outcome.
"Renee, have a seat." She is told by Travis Bedlan, the 34 year old Vice President of Creatives and old college buddy of the BYWINSTON founder, Colin Winston.
Renee nods and plops down into the chair across from the panel. The chair had been previously warmed by the other 2 candidates.
"Renee we like what we see in your portfolio of work. You have the sort of design skill and demonstrate an aesthetic we can work with here at, BYWINSTON." The 30 year old Artistic Director, Melaine Nordstrom informs Renee.
"Therefore Renee, the team and I would like to offer you the position of Graphic Designer I." Travis chimes in.
Renee is stunned. She was 95% certain that being called in last meant she would not be offered the job. She later learned that the other female candidate was offered a position in another department, and the young man was told to interview again in a year.
"You want me?" Renee says without thinking.
Melaine laughs. Travis smiles and tells Renee, "Yes we do! You will report directly to Melaine, and Marina here will get you oriented with the firm, show you where you will be working from, and answer any questions you have. We hope you're ready to start today."
"Yes...yes!" Renee eagerly replies.
"Great! You can go with Marina now, and we will talk more later. Marina will let you know what time that will be." Melaine informs Renee. Marina Marquis who also sat in the interviews, and asked questions is actually Melaine's Executive Assistant. The 40ish no-nonsense woman organizes Melaine's schedule as well as her design staff which includes set designers, interior decorators as well as graphic designers.
"Alright then! Welcome to BYWINSTON Renee." Travis concludes
"Thank you, thank you." Renee stands and says to each member of the panel.
Marina then escorts Renee out of the room. Renee continues to nod, and thank the BYWINSTON executives while walking out. Once out in the hallway, Marina introduces herself to Renee, explains her role as Executive Assistant, what will be expected of Renee, and Renee's parameters of her interaction with Artistic Director, Melaine. Renee absorbs the data and works to mentally break it down it for later recollection. It was a lot of information coming at her quickly. However, she was hopeful that Marina would be open to possible questions later on.
Renee hadn't had the opportunity to tell anyone her good news just yet. She couldn't wait to tell her boyfriend since college, Ronald Parker, and long time best friend, Olivia Brown, and her mother who lived one town away. During her first break - when Marina leaves her alone with the company reading material - Renee retrieves her cell phone from her large hand-bag and begins to text her boyfriend, when the thought comes to her to surprise him with the news in person. As a result, she simply texts, "I'll be out for most of the day. See you around 6pm.". Renee forwards a similar text to Olivia but instead tells her that she will talk to her later, but she can't wait to tell her Mom, and forwards a quick text to Pilar Wainwright as she sees Marina heading back over to her.
"Renee, Melaine is ready to meet with you, now." Marina instructs Renee with a poker face.
"Yes, Ma...Marina." Renee corrected herself before she said Ma'am. Although she was raised to be polite. She was fully aware of the environment she was in, and knew the savvy avant garde place she now worked at did not call for such formality. Renee smiles and follows Marina almost step for step. She is led into Melaine's office which stands out from the other spaces in the firm. Her glass door is tinted smoky grey instead of the ice white on the other office doors. On the interior, the walls are painted a bright red and the office is accented with peach, brown, green and sea blue. Renee's smile widens. She realizes that Melaine is somewhat outside-the-box, and marches to her own drum beat. Renee becomes optimistic about their work relationship.
"Thank you Marina." Melaine tells Marina.
"Remember you have an on-site approval in 90 minutes." Marina almost barks in return.
Whoa! who is the boss here? Renee thinks
"Got it Marina. Renee, and I are going to talk a bit." Melaine tells Marina confidentially. Marina leaves the two women to get acquainted.
"So Renee, we like your work but it takes more than being a skillful artist to do well here." Melaine begins to lecture Renee. We expect you to use initiative, create new and original work, keep abreast of what is fresh in your trade, and provide solutions where needed...Therefore...well, if you can't continue to evolve, you will have a hard time growing with a company that itself is always evolving. Do you understand?"
Renee gulps as she ingests the data. "Understood, Melaine."
"Good! I am glad you understand." Melaine begins "You are one of few words Renee. However, in your case it works for you."
Renee had no idea what Melaine meant by "in your case it works for you". Before she could speculate, Melaine continues.
"In interviews eager college grads often want to impress us with their personality, and charm but your selling point was your work...your portfolio, not yourself. Therefore we know the standard of work we can expect from you." Melaine explains. "The rest..." Melaine leans over, and views Renee from head to foot, "We can work on later."
Renee becomes worried. She is concerned that her image is going to be a problem at BYWINSTON. She did notice that the relatively young staff was dressed fashionably, hence why she was 95% certain she hadn't scored the job.
Melaine picks up on Renee's anxiety. "Do not worry Renee. You will be absolutely fine!" Melaine tells Renee and laughs. "Let's change the subject. Today, I would like you to read this literature about a new start up. From their mission, provide me with a
draft logo, that is due in the morning. Be prepared to do a formal presentation explaining your design. Marina will tell you the exact time and place." Melaine informs Renee. Renee then quickly types an instant message on her flat screen computer, and Marina appears at the door. "I will see you tomorrow Renee. Read that literature, create a draft and presentation, and you can leave early - around 3:00 pm. Just be sure to be ready." Melaine instructs Renee as Marina ushers her to the door.
"Thank you Melaine. I will be ready" Renee manages to say as she is led out.
Melaine gestures farewell as the door slowly closes, cutting off her vision of Renee. Melaine then chuckles as she shakes her head. Outside the office, Marina checks her digital calendar, at her desk, and provides Renee with her meeting time with Melaine for the next day. Once completed, Marina escorts Renee back to her cubicle to orient her with the firm's intranet system for internal communication, email messaging, scheduling etc. Once Marina leaves her alone, Renee begins to familiarize herself with her new computer hardware, including the graphics software. She takes a quick glimpse of her phone. It is now 11:00 am. She becomes focused, digging up as much details about the new client as possible, beyond the literature provided, and takes a crack at a design.
Renee checks her cell phone again. It is now 1:30 pm. In her mind, she had made significant progress but it was not sufficient for presentation just yet. She continues to work some more just when she hears loud talking. Renee raises her body to peek above the walls of her cubicle. She notices a tall, athletically built, thirty-something year old man, walking from department to department surveying each one's output. Renee is even more nervous than she had been all day. Renee gathers that he is someone in authority by the brash tone of his voice.
She is confident about her art, but not confident enough in herself to speak to whom seems like the head-man-in-charge, Colin Winston, coherently if he spoke to her. Renee could see the very tall, and muscular man, with sandy brown hair across the room, in the open concept design of their offices. He is getting closer. He is now popping into Melaine's office, but she is out visiting the set design of one the company's event planning contracts. Marina did her best to answer his questions. Still he didn't seem content.
"That's not good enough! Tell Melaine to come see me as soon as she gets in. We need to do more TV!" Colin barks at Marina.
"I will tell her as soon as she returns, Mr. Winston...Uh...I mean Colin." Marina tells him, very intimidated.
"Good..." Colin responds, distracted
Renee raised herself up again from her seat to observe their exchange. Suddenly her eyes and Colin's meet. Renee quickly slips back down into her chair. Soon Renee notices Colin standing right at her cubicle. "Who are you?" Colin asks in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I..um...I am Renee." She tells him extremely nervous.
Marina naturally on the ball. "This is Renee Wainwright. She is an entry level graphic artist who started today. " Marina says
"I see. Where is your work?" Colin turns his attention to Renee again.
Renee is so nervous, she is not certain whether he means the project she was currently working on, or her portfolio. "Um...I am working on a draft..." Renee stands to explain, but at 5 ft 6 inches, she is no where near eye level with the 6 ft 4 inches entrepreneur.
Colin looks down at the computer, and observes the work that Renee had begun. "What is this for?...Is this a TV project?" Colin asks sternly.
Marina jumps in before Renee could respond, and explains. "Be sure to have Melaine come see me, the second she gets back, Marina." Colin quips, and walks off without another word to Renee, or any eye contact toward Marina.
Marina turns to Renee. "Keep working, and leave at three." Marina tells her as warmly as she could muster. Renee nods, and gets back to work.
CHAPTER 2
Renee excitedly runs in and out of shops, accumulating items to create the best surprise dinner for her boyfriend of almost a year. Renee and Ronald met in a study group near the end of the first semester, of their senior year. Renee thought that Ronald was so charming that first night at their study group, in the basement of the college's library. He was always cracking jokes during the study session, and though a conscientious person herself, she thought that the distractions were adorable. Ronald was delighted that he had found an adoring fan in Renee. An admirer who was available at his beck and call to help accomplish better grades, graduate and put him up at her apartment, rent free.
Renee has a knack for academics, and art. As a child she was either involved in an art project or reading a good fictional book. She is an only child so she knew how to properly entertain herself. Her friends were her dolls, stuff toys and her pet dog Chase. Chase passed on from old age when Renee was 16. Once she hit high school, Renee joined various clubs, even leading two of them. There was just something about her where she had to maintain a full schedule.
Renee finished her shopping, using most of her remaining funds from her paid internship which she wrapped a week prior. She bounces up the staircase to her apartment on the 2nd floor of the three-story building. She stands in front the apartment door fumbling for her keys, and drops some shopping bags to the floor. This does not alter her mood one bit. She is eager to get inside to begin preparing a lavish meal for Ronald. Not too long after Renee finds the keys, opens the door and rushes in. Two by Two she gets all the bags in. Renee stands in the kitchen and begins to sort the items she bought when a strange noise interrupts her. She stands still and listens again.
"What?...Is that coming from the bedroom?" Renee whispers to herself.
Renee is apprehensive. She moves toward the noise delicately. She doesn't know whether it is a burglar rifling through her things. Nothing is more valuable to Renee as her top of the line technological "toys" which she uses to harness her skills as a graphic artist, and eventual animation professional - one of her goals. Between part-time jobs, and gifts from her parents, and other family members, Renee had acquired the best hardware to achieve her dream of becoming the first high profile, and heavily sought after graphic and animation wizard.
Renee reached back and grabbed the large umbrella near the front door. As she neared the bedroom door, perspiration drips down her forehead. Now the noises from the bedroom are growing louder. Renee pushes the slightly opened door with the tip of the umbrella to reveal her boyfriend, Ronald and her best friend, Olivia stark naked, having a full sexual romp on her favorite grey and white stripped sheets. The two are so engaged in their tryst that they don't even recognize that Renee is standing at the door watching them with her mouth gaped open, and her feet frozen in place. Olivia squeals while she rides on-top of Ronald, and he responds to her exaggerated gyrations with breathy, but deep howls. His head is completely slung back, and pressed against the headboard. He then lifts his head, and begins to look into Olivia's eyes when he notices the shadow of Renee's frame.
"Oh Shit!" Ronald exclaims, and leaps up, pushing the dark brown, fully naked Olivia off of him, and on to the floor. Ronald sprints after Renee who is now grabbing her large black tote-purse and preparing to head out the door. When faced with a difficult situation, Renee most usually resorts to "Flight" instead of "Fight". Ronald catches up with Renee, and grabs her by the wrist before she is able to walk out. Renee tries to retrieve her hand from Ronald's tight clasp, but with each attempt he tugs on her a little harder.
"Where are you going?" Ronald asks Renee softly.
"Where am I going?" Renee spits back "Where am I going?..You have no right to ask me anything right now Ronald!" She says to him angrily, then surveys his naked and toned caramel colored body. "To think I trusted you!" She blurts out, with tears now streaming down her face. In between her tears, she notices Olivia slowly approaching with just a T-shirt on, covering her body to her upper thighs.
"Renee, I am so..." Olivia begins to tell Renee in an apologetic tone.
"No...NO!" Renee screams at Olivia. "You don't get to talk to me right now."
"Ok, calm do
wn Renee." Ronald says to Renee, and draws in closer to her. Renee immediately jumps backward against the front door.
"Don't touch me!" Renee forcibly instructs Ronald. With tears cascading down her face, she inhales, and exhales deeply. "When I return to my apartment, I expect to be the only person in here with all your things gone, and the two of you out of here...and out of my life!"
"Oh come on Renee...Babe we can talk about this." Ronald begins to plead with Renee. He had been staying with her, though they were not officially living together. Renee paid the full rent, and was the only person on the lease. Since college, Ronald worked at an insurance company as Claims Representative. He obtained the job via his father's connections. Ronald's Dad is a very successful, real estate and Insurance agent in the state. However, Ronald lost his job about a month ago. Ronald was notorious for staying up late with his roommate Cal, either playing video games, hosting other friends for poker night, and beer pong or throwing random parties. As a result, Ronald was repeatedly tardy for work, non-productive, and popular Dad or not, the Insurance firm felt that he had to go. Now a month later, although Renee thought he was out job hunting, as per a compromise he made with his Dad to look for work on his own, while his parents paid his rent, he used his girlfriend's apartment for a sexual rendezvous with her own best friend.
How long has this been going on?...I should have never given Ronald a key!..He can be charming, but my best friend should have had my back, not fall for him...Urgh! These are among the thoughts racing throughout Renee's mind as she walks through her neighborhood, and into the downtown area. Her thoughts are so loud that she can't even hear the traffic, or truly see the many people busily walking about on the sidewalk, and in and out of shops, and restaurants. Renee eventually finds a bookstore, and heads directly for the magazine section to locate the latest Graphic Artist trade magazine. She is hoping that it will distract her. Renee picks up the magazine, and sits on the cushioned bench provided for patrons to inspect the publications. She flips through the pages without paying attention to their content. Tears begin to run down Renee's face again, and stains the pages of the magazine on Renee's lap. Unable to control her emotions, Renee jumps to her feet, searches for the first vacant checkout line, pays for the magazine with cash, and without waiting for her change and receipt, she runs out the store.