"Oh crap!" I screamed while collecting up all my school materials off the floor of my car. I had a horrible day yesterday with Myers not showing up on our date and now this! It must be "make Quinn unhappy" week. What did I ever do wrong? I go to work, do all my schoolwork and help out at the local soup kitchen on Sundays, now how universe could you hate someone like that? Locking my door and slinging my backpack over my shoulders, I glide past a couple of talking students and make my way towards the gym.
Today me and my economics class are taking a field trip to a big business company in San Francisco called Germani Industries. Apparently, this company is like the biggest in the United States and it's worth over a billion dollars. Our teacher wants us to see how a big company works and hopefully pick up a few tips in case we ever want to start a business. That will never happen, not in this economy.
I was contemplating staying at home, but this is such a big part of my final grade I could not miss it.
Entering into the gym all I hear is chatter and the groans of kids who obviously don't want to be here. In the distance I see my economic teacher, Mr. Banhammer, handing out wrist bands and work sheets to students. In the corner of the gym, I see Lyra laying on the bench with a blanket and her backpack as a pillow. Leave it to Lyra to figure out a place to sleep. We had to get here an hour earlier than when school started because it's an hour drive from St. Helena to San Francisco. Lyra has never been a morning person as we can see. Arriving to her I lean down close to her face and see a string of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth. I chuckle slightly and shake her awake. She doesn't move, guess I have to bring out the big guns.
"Lyra! The schools on fire." She gilts up like a scared horse and looks around for the fire, when she looks up and see that indeed there is no fire present, she rolls her eyes and wipes the drool from her mouth.
"Quinn if you ever do that again I'm going to kill you...murder style." She grumbles while sitting up on the bench.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic Lyra." I say pushing her over so I can sit down next to her. You know this is a school and not your bedroom?"
"Look I would have slept in the bathroom if I got there first." Lyra said wiping her eyes. She goes on to say, "Oh gosh I never asked how was your date with Myers?" She pats my leg affectionately.
Oh, she just had to ask that. The question that I was dreading since this morning. How embarrassing to dress up all cute do your hair and drive out of your way for a date. The most important thing about a date is that two people show up. In this case only one person showed up. That has to be the most humiliating day of my life.
"He uh... he didn't show up." I say quietly under my breath, not giving away my feelings.
"Wait... WHAT!? He didn't show up, what a scum bag you want me to get Jack to beat him up you know he'll do it." She says pulling her phone out of her pocket. I put my hand on top of hers, wanting her to not call him.
"No, I just don't want to talk about it or talk to him. The whole thing makes me angry I'm a good person, I don't know what did I did to deserve this?" I tell her.
"Well, I can't answer that question for you, but I can tell you this. . .it gets better." She spoke.
I lean her in closer to me and tell her thank you. Guys may not be there for you, but girlfriends will always have your back no matter what. Our teacher starts to walk in the middle of the gym ready to make an announcement.
"Ok guys the busses are ready to board. Collect your belongings and find your buddy. Once everyone is in order, I will start bringing kids to the bus." Mr. Banhammer said walking away towards the busses.
I hope this trip is fun. The last trip we took it was highly boring. Mr. Banhammer took us to the soda company to see how much soda is produced in a year. All I remember is loud machinery and buckets of soda. To this day I can't bring myself to drink one. Everyone starts to head towards the busses, me and Lyra follow behind the crowd.
We pull into the Germani Industries parking lot and the pictures don't do this business justice. It's a high-rise building with rectangular windows that are as clear as water. On the top of the building in big letters it spells out "Germani Industries: A family business". I didn't know that Mr. Germani had children.
The bus comes to a halt and everyone starts to grab their belongings. I try to move my body but am held in place by a weight on my shoulder. I turn my head to the right and see Lyra's head laying on my shoulder. Lord she sleeps everywhere. This bus could be on fire and she would sleep through it, insane. I gently shake her awake and tell her that we have arrived.
She croaks out, "Already? It seems like we only just left." Her eyes squint, adjusting to the bright light coming through the smudged bus windows.
"Everyone please exit off the bus in a single file line. Make sure you have your materials, all your bags and such can be left on the bus. The driver will make sure the doors are locked and secured." He spoke.
We wait for the people in front of us to leave their seats, then me and Lyra followed behind them. Leaving on the last step of the bus I stretch out my limbs and cracked my knuckles. There is nothing like being cramped on a bus for an hour especially sitting next to Lyra, it's torture.
"What did I say you all single file line!" Mr. Banhammer screams at us. We all grab our buddies and get in line. "We will enter through these back doors and be greeted by Mr. Germani's Vice President of the company, Greta Germani. She will explain to us about her job and some minor history of the company. After that we will be taken up to the top floor where Mr. Germani, his son and other co-workers are. Students we are guest at this place be on your best behavior."
"Yes Mr. Banhammer." We all said in unison like soldiers. He then leads us to the door. We were greeted by a red headed woman. She had to be around 5ft 3 inches, hair pinned up with a black clip, freckles surround her face and she's wearing a light grey pants suit. She's very beautiful, even under all that grey and not a hint of makeup in sight.
"Hello students my name is Greta Germani and I am the Vice President of Germani Industries. If you all will follow me, I will take you through the company." She says in a delicate tone. We all do as she says and follow her. Walking through the long halls there are just a bunch of office like doors with numbers on them. Only one room had a door open, peaking in there was just two men and a woman doing paper work.
"Germani Industries was created in the early 80's by the CEO Alexander Germani I. The first few years of the company being created, Mr. Germani had a hard time getting customers, but with his luck he acquired Lando Co. And after that many followed. This company has grossed in almost half a billion dollars over the last 13 years. Being described in Forbes Magazine as "the future". Ms. Germani says proudly. "I started at this company 4 years ago I was just the assistant to Mr. Germani at the time. Years of hard work and dedication brought me to become the Vice President of the company. Yes, I know you may be wondering how am I of relation to Mr. Germani?
She turns around and holds her hands up to stop us. "I didn't acquire this job because he was my uncle, I got this job by being educated, hardworking and determined to be successful. Let that be the drive to get you all going." She began to take us more around the place showing us certain offices, the receptionist and the lunch room. We finally end up on the top floor where Mr. Germani and the others were at.
Ms. Germani goes over to Mr. Germani and starts to have a quiet conversation with him. While they are talking, we all conversate amongst ourselves. "You know this is more interesting than I thought." Lyra tells me.
"Yeah, you're right. I mean Greta started out by being an assistant then she became the Vice President how amazing. Most women don't ever rise that high in the chain." I tell her all exited. I love to see women in charge, most of the industry is of the male sex.
"Yeah, Harlequinn it's a hoot." Lyra sarcastically says whirling her finger around. I gently shove her shoulder and roll my eyes at her.
"Hey, are you still staying at my house tonight?" I ask her.
"I have to call my mom and ask her; most likely she'll say yes so I'll see you at 6:00 tonight. Aren't you working?" Lyra asks.
"No, not tonight Ida is going out of town to visit family so I'm off for like five days."
"Fantastic!" She says excitedly.
Everyone immediately stops talking when Mr. Germani commands the floor. This has to be the biggest and tallest man I've ever seen. He stands at 6ft tall, jet black hair, a jaw that could cut you and the muscles of a Viking. Looks like he was forged by the gods themselves.
He buttons up the button on his most likely expensive jacket and glazes his eyes over us. His dark black eyes land on mines. I take a step back and avert my eyes towards the floor. He was looking at me like he knew who I was. I cautiously look back up and he's now talking to Mr. Banhammer. Those have to be the most awkwardest 10 seconds of my life.
"Hello my name is Alexander Germani I, but you will know me as Mr. Germani. I am sure that my niece, Greta, has filled you in on the history of this business which I thank her immensely." He speaks. His voice is so deep and kind of frightening. Greta flashes him a small smile.
"Ohhhh how I would love a piece of that." Lyra whispers to me in my ear.
"Lyra ewe he's old enough to be our father, maybe even grandfather." I whisper back to her.
"Well, you know I always wanted a sugar daddy." She tells me while licking her lips.
"You are so nasty you know that." I answer back.
My attention is redirected to Mr. Germani, "I was expecting my son to be here, but by the looks of it he won't be showing up so I'll be on my own. Anyways let me tell you abo-." Mr. Germani was interrupted by a guy bursting through the door looking all disoriented. His shirt was half tucked in, jacket was hanging off his shoulder and briefcase half open. Someone had a night. We couldn't see his face his back was turned to Mr. Germani, but without looking at his face you could tell that he was handsome.
We all just looked at him while he gets himself together, everyone chuckles and whispers at the way he looks. Once he gets situated, he turns around and my eyes bulge open and I lose my breath.
It's him, the guy from the party.
This has to be a coincidence, right? I guess Lyra was right about that whole serendipity thing if he is meant to come back, he will. He looks even more handsome than he did at the party.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwwyWdD7oI
I only saw him for a few seconds, so his beauty was never bestowed upon me.
I rub my hands together very anxiously, scared of what will happen next. I obviously have to go thank him for what happened at The Blondes party last week. Also, I have this weird pull to want to get to know him more.
I can't explain it, just a feeling, I guess. He looks to me then his father. They stare at each other almost like they have this secret language.
His father gives me one last glance then looks to the whole group again, is there something on my face or what? I turn to the side and start to feel my face for any weird marks but nothing.
"Hey, you Ok?" Lyra asked looking at me with a weird expression on her face.
"Yeah... well, no I don't know." I said slightly fanning my armpits for some reason he makes me really nervous; I can't explain.
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