you’re from originally?”
“No, I’m from down south, born and raised.”
“You don’t sound like it, I haven’t heard an accent.”
“Well, now ma’am that tain’t exactly so. I’m sure I could conjure one up if’n I had a mind to.” As they passed Heinz field and the blue lights of PNC Park Marcus said, “We should go to a game sometime.”
In the silence that followed, it was obvious they both knew that wasn’t ever going to happen. The thought of it made Cherry sad, and she turned away, staring out at the water. Realizing they couldn’t really go out, not easily anyway, not without a great deal of planning and secrecy. It was just too risky and if they continued trying to have any kind of relationship, both of them were in danger of losing their jobs. The awkwardness became palpable and she knew they would probably never try going out again.
When the trip ended, they parted without kissing or saying goodbye, each returning to their own car separately. It put a depressing end on the evening. Cherry never felt more alone or lonely in her life. Sad as it was, she decided she would have to break things off with Marcus, there was just no point in continuing on in this way.
CHAPTER NINE
On the following Thursday Daycroft Industries hosted a networking cocktail party at an elegant downtown Pittsburgh hotel. All the managers were expected to attend for the purpose of promoting working relationships with the executives from the several area businesses that had been invited to attend.
Cher ilyn was excited to go, her first time as a manager at such sophisticated and important affair. She wore a shimmery, dark purple dress, a little above the knee but since it had long sleeves and no cleavage, Cherry thought it would be appropriate. The shoes she wore were stylish, black high heels that cost her almost an entire week’s pay.
Unfortunately, a few minutes after arriving at the event she was mortified to find there were only a few woman there, and all of them were dressed in dowdy, drab business suits. She felt she stuck out, looking inappropriate and foolish.
Marcus walked over reading the distress on her face. The past few days had been strained between them. Cherilyn had been avoiding him and seemed to think breaking up was the best thing for both of them, but refused to see him to talk about it. Despite all that, right at this moment he wanted to take her in his arms and console her. With so many people around that was impossible, still he stood close to her and in a low voice said, “Calm down. Everything is fine, you don’t have to impress anyone except Mr. Daycroft and he knows what a good worker you are. Didn’t he just promote you?”
Tears started to form in her eyes, she blinked them back. “I don’t want to be an embarrassment to the company.”
“Cherry, you could never be an embarrassment.”
She looked around, her discomfort evident. “Maybe I should go home.”
“You can’t do that, it would be noticed. Change the way you feel about this. C’mon, shake it off.”
“How do I do that?”
“Imagine if Edna Daines was here with a lampshade on her head, swilling a martini.”
Cherry smiled.
“Speaking of martinis. Wait here, I‘ll be right back.” Marcus went to the bar to get her a drink.
William Daycroft , nephew of the CEO, walked up to Cherilyn, leering at her in a way that made her feel as if she were already undressed.
“Cherry, I wanted to congratulate you on your promotion I‘m sure we’ll be working very closely together.”
He ran a hand up and down her arm giving her the creepiest feeling. If she weren’t in a business situation she’d tell him off, but knew it would ruin her standing in the company if she were to say anything now.
“No, I’m from down south, born and raised.”
“You don’t sound like it, I haven’t heard an accent.”
“Well, now ma’am that tain’t exactly so. I’m sure I could conjure one up if’n I had a mind to.” As they passed Heinz field and the blue lights of PNC Park Marcus said, “We should go to a game sometime.”
In the silence that followed, it was obvious they both knew that wasn’t ever going to happen. The thought of it made Cherry sad, and she turned away, staring out at the water. Realizing they couldn’t really go out, not easily anyway, not without a great deal of planning and secrecy. It was just too risky and if they continued trying to have any kind of relationship, both of them were in danger of losing their jobs. The awkwardness became palpable and she knew they would probably never try going out again.
When the trip ended, they parted without kissing or saying goodbye, each returning to their own car separately. It put a depressing end on the evening. Cherry never felt more alone or lonely in her life. Sad as it was, she decided she would have to break things off with Marcus, there was just no point in continuing on in this way.
CHAPTER NINE
On the following Thursday Daycroft Industries hosted a networking cocktail party at an elegant downtown Pittsburgh hotel. All the managers were expected to attend for the purpose of promoting working relationships with the executives from the several area businesses that had been invited to attend.
Cher ilyn was excited to go, her first time as a manager at such sophisticated and important affair. She wore a shimmery, dark purple dress, a little above the knee but since it had long sleeves and no cleavage, Cherry thought it would be appropriate. The shoes she wore were stylish, black high heels that cost her almost an entire week’s pay.
Unfortunately, a few minutes after arriving at the event she was mortified to find there were only a few woman there, and all of them were dressed in dowdy, drab business suits. She felt she stuck out, looking inappropriate and foolish.
Marcus walked over reading the distress on her face. The past few days had been strained between them. Cherilyn had been avoiding him and seemed to think breaking up was the best thing for both of them, but refused to see him to talk about it. Despite all that, right at this moment he wanted to take her in his arms and console her. With so many people around that was impossible, still he stood close to her and in a low voice said, “Calm down. Everything is fine, you don’t have to impress anyone except Mr. Daycroft and he knows what a good worker you are. Didn’t he just promote you?”
Tears started to form in her eyes, she blinked them back. “I don’t want to be an embarrassment to the company.”
“Cherry, you could never be an embarrassment.”
She looked around, her discomfort evident. “Maybe I should go home.”
“You can’t do that, it would be noticed. Change the way you feel about this. C’mon, shake it off.”
“How do I do that?”
“Imagine if Edna Daines was here with a lampshade on her head, swilling a martini.”
Cherry smiled.
“Speaking of martinis. Wait here, I‘ll be right back.” Marcus went to the bar to get her a drink.
William Daycroft , nephew of the CEO, walked up to Cherilyn, leering at her in a way that made her feel as if she were already undressed.
“Cherry, I wanted to congratulate you on your promotion I‘m sure we’ll be working very closely together.”
He ran a hand up and down her arm giving her the creepiest feeling. If she weren’t in a business situation she’d tell him off, but knew it would ruin her standing in the company if she were to say anything now.
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