Chapter 1
The view of the car park from her window was anything but breathtaking. A thin mist had covered the city over the past couple of days and although it was spring the weather was raw and cold. The few trees that surrounded the rectangle were bare, and Charlotte wasn't quite sure it was from winter. She sighed and cast a glance at the clock on the wall. The minute-arm slowly crawled over the top most spot, almost with relief and started once again its journey downward. It was now past five and she thumbed her phone impatiently and sighed once again.
"Hey, Char, are you ready?" Maria appeared in the doorway, with the cheerful expression that always brought fresh energy into a room. However, her smile faded when she saw Charlotte's mouth slightly open, ready to make her excuses. "No", she whined. "Not again! You're the boss now, right? You don't have to work overtime if you don't want to".
"I'm sorry, Maria. I'm expecting an important phone call from a potential client. They promised to call me before the day was out. It'll just be a minute".
"Why don't you call them?" Maria asked as she leaned against the door frame. Charlotte shook her head minutely and Maria sighed. "Okay", she said. "I'll be in the lounge. Come get me when you're done".
"You don't have to wait for me", Charlotte called out after her sister's turned back. "You can have my car keys".
"And how were you planning on getting home?"
Charlotte stopped mid-motion, her hand still hovering over her bag, and pursed her lips. "Right", she said and let her hand drop. She started twirling her chair to once again face Maria, but just as she caught sight of her sister's face the shrill sound of her phone startled her. "I'll just be a moment", she called out backwards as she scrambled for her phone and caught the sight of Maria's face grinning at her before disappearing behind the doorway.
Her hands were somehow slippery with sweat and the phone slid around in her grip. With the phone closely pressed against her cheek she stumbled over the words: "Hi, this is Charlotte Lu, at Collins and Collins".
A familiar voice came buzzing from the speaker. "Hello Ms. Lu, how do you do? I'm just calling to see how that contract with our potential future company partner is going? I dare say they answered our most advantageous offer positively and"-
Charlotte bit down and cut him short: "Yes, Mr. Collins, I'm sure they will".
"But have they not answered yet? That is most peculiar. Ms. Lu, There must be some misunderstanding. Are you quite sure they got your message? Technology is really tricky nowadays, as Ms. DeBourgh always says. Maybe"-
"No, I'm sure they did. As a matter of fact I'm expecting a call from them at any moment", her phone buzzed and vibrated against her cheek opportunely. "Ah, that's them now. I'll talk to you later, Mr. Collins". As she pressed the button to answer her call-on hold her face relaxed. The number on the display showed the right area code and she answered with a cheery: "Collins and Collins, this is Charlotte Lu speaking!"
Putting her phone down on her desk she let out a sigh and sank back in her chair. Although Mr. Collins had officially signed over the responsibility for C&C's US Branch to Charlotte weeks ago he still called every other day, like a smothering, overprotecting mother and the constant need to stay on her toes to impress the boss was taking its toll on her. She was starting to understand Lizzie's complaints a little better. She let her gaze shift and stared blankly out into the car park for a second before realizing it was nearly empty, and the gray sky had darkened significantly. She twirled in her chair and gazed at the clock with disbelief. Its arms lingered, showing 6:30 PM. Groaning, she picked up her laptop and phone, stuffed them in her bag and made her way down to the lounging area as quickly as she could. She could hear voices echoing through the empty corridors long before she reached the room where Maria was enjoying a loud conversation with a, Charlotte noted, newly employed editor.
"... I really liked that the book was actually available at iTunes, though", he said in response to Maria.
"I know. But hey, what do you think Clara meant with chapter eleven? Oh, hi Char". Maria smiled at her sister and pulled out her chair. "You ready to go?"
Charlotte stopped next to the table and let her bag fall onto it from off her arm. "Yeah, I'm ready. Sorry it took so long". The man opposite had risen as she spoke and she eyed him casually.
"This is Stan", Maria explained.
"Yeah. I think we've met before". She took his extended hand and smiled friendly.
"I thought you'd been busy all week?" Maria's smile had faded just slightly.
Charlotte shot her little sister a side-way glance. "At the interview table", she emphasized and picked up her bag. "All right. Time to lock this place up. Do you need a ride, Stan?"
"Thanks". They guy shook his head, looking a little disconcerted.
They walked together to the door and, as Charlotte locked it and activated the alarm, Maria and Stan started walking down the sidewalk, muttering, their heads close together. Charlotte sped up to catch up with them and joined them at the car. Stan's was parked two parking spaces away and as she opened the door and snuck into the driver's seat she pretended not to notice the glances between her sister and her employee.
"He stayed with me so I wouldn't be lonely while I waited", Maria offered as she slipped into the passenger seat. Charlotte nodded. "Was your call OK?"
As she turned the car out of the car park Charlotte cast a side-way glance at Maria who stifled a yawn. The older sibling smiled to herself. "Yeah, it was. Thanks for waiting".
"Anytime, sis".
They sat quietly for a while, Charlotte concentrating on the road, but slowly the pressure and stress of the past days of work caught up with her. Her eyelids felt heavier and she shook her head clear. "Hey, talk to me. I'm so sleepy".
Maria looked up from her own half-slumber. "Oh, okay. Uh- How was that phone call? Are they going to work with you?"
"Yeah, they will". Charlotte smiled at herself in the rear view mirror. At least one thing going according to plan. "It's great. This is my first independent project. It will be fun!"
Maria mimicked a victory dance. "Yaay, free reins! Oh- speaking of independence: Mr. Collins called me after I went back to the lounge. He wanted to know how things progressed". She reached down to pick up her phone and smoothed her dark hair away from her eyes. "I'll text him".
"Thanks" Charlotte said softly.
Silence prevailed, broken only by Maria's mutters and frustrated sighs with auto-correct but finally she tilted her head back up. "Soo... You owe me one?" Her sly smile reminded Charlotte of Lydia.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and smiled. "Fine. To be called upon when needed". They had just reached the apartment complex where Charlotte lived and she rolled slowly in to her parking space.
"Great. I've got something in mind!"
The car came to a halt and Charlotte turned to face her little sister. "What?"
"I want you to hire me to work on this project with you".
Charlotte's eyes narrowed immediately. "No. You're still in school".
"That's fine. I can do this".
"No, you can't. After Easter break is over you're going straight back to school to finish your degree". Charlotte turned uncomfortably in the restricting car seat, trying to keep her feelings in check.
Maria had crossed her arms. "I promise I can do this".
"This isn't about whether or not you can do it: it's about you needing to focus on your degree!" Charlotte felt heat rising to her head, the sensation somehow leaving her cold.
Maria was the more expressive of the two and Charlotte was impressed the girl had managed to hold her temper this far, but now she could see Maria's eyes starting to twitch. "Oh my God! Quit nagging me about my stupid degree already!" she said fiercely.
Charlotte found her voice spiced with turmoil, making her argument harsher than she intended. "It's your degree! You need your degree!"
"You didn't!"
The car was suddenly very quiet and the sound of the two girl's shallow breaths echoed in the limited space. Charlotte turned her head away, seeing Maria's face watching her in the reflection in the window. Suddenly feeling like crying she lowered her head so her hair would hide her face. "You don't know that", she murmured out at length and dried her eyes with the back of her hand. Maria smiled compassionately and drew her sister in for a hug. They both knew Maria had won.
And Charlotte had learned something new about herself.
"Hey, let's go to bed now". Maria prodded her sister's arm and as they got out of the car Charlotte nodded. "I bet you're exhausted", Maria smiled sympathetically and pulled her sister back to the apartment.