A/N: You guys are awesome. Just so you know. With a capitol A W E S O M E! :)
"Ms. Gaffney, welcome back." Karen greeted her.
"Thank you Karen."
"How was your trip?"
"Fine."
"Did you sign them?"
Julie just smiled.
"Good job. Just like your father."
"Oh dear god, May that never happen."
"Hahah, true, not ruthless."
"Ok, now that we got that all straightened up." Julie said with a smile.
"Is everyone here already?"
"Yes, they are, in board room number…5 I do believe."
"Great, thank you."
Julie went to her office, gathered her things, and prepared to hit the Monday morning board meeting with the 'big wigs' and fill them in on the meeting in Paris.
//Big smiles//
"Good morning Gentlemen and Daddy, she said with sweet sarcasm. Happy Monday, are we ready to begin?"
They all looked up from their work, and chuckled at her little joke.
"Well I am sure you are all aching to know what happened in Paris. Of course since I went, he signed."
She dropped the contract on the table as if it was nothing.
"I used the back up plan, like I was almost sure I would have to do, since Chicago was on it as well."
The members nodded their heads.
"Nothing we did not expect."
"You can do with them as you wish. I do believe that is the only big thing on the agenda today, unless any of you have something."
They each nodded no.
"Ok there are a few other things I would like to talk about."
She continued for a while about some other business stuff, and then when she was finished she said,
"Okay, then once again happy Monday to you all." She said and exited the room.
"Karen, I am going to be leaving early today, so clear my schedule." Julie said as she walked by her admin's desk.
"Ok, consider it done."
"Thank you."
"Oh before you go, these came for you."
There were a dozen red roses a kitty cat, and a card, that said: I have missed you My Duchess
She took the presents into her office, closed, and locked the door.
The gift had a letter with it, it said:
My dearest Duchess,
I do not know why you left me years ago without even speaking to me. I have never been able to forget you. I never knew you thought me unworthy of you; I would do anything for you. I have loved you since the moment I first met you, and I will love you until the day I die…
Yours truly.
//Yours truly who???//
Enclosed was one ticket to a hockey game, The Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. the New York Islanders, and an inscription with it. Please join me.
Going to a hockey game means she would have to face a part of her past that she didn't want to remember. She would remember everything…she had been avoiding this for so long.
What would she do?
Whom was she going to see?
Whom did she leave?
She had to admit that she knew she left her friends without a word. She never said goodbye, she never mourned Dean's death with her friends. They had to loose him too. Maybe now she should set this right, just go, and see who was there, because if she could face one thing from her past she could face her friends, if they would still have her.
What would she wear???
//Maybe I should go to the spa instead of just going home.//
//And shopping, can't go out without new clothes!//
This was sounding better all the time.
******
"Good morning Dean."
"Good morning, happy Monday." Dean said.
"So, how did it go?"
"It went alright."
"Alright? I got a call from Long, he said it went excellent."
"Yeah I know, I just have a gut feeling, I shouldn't have left that room without him signing, he could get away."
"Naw, don't worry about it."
"I can't help it, if it was me, I would have made him sign, even by making him an offer he couldn't refuse."
"I like the way you think."
Dean smiled. "Thanks."
"No really, we need that kind of drive, and guts."
"Only those type of people will make it big in this business."
"Yeah like Gaffney?"
"How do you know about Gaffney?"
"A rep from their company was there."
"Yeah, I know."
"They sent Julie."
"They did?! I did not know that! Crap!"
"What?"
"You were right on your gut, you shouldn't have left without a signature."
"How do you know."
"She doesn't loose. If they sent her, they got the deal. This one is gone."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm sure, I know Gaffney's."
"Do you know her?"
"No, I know of her, I knew her father. He's cut throat. If he taught his daughter anything, she could blow any average guy out the water, if she is as good as him, no one has a chance, and if she is as ruthless as he is…well let's just say 'it ain't safe no more'!"
"Humph, that's what Long said."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, but in a lot more words." Dean smiled.
"Yeah, that guy is long winded, but he knows his stuff. I'm surprised, if he knew she was there, he could have just told you to go sight seeing and enjoy Paris, because there would be no hope for the deal with a Gaffney there."
"I don't know."
"I guess he wanted to see you work. And from his report you did really well."
"Thanks."
"Well don't sweat it kid. We'll get the next one."
"I plan to."