Isabella
It's the first time in a long while that we've all been summoned for a big meeting upstairs. Usually, Mr. Cullen had us all together twice a year. And that was always a very amicable thing. This feels different somehow. The kind smile of Mr. Cullen has been replaced by the hypnotizing gaze of his daughter, Rosalie Cullen. Her hair shines brighter than the glass plate of my wristwatch.
"As you all know, Angela is about to retire. She decided that after she worked for my father for over twenty years, that life is too short to not put yourself first." Rosalie clears her throat, one hand in the right pocket of her silky-looking, cream slacks. The seam in the front of the pant legs is immaculately pressed, the toes of red, leather heels peeking out from under the hem. With legs as long as hers, these trousers are most definitely tailored to fit just her. She looks incredible.
I nod absentmindedly, remembering the talk I've had with Angela in the breakroom. She's right to finally retire. At sixty-one, she's got three grandbabies to spoil, her husband of forty years to enjoy, and her husband's—former pilot—airmiles to use up.
I feel jitters. Why would Miss Cullen bring up the retirement of the CEO's personal assistant? There is no more CEO.
"I admire her for that choice, and I have gathered you all here for one specific reason," she continues, charisma dripping off of her speech, her statuesque posture. Maybe Miss Cullen will step up as the new CEO. Then again, she's at the top of the legal and compliance team here. I wonder if she's set aside her passion for the law to become the head of this company. Something about Rosalie softens. It's in the way her eyes scan the room, in the way she plays with the gold jewelry around her wrist. "I want you all to take a deep look within yourself. I want to know what you want, how we can make that happen, and I also want to know whether or not you feel at ease where you are now." The room starts getting rowdy, everyone talking to their neighbor. I just clutch my coffee mug tightly, biting my lip as I stare at the leaders of our company at the front of the room.
Yes, I have a good image. And I plan to maintain it.
"You can email me with your thoughts, and if it's really important for you, you can schedule a meeting to talk in person."
I taste blood as I bite down on my lip too hard, but I don't budge, not even if Sue whispers something into my ear about the CFO's shoes.
"We would prefer to fill the position of PA to the CEO by someone who's already here. We value the loyalty of our team."
Someone holds up their hand. Questions. Of course, they have questions. I have a pile of paperwork and visitor passes to laminate. I need to get out of here.
"Before you ask," Rosalie says in response. "My father always wished the company would transfer to his son." There's a crack in her professional mask, a slight roll of her eyes telling me this might be a case of sibling rivalry. "So, my brother, Edward has agreed to take over the position of CEO."
There's chatter. Of course, there's chatter. Every person has something to say. Naturally, they swoon over the youngest Cullen. He's so gorgeous, he's a brilliant mind, he's spent his childhood on Wall Street…
I don't know much about Edward Cullen. But I do know he got kicked out of Fiorello H Laguardia when he was sixteen, and that he still got named one of the most promising students by the end of his high school career. I know that he's got a master's degree in financial engineering, and I know that he got that degree with ease, while partying it up very regularly. I know this, because my friend, Jessica, also has a master's degree in financial engineering from MIT. She and I went to high school together in New Haven. She's seen him around often enough. Plus, my father loves to gossip about the Cullens as much as Sue does. After being the head janitor at Cullen Consulting for over fifteen years, he sure as hell has enough stories about the family.
"So yes, you folks over at Risk Management will have to miss my brother. But I'm sure you'll still see plenty of him in his new position."
The Suits converse silently, probably not even knowing about this until now.
"I hope you all have a good weekend, and I hope the adjustment to a new executive team will go over smoothly."
One thing's for sure. Things are about to drastically change over here.
