Chapter 5 - James Dalton

Lia fixes her hair as she enters the room to get her picture for the ID card taken. It's short and to the point as she hands out the paper, the man immediately instructs her about the to dos. Quickly clicking her picture, the man shows it to Lia to make she's satisfied and Lia doesn't quite fidget about stuff like this so she's done pretty quick.

"Thank you!" Lia exclaims as she walks out of the room after he tells her that it would be available for her to take by the time she'll leave in the evening. Things and emotions are slowly settling down as time is progressing, Lia is experiencing more of how much she's in awe of being present in a state like this with her dream job in her hands. It's hard to digest but as it's approaching her, Lia loves it and genuinely feels like squealing, holding people's hands and spinning all around as a way to show how happy she is today. Lia registers the emotion slowly and she hasn't even reached her peak yet. There's no part in her that doesn't absolutely love her life right now. Maybe all that she had gone through in the past is paying back in terms of full love and happiness. Lia's glad and it would like it to last for as long as it can because it's just starting.

As Lia is walking out of the room, her phone vibrates in the pocket of her blazer so she reaches for it and takes the device out only to see Emery calling. Lia's lips twitch up in a small, soft smile as she picks the phone up and presses the phone against her ears.

Emery has been her friend forever, for as long as Lia can remember and that makes her heart warm because Emery has been the only permanent person in her life. Even more so than her parents because Lia feels like she grew up more with Emery than any of her parents and Lia doesn't find anything bad about that because growing up she never had anything to complain about. Emery covered up all that she could have wished for. A good friend, a motherly figure because despite being the same age, she's always been so mature and Lia has definitely taken up many traits about her growing up, Emery has shaped her as a person and that's something Lia will always be thankful for because she can see how Emery help her become a good human being. Lia can't help but thank all the days she had gotten to spend with her friend back in her hometown because that's just something that had been the hardest part to leave behind when moving to New York, and well, as much as Lia wanted to leave behind Massachusetts she did not want to leave behind her best friend. Which she had because sacrifices need to be made to gain something and the fact that one day or the other, Emery wants to move to New York as well keeps Lia going that sometime in the future, it can be the both of them in this new city as well.

Emery is not just a friend, she's a sister to Lia. Emery's a family to her and that's something she takes very seriously and doesn't hear anything against. They have been through multiple ups and downs in their lives and have done that together. Being happy in each other's happiness and being sad in each other's sorrow because it's a natural occurrence and Lia really doesn't think she could have been here, in a completely different city living her dream, if it hadn't been for Emery.

Lia stops in the corridor and leans against the wall as she talks to Emery. Keeping her voice low, she says "Yeah! Now I'm just going back to Lucas so she can explain everything!" It is audible in Lia's voice how happy she is and that makes Emery's heart swell with affection because she too has looked at Lia growing up and has only always wanted the best for her because she does not deserve anything less than that and to see her finally moving on that path makes her extremely happy.

Lia can practically hear Emery's smile as she says, "That's absolutely wonderful, I am so happy for you!" Lia nods her head with a smile on her face and she can't remember the last time any kind of happiness lasted this long on her. It's new but certainly very beautiful and Lia doesn't want to let go of it.

"I can't believe it's happening. Like, I'm really in New York with a job in my hands too? And a damn good one at that? It's all so surreal." Lia says and it's always been like this. Emery's the only person she can spill her guts to and not ever feel bad for it. Because Lia feels comfortable in her presence and only hopes it's the exact same for Emery as well.

Emery chuckles into the phone and Lia brushes her hair back, standing straight because she has to go back in.

"But it is happening because you deserve it. You've earned it, Lia and I'm so proud of you." Lia could cry at the words because she wishes she could be hearing that from her parents but since that is not the case, she can't help but appreciate Emery all over again. To hear those words coming from her just makes her heart feel at peace and like someone for sure cares about her. Emery has always made sure of that.

Her voice is quiet when she says a thank you to Emery. "I have to leave now." Lia says and Emery hums to that in response.

"I need to get back to work as well. Good luck, Lia. Talk to you later." Emery says and the line goes dead as Lia cuts the call and brings the phone back inside her blazer's pocket before smoothening out any creases on it as she walks back to the room and before she can knock the door, Lia sees the same might she even call him mysterious standing a bit far away from the reception. His back facing Lia and she can recognize him because of the sole way he's built. He has a phone pressed to his ears but Lia, obviously can't hear because he is pretty far off and not like Lia has any interest in hearing him either but there is just something so oddly recognizable to Lia that it makes her have a unsettling feeling in the gut.

He's lean and tall but also the aura around him is what catches Lia's attention because he really does look like he owns the place, always does and that's something Lia has not seen in a lot of people. Even without seeing his face, he radiates power which funny enough, Lia can feel through the atmosphere every single time.

Lia, however, doesn't pay much attention as she faces the door again and knocks on it as it's shut close. Lia waits until she hears a 'come in' which then makes her attention entirely on her job because focus! Lia needs to focus on what's important and sort things out that way. She's excited to hear what her job will be about and that's what she's going to be concentrating on. That's what matters.

She walks in and Lucas is arranging some papers into the files and separating them as he puts them to a corner on his table, looking at Lia and she can only wonder about the amount of work as a manager he has to do. It's pretty hectic and it seems like that as well. He's always busy and Lia has never seen her ideal but isn't that what working is either way? Though that doesn't mean that Lia can't notice how demanding his job and position is.

"Yes so." And there is a pause as his eyes seem to get caught on a specific piece of paper which appears to be bothersome and quite as much so but he keeps it away, continuing. "We can discuss your work."

Lia nods her head and she's looking forward to whatever she's going to be told. Lia has wanted to work for so long that the mere thought of working makes her excited because she wants it, pretty badly and wants to prove herself, all that she's capable of through that. Lia has always liked working even though back in the day those were part time job which are always pretty hectic and weren't even the field of work she has always wanted to be in but yet, being able to work and the sense of independence has always been a topic of interest to her and she likes that she's finally being able to work in a company that's so huge in its name and reputation. To be associated with such a big name is something she's proud of herself for achieving.

"Let me first tell you the basics." Lucas says as he shifts all the files on his table to the side and brings his attention entirely on Lia and she's excited to hear it. So much that she's pretty sure that it can be read off of her face how much she's looking forward to it.

Lucas looks like he's so used to doing this so he functions about it almost like a robot and that almost makes her sad because she wonders if he even likes his job. Lia can't ever imagine being stuck in a job that is not the person's interest but then again, your work doesn't have to be your hobby. They look so completely opposite because Lia, on one hand, looks so enthusiastic while Lucas, on the other hand, doesn't even have any kind of emotion on his face. Just extremely professional and Lia wonders if that's how she will function here as well.

"Your office is on the tenth floor which is where the CEO's office is as well by the way." Lia nods her head and she has nothing to do with where the CEO's office is because how is that going to affect her work? She'll just work the same, doesn't matter what the floor is.

"You've been assigned your first project and you'll have to meet your team of people, some of whom are just as new as you while only a handful are experienced." Lia does not have an issue with that either because she's herself an amateur in the company, who is she to judge the newly appointed ones in her team? And well, Lia strongly believes that new people have the passion and fire within them to prove themselves which she can put to her advantage as well. That's really something Lia believes in because everyone starts somewhere.

So, Lia nods her head and carefully listens to what's next. "I'll show you around your cabin and you can meet your team there as well." Lucas says and Lia's excitement sky rockets because she really can't wait until all of it starts.

"Shall we go to see your team? I'll explain the new project to all of you there." Lia nods her head and Lucas can read how much she's looking forward to it. That's not something he's not used to seeing, people are excited especially when it's their first job and he likes that they have the fire to work.

Lucas leaves the room and so does Lia, her eyes immediately looking around and the man is no longer there but that's not what she cares about anyway. She looks over to Audrey who gives her a smile and Lia really believes as Emery tells her that she's an extremely likeable person and people automatically like her on meeting her for the first time and that makes her happy because Lia is a people's person. She likes to be among people and function with them.

They step inside the elevator and Lucas takes out his phone from his pants pockets, everyone surrounding them wishing him a good morning and Lia certainly can feel that he's respected in the workplace. He's talking to someone about the error he had previously noticed in the paper and asking them to get it fixed. Lia has never met anyone who has been as professional as Lucas which she really admires.

Once they do reach the tenth floor, obviously very quickly, Lucas steps out of the elevator and Lia follows him. She tries to maintain her posture and walks confidently through the place although having so many people around with their eyes on her is slightly making it hard because hey! It is her first day here and technically not even the first because that's going to be tomorrow but anyway, Lia stops as Lucas enters a meeting room and suddenly her heart rate increased because the sudden knowledge that she has probably to be introducing herself to a couple of people when she isn't even prepared is getting to her. But then again, Emery always worries only to ace things. She can do this.

And as she enters there's about twenty people in the room already. She walks to the front with Lucas.

"This is Lia, she'll be the one handling the project and looking over all of you. She will introduce herself in a minute but before that let me tell you all about the project." Lucas says and opens a presentation on the projector which was already switched on and Lia turns around to look at that as well.

"It's a collaborative project with a data science company and also someone who's willing to invest in their shares. You'll get the proper details in the files placed right in front of you, Lia, here's yours." Lucas says handing her the file and Lia nods her head as she holds it.

"I'm happy to introduce you to our new project handler, who has done her graduation from Harvard University." Lia feels herself growing a little smaller on hearing that because that sounds like such a flex and she's not used to that.

"Hello everyone, I'm Lia White and it's such an honor to be able to work with such a smart group of people on my very first project. I'm happy to be working with you and I hope it's a nice journey going forward for all of us."

Lia introduces herself and everyone hears her thoroughly, Lia can see people looking forward to work just as much as she is and that's what makes her the happiest of all.

"Since it's a new group of people, the CEO of Daltons Corporations himself wants to look over it."

Lia stuns on hearing that, her nerves taking the best of her as she slightly shivers on that. Lia is not ready and although this shouldn't affect her work, she has no idea of how the man is which makes her worried.

"So please welcome James Dalton."