Chapter 3: I have a meeting with fate

Five days earlier

June stared at the man's mouth. She tried to concentrate but he was simply saying rubbish and for some reason she can't fathom, it was like a lullaby. Crap! She was feeling sleepy.

June made her eyes wider in an attempt to stay awake but her eyelids had another plan. She wondered whether she was snoring because the next time she opened them, everyone in the room was staring at her. She hoped she wasn't drooling. She wiped her mouth just in case, and blinked to refocus her mind.

Talking about the strategic marketing plans and focused geographical agenda was a boring topic on its own without Mr. Mark adding his signature pie chart and some mathematical jargon.

June looked around and she wasn't the only one dozing off. At least two of the potential investors were visibly asleep, one was snoring softly. One starred at the ceiling and the other one was looking at Marks so intently like he needed his eyes fixed on him to understand a word.

June stared at her friend. Pepper was doing that thing she does when she pretends to be enjoying Marks' presentation except she had her phone under the table and she was playing candy crush.

June watched her for a minute or two. She was the career woman every girl wants to be. And she was also breathtaking. Now she was wearing a peach colored shirt with a pencil skirt that clung to her body outlying that beautiful body of hers.

June took out her phone and sent a text to Pepper.

(Help him or shoot me already!!!)

Pepper saw the light on her phone and looked across the room to June.

(Just play candy crush like me and occasionally nod like he is making sense, Junie. See, that man left of you is drooling, he might invest)

Pepper clicked send and waited for her friend's reaction.

June rolled her eyes.

(Be truthful...you are enjoying this!!)

Pepper tried to suppress a smile.

(They made the obvious choice, picking a gullible buffoon to be district manager instead of me... don't worry, I will give a minute or two before I take over)

As soon as Pepper finished sending the text message to June, she sent one to Marks.

(Are you done with your stupid pie charts and data logging or do you intend to bore everyone to death, Marks? I am throwing you a life line, grab it and introduce me. Offers ends in five seconds....1, 2..)

Pepper saw the relief on Marks' face and she almost rolled her eyes. Obvious choice!

"Now, let me introduce my colleague and assistant district manager, Calliope Hart"

Marks knew how much pepper hated being called by her real name. Calliope was always a mouthful and people who knew her simply called her, Callie or by her nickname Pepper.

Pepper smiled like she wasn't secretly plotting Marks death, she stood up and replaced him at the podium.

"Can we all agree that the pie charts are little bit too much?" Pepper pushed the charts and they fell to the ground. "Let's talk about money and how to make you richer..."

Thirty minutes later, and the whole room was laughing and clapping.

"Thank you everyone. Let's make the world a better place by making you look more honorable and nothing says honor like investing in a life altering project like Cedar"

Pepper stepped down amongst the clapping of everyone.

Pepper walked back to her office with June. She almost made it to her seat when Marks charged in looking like an annoyed Billy goat.

"What was that all about, Calliope?" Marks yelled at her.

"It's Callie, Markie and that was me saving your butt once again" Pepper sounded nonchalant and disrespectful.

"That was uncalled for, you humiliated me out there, Ms Hart" Marks fumed.

Pepper stood up and walked over to where he was. Her heel making a click-click sound as she walked.

"Was it?" She dimmed her eyed " Imagine how I felt when the promotion I deserved was given to you because mommy is on the board. Now be a good little boy and go run your mouth to mommy but be sure to tell her you almost caused the boss billions of dollars, had i not stepped in. It was pathetic...now, run along, Markie"

Pepper pointed at the door. She saw Marks' jaw tighten and his fist clenched in anger. Pepper made funny childish faces at him. With no come back comment, Mark turned and left.

June yawned and stared at the picture of Pepper on the table. She was an adorable little baby held by her mother and father; they had no idea she was going to grow up to be... Pepper

"How long to you plan on tormenting the poor man?" June asked her.

"Marks need to be made fun of, at least four times a week or he will get stupider" Pepper went around and sat on her chair.

"Oh please, you are just mad that you didn't get the promotion or listened to the friend that told you not to buy that big three bedroom apartment with all of your savings. I told you so. what? I am not above saying that" June shrugged.

"Now, I have to get a roommate. How awful is that? Someone like Marks gets to live my dream life minus the appearance and I have to get a freaking roommate that will potentially drive me crazy!" Peppers face twisted into a frown as she started fake crying like a little girl.

"How's the search going by the way?" June asked her.

"At this point, I am no longer picky. If I see a weirdo that can afford rent, they are moving and I am getting myself a pepper spray and a double lock on my bedroom door. Don't laugh at me but I placed an ad on craigslist"

June suppressed a smile "That sounds like a recipe for disaster"

"Well-" Pepper was interrupted by a phone call. She picked up.

"Hello, Gigi...no, I am...but I want to... hey, you are not... fine, grandma. I will come over after work. Bye" pepper hung up.

"What was that all about?" June asked.

"An introductory lecture on behavior required of a potential heiress. I wonder when they will understand that I am their only living relative and the empire is mine" Pepper rolled her eyes and it sent June into a long laugh.

"Empire!" June couldn't stop herself from laughing again.