Page 16 of Trust Fall
Cleo
“Ms. Foster,” Jackson Copeland began, “I really don’t understand the hold-up with my new residential build. I’ve spoken with the engineer who’s supposed to be running the entire project, and he keeps directing my attention to the timeline, but I don’t have time for all of that. Just tell me what is happening with it, I’m already running late for my next meeting due to his lack of cooperation, and it would be in your bestinterest to simply do as I ask and let us both get on with our days.” he said, well, more like demanded. He had yet to lift his head out of his phone screen since he arrived in her office.
“Mr. Copeland,” Cleo said slowly, trying to and stay calm as this meeting had already gone in circles for the past five minutes. “As I had said over the phone prior to this meeting, Mr. Martin is your point of contact for this build unless it is in regard to any changes you wish to make from the approved plans. However,” Cleo clasped her hands on her lap underneath her desk, to avoid showing her frustration to his face, “as a show of good will, I can contact Mr. Martin and see if I can get a clear answer from him on your behalf. This will allow him to continue with your build, and you will be able to proceed with other commitments that require your time.”
Cleo hated this man.
“Then it seems a prompt response to my question would suit us both.” He replied sharply. “If you wouldn’t mind,” he nodded towards the phone on Cleo’s desk as he raised his eyebrows expectedly, head still in his screen.
Cleo really hated this man.
She took another calming breath. “Mr. Copeland, I will contact Mr. Martin and update you later today with his response. This meeting had been arranged at your request to discuss a separate matter, if I remember correctly? If we could proceed with that, then you will be on your way to your meeting which you have already admitted being late for.” Cleo held her breath, awaiting his wrath at her sharp tone, but part of her really couldn’t care any less if she tried. The man was a living nightmare.
“As you should be aware by now, Copeland Conglomerate holds a majority stake in a large number of residential properties and multilevel condominiums across the city. While we have multiple departments at our disposal to find land on which to expand our foothold, we are wanting to start investing inrenovating abandoned properties in a wider area of the city. That being said, we want to upgrade these abandoned properties into commercial spaces, so an architect such as yourself would be better suited than a real estate agent to ensure that we only look at locations which will eventually meet our requirements, knowing what would be feasible to structurally change and such. It is cheaper for us to request you to compile a list of these locations which meet our requirements than to have one of our in-house staff complete this task. Their job is to make us money, Ms. Foster, this is merely research for a possible future venture and not worth their time, hence why I am requiring your services for this instead.”
Cleo despised this man today.
“While I appreciate the vote of confidence in my abilities to research locations and properties that would meet your company’s specific requirements, due to my own working capacity, that is not a service that I offer my clients—” Cleo began.
“You will be well compensated for your time, Ms. Foster,” he cut her off, “and someone in as new a business as you have would do well to take any work which comes your way. I’m sure you understand, profit is profit.” He stood and headed towards the door. “I’ll email you our requirements for the types of properties to research and expect to receive your call with the building progress update by end of day.” With that, he left the room.
Cleo sat, trying to identify which emotion she felt strongest after her latest interaction with Jackson Copeland. Frustration, anger, shock, and countless others fought for her attention.
Cleo closed her eyes and slowly counted as she practiced box breathing to try and relax. In for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four, repeat. She managed three cycles before she felt her heartrate settle enough to open her eyes without feeling theurge to bite the head off whoever she saw first. Likely it would be Lana, and she couldn’t do that to her.
This is not how that meeting was supposed to go. She was going to use the meeting to stand up against Jackson Copeland and set clear boundaries. Instead, she now appears to be carrying out work for him that she neither has time nor want for. He needs to find someone else to be his lacky, Cleo was sure about that.
Three hours and seventeen emails later, Jackson Copeland commenting on her lack of time to carry out his request (demand), and Cleo decided to call it a day. It was an hour earlier than usual, but she was beyond ready to shut down for the weekend.
This was something that Cleo had only done once before since setting up her own business. That was because of Megan.
Cleo walked over and opened her office door to find Lana at her desk, deep in concentration with whatever was on her computer screen.
Cleo smirked as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned against her doorframe. “Seeing you so stuck in your work there I nearly don’t want to disturb you to let you know I’ve decided to stop for the day and you’re free to go start your weekend early.”
“Wait, what?!” Lana looked up, the shock on her face wasn’t lost on Cleo. She realized then that she needed to do more to be a better boss to her friend.
“I said,” Cleo chuckled, “it’s been a long week, and an even longer day. I’m done. I can’t face another mention of Jackson Copeland’s name. So, I’m closing early.”
“You mean you’re escaping?” Lana laughed.
“Call it what you want, are you ready to go?” Cleo walked over to the door into her waiting room area and spun the mechanical sign that switched the word “open” to “closed.”
“Absolutely!” Lana practically squealed. “Are you heading to your parents earlier then, or are you going to go home first?” Lana asked as she started to close the programs on her computer before shutting it down.
Cleo thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. I’m torn between going home and getting changed before heading over and looking around some of the shops, then I'd be there at my usual time.”
“You should go to that cute little stationary shop you mentioned that your mom would love and get her something, just because.” Lana started packing her bag as she continued. “I’m going to head over to grab a couple of coffees to take to Connor’s office in time for him coming out.” Cleo had been noticing that smile on Lana’s face more and more lately.
“That sounds like a great way to start the weekend. Maybe you’re right, I’ll take a look in the shops on the way to my parents and pick something up for my mom.” Cleo noticed that Lana was almost ready to go. “If you wait a minute, I’ll grab my stuff, and we’ll head out together? Where are you getting your coffees?” She asked as she made her way across to her desk to pack her bag.
“Oh, absolutely, and I’ll just go to the usual, Cuppa Comfort.” Lana replied, as she pulled the belt on her jacket closed and lifted her tote bag onto her shoulder.
“Great,” Cleo replied as she put her jacket on and buttoned it up, the military style dark sage wool jacket was a new look forher, but it gave her a bit of extra confidence today. She slung her messenger bag across her body and decided to lock her portfolio into the large storage room at the end of her office. She was taking the whole weekend off.
The women set the alarm, locked the door and began to make their way down Main Street.
Chapter 16
