A Second Chance Part 2
Thanks to my beta!
Jenny plopped down in her chair in her office with an audible thud, completely exhausted after the three hour long meeting she just had. She glanced out of her office window which gave her an incredible view of Cologne. She took a deep breath and rubbed her forehead with her hand. The meeting this morning had been grueling; many of the bank’s executive officials had been there and it seemed like none of them were willing to consolidate on any of the important issues.
Jenny could see a faint reflection of herself in the window she was peering out of. She noticed the dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep. She had been under an enormous amount of stress these last few weeks. She didn’t even recognize herself in the reflection. She sighed heavily and turned her gaze away from the window to her office. She hated this office. Nothing in it represented her in any way. It was perfectly clean, without any personal photos albeit the ones of her shaking hands with various men in the company. The office had been specially made by her father. Her father. Just the simple name made her blood boil. He was the reason she was sitting in this chair today.
Ever since she graduated high school her seemingly happy care-free life had changed. She had thought she would be able to go to a university and study music since it was her passion. But her father had other plans for her and insisted she take the path that he chose. She found herself being thrust into the world in which she had grown to hate as a child. Her father had wanted her to be as successful as he was at the Harani Bank. She had barely scraped by in university because if she was honest with herself she wasn’t particularly good with numbers. Nevertheless her father was pleased and after graduation instantly managed to get her a job at the Harani Bank. She had moved up in the ranks faster than most people did in a lifetime. Her father attributed it to her business savvy but she knew better. Ever since she was a child she knew how to stroke the ego of every executive here and it managed to do more for her than anything else. She now had a top position, right underneath her father and she found herself even more miserable then she ever thought possible.
She hated the constant fundraiser’s, the meetings at every hour of the day, the constant harassment from potential investors, and the perfect image she had to maintain to not tarnish the bank’s reputation. Most recently she had also been having some difficulties with another employee here; Ben Bergmann. The man was Stefan’s son, another important man at the bank. Ben had been continuously nagging her to go on a date with him every chance he got but each time she had refused. When her father had gotten wind of her refusal he had been furious informing her immediately that she should accept the offer because it would ‘look good for her and the company’. It seemed like her father had forgotten that she was into women or just refused to admit it. When she had told him and her mother right in the middle of her high school years her mother had been very accepting. Her father on the other hand still didn’t accept that his only daughter was gay. He had told Jenny when she first started working at the Bank that she was not to tell anyone about her ‘confusing desires’. She needed to be normal for the sake of the bank’s reputation. Jenny had kept her mouth shut about her sexuality. Everyone at the company except her personal assistant, and best friend Jasmin knew the truth. But still, the fact that her father refused to recognize who she really was made her furious.
“Jenny?” a voice said from the door.
Jenny looked up and saw Jasmin staring at her with a smile on her face. “Yes Jasmin?”
“The new applications are here. Stefan says you need to decide today. It’s already past due”
Jenny sighed and nodded for Jasmin to come in. “Alright. I’ll pick someone. Bring the applications here” she replied in resignation.
Jasmin gave her a comforting smile and placed the folders on the desk. “You look like you need a break. How about we go out for some drinks tonight?” Jasmin asked in an attempt to cheer Jenny up.
“I wish I could Jasmin. But I have a date with Ben Bergmann” Jenny said in disgust.
Jasmin’s eyebrows rose in surprise, “You’re really going to do that?”
“I don’t have a choice. My father is adamant that I do it” Jenny said in annoyance.
“I’m sorry” Jasmin commented.
“Maybe you could help me think of an excuse not to go this evening” Jenny said hopefully.
“Oh no, I will do no such thing. Your father would kill me if he found out”
“Oh come on! How is he going to find out? Just call Ben for me and tell him I am sick and I can’t go out. I don’t even care what excuse you use! Just find one for me!”
“Jenny, you and I both know that Ben would tell your father and he would personally come over to see if you are sick and then drag you to the date”
“Well then, I will pretend to be sick!”
“How exactly will you do that?”
“I don’t know I will think of something!” Jenny said. She looked pleadingly at her friend. The last thing she wanted to do was go out on a date with Ben. There was no way she could sit there and listen to Ben talk about himself and what he has done for the company the entire time. She was exhausted and just wanted to go home and watch a movie.
“Jenny, I am not going to help you. You know perfectly well that Ben will just reschedule. Just go on one date with him and afterwards tell him you aren’t interested”.
Jenny groaned and buried her head in her hands. Jasmin was right. She would have to go on this date one way or another. Her father would make sure of that.
“You know, if it helps at all, your expectations for this evening are pretty low. So there might be a chance that you might actually have fun. Since it couldn’t possibly be any worse than what you expect” Jasmin said encouragingly.
Jenny tried to suppress a roll of her eyes. But she couldn’t help smiling at her friend. “Wow that is the best advice I have ever heard” Jenny replied with playful sarcasm. “No wonder you keep having issues in the love department. How do you expect to get any dates with that mentality?”
“Hey we aren’t talking about me. I am trying to help you out. Besides, my love life is just fine”. Jasmin retorted.
“Of course it is” Jenny said with a smile.
“Whatever. Is there anything else the majesty wants before I leave?” Jasmin asked playfully.
“No I am fine” Jenny commented.
“Well if you change your mind you know where to find me” Jasmin said with a wink. She turned around and began to make her way out of the office.
“Wait, Jasmin!” Jenny said suddenly.
Jasmin turned around, “Yes?” she asked with a raised brow.
“Have you had a chance to look at these folders?” Jenny asked. There was no way Jenny was about to spend her entire afternoon looking through the newest batch of resumes that came into the company. Stefan had given her the job to pick a new worker who would be a valuable asset to the company. After looking through hundreds of applications herself and not finding anyone that she deemed suitable her patience was starting to wear thin. There was no way she was willing to look through another dozen folders even though Stefan wanted a decision by tonight.
“Yes I have” Jasmin said in amusement.
“Who would you pick?” Jenny asked sincerely. She trusted Jasmin over everyone else in this company and she knew Jasmin was capable of answering that question.
“So you want me to pick for you?”
“Yes” Jenny said enjoying the underlying playfulness in Jasmin’s tone.
“I don’t know. You will get to take all the credit for it” Jasmin teased.
“You know I would want nothing more than to give you credit. But I think Stefan would fire me if he found out my assistant picked the ‘newest valuable asset to the company’.”
Jasmin laughed and nodded her head in agreement. “Yes you are probably right. We wouldn’t want you to get fired now would we?”
“No we wouldn’t” Jenny teased back. Jasmine shook her head and turned to walk towards the door again.
“So?” Jenny called out.
Jasmin stopped in the doorway and turned to face Jenny one more time. “Emma Muller” she said confidently. “I think she is the best candidate for this job”.
Jenny smiled and nodded. “Alright, will you tell Stefan for me please?”
“You aren’t even going to review the file?” Jasmin asked incredulously.
“No, I trust you”
“Ok, I will tell him” Jasmin said. “Oh and before I forget, have fun on your date tonight. Try not to jump him before you order your meal”
“That’s not funny!” Jenny yelled as Jasmin closed the door. She could hear Jasmin laughing from behind it as she walked away.
Jenny smiled and looked at the clock. It was still pretty early in the afternoon. But she decided she wanted to head out early. She needed to have a few drinks before she would go on this date with Ben Bergmann. As quickly as she could she gathered her belongings into her bag and put her coat on. She quickly exited her office. She passed Jasmin’s desk on her way out.
“I will tell them you’re in a meeting. If anyone asks” she said with a smirk.
“Thank you Jasmin” Jenny replied with a smile before passing her and heading towards the elevators.
TBC
Jenny plopped down in her chair in her office with an audible thud, completely exhausted after the three hour long meeting she just had. She glanced out of her office window which gave her an incredible view of Cologne. She took a deep breath and rubbed her forehead with her hand. The meeting this morning had been grueling; many of the bank’s executive officials had been there and it seemed like none of them were willing to consolidate on any of the important issues.
Jenny could see a faint reflection of herself in the window she was peering out of. She noticed the dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep. She had been under an enormous amount of stress these last few weeks. She didn’t even recognize herself in the reflection. She sighed heavily and turned her gaze away from the window to her office. She hated this office. Nothing in it represented her in any way. It was perfectly clean, without any personal photos albeit the ones of her shaking hands with various men in the company. The office had been specially made by her father. Her father. Just the simple name made her blood boil. He was the reason she was sitting in this chair today.
Ever since she graduated high school her seemingly happy care-free life had changed. She had thought she would be able to go to a university and study music since it was her passion. But her father had other plans for her and insisted she take the path that he chose. She found herself being thrust into the world in which she had grown to hate as a child. Her father had wanted her to be as successful as he was at the Harani Bank. She had barely scraped by in university because if she was honest with herself she wasn’t particularly good with numbers. Nevertheless her father was pleased and after graduation instantly managed to get her a job at the Harani Bank. She had moved up in the ranks faster than most people did in a lifetime. Her father attributed it to her business savvy but she knew better. Ever since she was a child she knew how to stroke the ego of every executive here and it managed to do more for her than anything else. She now had a top position, right underneath her father and she found herself even more miserable then she ever thought possible.
She hated the constant fundraiser’s, the meetings at every hour of the day, the constant harassment from potential investors, and the perfect image she had to maintain to not tarnish the bank’s reputation. Most recently she had also been having some difficulties with another employee here; Ben Bergmann. The man was Stefan’s son, another important man at the bank. Ben had been continuously nagging her to go on a date with him every chance he got but each time she had refused. When her father had gotten wind of her refusal he had been furious informing her immediately that she should accept the offer because it would ‘look good for her and the company’. It seemed like her father had forgotten that she was into women or just refused to admit it. When she had told him and her mother right in the middle of her high school years her mother had been very accepting. Her father on the other hand still didn’t accept that his only daughter was gay. He had told Jenny when she first started working at the Bank that she was not to tell anyone about her ‘confusing desires’. She needed to be normal for the sake of the bank’s reputation. Jenny had kept her mouth shut about her sexuality. Everyone at the company except her personal assistant, and best friend Jasmin knew the truth. But still, the fact that her father refused to recognize who she really was made her furious.
“Jenny?” a voice said from the door.
Jenny looked up and saw Jasmin staring at her with a smile on her face. “Yes Jasmin?”
“The new applications are here. Stefan says you need to decide today. It’s already past due”
Jenny sighed and nodded for Jasmin to come in. “Alright. I’ll pick someone. Bring the applications here” she replied in resignation.
Jasmin gave her a comforting smile and placed the folders on the desk. “You look like you need a break. How about we go out for some drinks tonight?” Jasmin asked in an attempt to cheer Jenny up.
“I wish I could Jasmin. But I have a date with Ben Bergmann” Jenny said in disgust.
Jasmin’s eyebrows rose in surprise, “You’re really going to do that?”
“I don’t have a choice. My father is adamant that I do it” Jenny said in annoyance.
“I’m sorry” Jasmin commented.
“Maybe you could help me think of an excuse not to go this evening” Jenny said hopefully.
“Oh no, I will do no such thing. Your father would kill me if he found out”
“Oh come on! How is he going to find out? Just call Ben for me and tell him I am sick and I can’t go out. I don’t even care what excuse you use! Just find one for me!”
“Jenny, you and I both know that Ben would tell your father and he would personally come over to see if you are sick and then drag you to the date”
“Well then, I will pretend to be sick!”
“How exactly will you do that?”
“I don’t know I will think of something!” Jenny said. She looked pleadingly at her friend. The last thing she wanted to do was go out on a date with Ben. There was no way she could sit there and listen to Ben talk about himself and what he has done for the company the entire time. She was exhausted and just wanted to go home and watch a movie.
“Jenny, I am not going to help you. You know perfectly well that Ben will just reschedule. Just go on one date with him and afterwards tell him you aren’t interested”.
Jenny groaned and buried her head in her hands. Jasmin was right. She would have to go on this date one way or another. Her father would make sure of that.
“You know, if it helps at all, your expectations for this evening are pretty low. So there might be a chance that you might actually have fun. Since it couldn’t possibly be any worse than what you expect” Jasmin said encouragingly.
Jenny tried to suppress a roll of her eyes. But she couldn’t help smiling at her friend. “Wow that is the best advice I have ever heard” Jenny replied with playful sarcasm. “No wonder you keep having issues in the love department. How do you expect to get any dates with that mentality?”
“Hey we aren’t talking about me. I am trying to help you out. Besides, my love life is just fine”. Jasmin retorted.
“Of course it is” Jenny said with a smile.
“Whatever. Is there anything else the majesty wants before I leave?” Jasmin asked playfully.
“No I am fine” Jenny commented.
“Well if you change your mind you know where to find me” Jasmin said with a wink. She turned around and began to make her way out of the office.
“Wait, Jasmin!” Jenny said suddenly.
Jasmin turned around, “Yes?” she asked with a raised brow.
“Have you had a chance to look at these folders?” Jenny asked. There was no way Jenny was about to spend her entire afternoon looking through the newest batch of resumes that came into the company. Stefan had given her the job to pick a new worker who would be a valuable asset to the company. After looking through hundreds of applications herself and not finding anyone that she deemed suitable her patience was starting to wear thin. There was no way she was willing to look through another dozen folders even though Stefan wanted a decision by tonight.
“Yes I have” Jasmin said in amusement.
“Who would you pick?” Jenny asked sincerely. She trusted Jasmin over everyone else in this company and she knew Jasmin was capable of answering that question.
“So you want me to pick for you?”
“Yes” Jenny said enjoying the underlying playfulness in Jasmin’s tone.
“I don’t know. You will get to take all the credit for it” Jasmin teased.
“You know I would want nothing more than to give you credit. But I think Stefan would fire me if he found out my assistant picked the ‘newest valuable asset to the company’.”
Jasmin laughed and nodded her head in agreement. “Yes you are probably right. We wouldn’t want you to get fired now would we?”
“No we wouldn’t” Jenny teased back. Jasmine shook her head and turned to walk towards the door again.
“So?” Jenny called out.
Jasmin stopped in the doorway and turned to face Jenny one more time. “Emma Muller” she said confidently. “I think she is the best candidate for this job”.
Jenny smiled and nodded. “Alright, will you tell Stefan for me please?”
“You aren’t even going to review the file?” Jasmin asked incredulously.
“No, I trust you”
“Ok, I will tell him” Jasmin said. “Oh and before I forget, have fun on your date tonight. Try not to jump him before you order your meal”
“That’s not funny!” Jenny yelled as Jasmin closed the door. She could hear Jasmin laughing from behind it as she walked away.
Jenny smiled and looked at the clock. It was still pretty early in the afternoon. But she decided she wanted to head out early. She needed to have a few drinks before she would go on this date with Ben Bergmann. As quickly as she could she gathered her belongings into her bag and put her coat on. She quickly exited her office. She passed Jasmin’s desk on her way out.
“I will tell them you’re in a meeting. If anyone asks” she said with a smirk.
“Thank you Jasmin” Jenny replied with a smile before passing her and heading towards the elevators.
TBC