A Business Love

chapter 19

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Jessie entered the conference center where the team building event was happening. Stations of breakfast, coffee, tea and cocoa graciously offered by the company, a DJ blasting music, and glow sticks available to employees for the after party drifted before her eyes.

Employees cheerfully mingled amongst themselves all dressed in red t-shirts with the Moretti Group logo on it.

Jessie was impressed; she definitely didn't think the event was going to be this big. She joined her colleagues that were gathered near the coffee stand.

"Oh here, take this," said Mariana while giving her a cup of coffee as she saw her arrived. "You'll need it. It's gonna be a long day."

"Thanks! Hi everyone!"

Her colleagues greeted her back and she couldn't help but pause her stare on Lucy.

"What?" brutally asked Lucy.

"Oh, nothing!" Jessie responded, realizing she was staring.

She had never seen Lucy dressed in such a laid-back way. Lucy had the Moretti t-shirt on, with jeans and running shoes instead of the usual black suits she always wore. Her hair, instead of the low bun, was in a high ponytail. It was shocking because Lucy was the only person Jessie had never imagined outside of her professional look.

Meanwhile, Julian arrived in the ballroom and headed straight to the coffee station. He needed it after pulling an all-nighter to finalize the numerous contracts he had been working on this week.

Jessie noticed him right away, as if he was a magnet. But also, he was one of the rare ones not wearing the red t-shirt. Instead, he wore a perfect black suit that fit him like a glove. He was simply irresistible.

He was accompanied by Anthony and two other guys that she didn't recognize. They walked by him as if they were his bodyguards, moving rapidly throughout the room.

Julian didn't notice Jessie, even though she was a few feet away from him. He was definitely trying to avoid eye contact with people in general, not to get caught up in an unwanted conversation. But that was an impossible mission; someone inevitably came up to him even if he was encircled by his friends. Faithful to himself, he remained kind and polite and engaged in the conversation.

"Here's your knight in shining armor," whispered Mariana.

"Can you freaking not!" said Jessie with a google-eye stare.

"No one heard me. You're always the one making a scene," said Mariana shaking her head.

Once he took his coffee, Julian left as fast as he arrived. Jessie was disappointed that he didn't see her. Every time she saw him, all she wanted was to be in his arms, just like the night of her birthday.

The auditorium's door opened and employees started gathering inside.

There was music, colorful lights and an entertainer. He was inviting volunteers to come on stage and play a modified game of the 'Price is Right' where employees had to guess what was the worth of each construction built this year by the Moretti Group for a chance to win a price.

There was a sense of euphoria in the auditorium. Jessie couldn't help but notice how it didn't feel like a corporate event; it felt more like a huge party. Everyone was visibly happy, excited and had been eagerly waiting for that event.

"I'm going up there!" she suddenly and enthusiastically said.

"What?" asked Mariana. Before Mariana even realized what she had told her, Jessie was already up on the stage.