After the work gets published the feature gains attention in the positive way for both the magazine and D'Artois groups.
A meeting held in dazzle magazine which included all the staff, an rare thing.
The meeting hall was so busy with people moving, talking and all of a sudden a dead silence filled the room.
The president stood up to make a speech which included updates as well, the president went on further to talk about the positive view Amara feature has done to the company because magazine companies struggle to stay afloat in this century.
A shocking announcement was made the company now has a partner, long term ones at that
It was a shock because 10 years plus and dazzle has never had a partner why now
"Dazzle magazine now a partner that will be joining us, this partner will open doors for dazzle and bring it to greater heights.
It is a symbiotic relationship we have access to resources and financial support in exchange for exclusivity of the front page ads for their business feature"
President concludes her speech and the meeting was adjourned as Amara got up to leave she heard a voice "Ms. Banks a moment" the president said
Amara had never been called by the president in her 3 years of working with dazzle, it was a strange phenomenon
"Ms. Banks the partnership has been done and announced at today meeting that means we would need to do our part in this deal
The D'Artois group wants visibility that why the front page will be exclusive to them"
Amara squinted her eyes
(D'Artois groups are our partners)
Why tilting her head
"Ms. Banks are you listening to me"
"Yes! Mr. President"
"You have been assigned to manage and write all cooperate interviews"
"Sir, why me
That's seems like a very serious job, I'm and sure I'm fit for this post"
"Ms. Banks I can't change it if you don't want it
You were specifically asked to be put in the project, you will be in their office meetings, scheduled meetings and events so you'll be able to write for each front page.
"Mr. President I simply can't understand what's going on
What's this"
"Ms. You'll report to their headquarters on Monday
You'll work 3 days there and 2 days here
Every article written must be revised and approved by Mr. D'Artois himself
You can excuse yourself now"
Mr. Presi….
He raises his hand to silence her and exits the room. Amara is left confused and more confused about what happened.
She goes to her desk and she feels eyes on her as she walks down to her desk.
"Amara we heard that you are the only one who will deal with D'Artois group"
Amara nods her head in agreement
A new week arrives
Amara looking sharp in her vibrant blue suit, hair well packed and heels that can heard far away.
Amara's enters D'Artois Headquarters and heads for the reception
"Hi my name is Amara Banks and I'm …."
"Oh Ms. Banks (cuts her off)
We have duly informed
[Hands Amara an office tag]
This way Ms."
She shows Amara to the elevator, Amara walks in the elevator
"Ms. Banks you'll be going to the president floor press, the last floor"
Amara presses the elevator button as she was told, she gets to the last floor and as the elevator opens someone was there already waiting for her
"Ms. Banks, welcome to D'Artois group
We are pleased to have you here with us
Walk with me
This is the president floor, we have very few staff that work on this floor and you are one of them let me show you to your cubicle"
Shows Amara to her spacious cubicle
"Thank you for showing me around
Mr. Hmmmmm I'm sorry I forgot to ask your name
What's your name''
"Vladimir"
"Mr. Vladimir"
"Oh no please just call me Vladimir"
"Okay thank you Vladimir"
Amara's sits in her cubicle, her very own little office she didn't have to see the faces her coworkers while she was working
Amara getting comfortable suddenly hears a knock
"Ms. Banks, the president is calling you to his office"
Amara stands up and heads for his office
"Good morning, Mr. D'Artois"
"Ms. Banks, I see you have reported here for duty
I believe you have been briefed on your job here entails"
Amara nods to acknowledge
"Okay Ms. Banks we have our weekly meeting in a few minutes
I believe you should be prepared "
"Yes I am" [although she wasn't]
"You know you don't have to be so stiff around me
I want you to be free around me so we would have a better relationship cause we would be working and meeting each other a lot"
Okay Mr. D'Artois
Amara walks out his office to her cubicle gathers her pen, notepad and voice recorder
She walks to the office for the meeting, during the the meeting She brought out her notepad and voice recorder suddenly someone said
" Excuse me Ms. you can't have any physical recording of this of the meeting
this is how we do things here"
Amara deco to comply she turns off her voice recorder so only things she had to for records were her notepad.
She began to write the details of the meetings, it was then announced they will be having a charity gala and more details will be discussed later.
The meeting is adjourned, Amara goes to her cubicle from that day to the end of the week amara jotted down all her findings on their work environment to make her next article for the company based on the partnership.
Friday comes and Amara is done with their work piece on the work environment of D'Artois group. she goes to the president for his approval on the article and he says the same thing he told her before.
"I don't attend to things not work related during office hours
You'll have to come over to my place after work hours
I'll be closing early today
That should be around 5:30"
Lucian tells Amara
Amara thought nothing but waste of transport, Why can't we do it here Amara thought .Amara a bit annoyed, after working hours decides to go to his place around five.
she steps out of the building waiting for a taxi then a Rolls-Royce stops and the window is wind down
she saw it was Lucian
"You are going to my place right
Get in"
Amara was a bit resistant but she ended up entering his car because it saved her transportation, inside his car she noticed it well detailed than the one she entered before it was a different rolls Royce.
Amara to herself thought what man would have more than one rolls Royce La Rose noire Droptail.The car pulls up to his house, it was different from what she thought that night because when she went there it was very dark.
she didn't really see the house for all it was
The house was a two-story mansion with a huge fountain in the courtyard and a lot of blacked out luxury vehicles. Tree's taller than the fence that blocked the view from outside, a 360 surveillance camera.
The houses had French windows and was properly lit compared to the night she came. she noticed they were men in the dark outside close to the trees not too far not to be noticed and not to close to be noticed
His assistant parked the car and then he steps out of the car, enters the house and saw the house for The beauty it was.
it had very high ceilings, it was something born out of a movie
"This Way" he says
as he walks straight to the study and she behind him enters his study and she couldn't get her eyes off the blue and teal aesthetic .
"Ms. Banks have your seat" he said to Amara
he draws out a sit besides for himself, she brings out her laptop put it on the table and shows him her work before they started Lucian says
Ms. Banks what will you like to have"
"I don't know" Amara replies
"come on, say something
Would like to have the same as before"
okay that's okay I'll have that the same as before
He goes to bring the orange juice and gives to her, they begin working on the article he kept adjusting it to his taste
"By the way you are quite observant, the article is very detailed
A good journalist indeed
I think your works are very good, unbiased"
"But you keeps adjusting it" Amara cuts him off
"Your work is unbiased
We're giving a substantial financial to your company not for unbiased opinions but for promotional writing. You are a good journalist and honest too that's rare in this day and age"
He said with a smirk that was neither good nor bad
they continue working
Lucian says "we're almost done
would you want something else
I'm going to get a bottle of Domaine de la Romanèe-conti
You want one"
"I.... I don't know the name of the wine" Amara answers
"It's really nice
You'll enjoy it, if you are a lover of wine
do you drink wine"
"um I do from time to time" Amara replies
"Then you'll like it
it has a vintage vibe to it" Lucian mentions
goes to get the bottle of wine opens it, pours a bit for himself and a bit for Amara, then they proceed to finish the article
After drinking, Amara felt her nerves calm and she gets comfortable and begins to ask him a bit about his life and he answers all the questions she asked.
"Ms. Banks
I don't know what it is about you but I find you interesting"
Amara didn't know how to answer that statement
" you don't have to reply" Lucian casually says
After the article was approved Amara took her bag and was taking her leave when Lucian says
"Ms. Banks it's late
my assistant will drop you"
"Oh no it's okay I can go back on my own" Amara replies
"I insist Ms. Banks"
"Okay if you insist"
His assistant takes her home it was a quite right back