Chapter 4

I nod and walk out of his office, I go over to my desk and grab the papers I need before heading to the meeting room. I go in and start laying the papers out at 4 seats around the table, 2 on each side. I then, grab the water pitcher and take it to the lounge where I rinse and dry it, before filling it with water from the water station. I set the pitcher on the table with cups next to it, then I grab the cookies I bought with me, arrange them on a plate and lay them on the table.

This is an important meeting for Mr. Baldoni, about a project worth millions. If he lands this project, it'll make him one of the top twenty contenders in the business world, and I will say, Mr. Baldoni has a great eye for business, but sometimes I feel he isn't as pushy as he needs to be for some of his deals.

I see the type of men and women he does business with. All alphas, some of them dominant. The dominant alphas want to see backbone when making these business deals. Sometimes Mr. Baldoni doesn't go hard enough and he pays for that when he loses a deal. Which could probably be why he doesn't have a billion dollar business yet.

He definitely plays it too safe. Sometimes I wish I could tell him to speak up! Make demands! Set conditions! Be firm!

But I'm just the secretary, so I do my job, and that's it.

Mr. Baldoni does a mix of business, he has a company that makes car parts, one that makes building materials. He even has one that does paint.

I think most of his problem with not being able to make big money is from only going after these small businesses.

It's like he loses his confidence when he comes face to face with a big business.

I think he'll get it together eventually, he had just started running the business on his own when I first started working here. I've never met Mr. Baldoni Sr. since he's never come to the office since retiring.

I think if Mr. Baldoni was really business driven, he would be able to make it big in no time. If that were to happen I wouldn't need to change jobs. I would be able to stay here until I retire. But at the rate that Mr. Baldoni is going, I'm not sure that will ever happen. He's almost too softhearted for hardcore business. He has to walk into these meetings like a king ready to lay down the law.

I prepare for the 3pm meeting the same way I prepared for his earlier meeting. Setting out the documents they'd need to go over, and making sure there were refreshments. I passed Mr. Baldoni on my way out of the meeting room, I smiled at him, nodded my head and pumped my fist. I wanted to let him know he had this, he just had to take it. Mr. Baldoni gave me a halfhearted smile in response. I shook my head, he really needs to get it together. I don't know how he thought he would be able to run a successful business, if he's too afraid to grab the proverbial bull by the horns.

I want to say something so bad, but I reign myself in. That's not what I get paid for, I'm only here to anticipate Mr. Baldoni's needs, and make sure they're met.

I walk back over to my desk. I grab my phone and pull up my friends group chat. There I text: "I get so frustrated with Mr. Baldoni sometimes. Like I feel he could grow this business so much more than he has been. He just needs to stop being scared, and I don't even know what he's scared of."

Melissa, Jack, and Lily all reply with different variations of: "If you're not happy with your job, get a new one."

I shake my head and laugh, well they certainly don't pull any punches.

I reply back: "If it was so easy to work at a billion dollar company, I would already be working there. That would have definitely been my first and only job."

Jack replies with: "You wish that could've been your first job!"

I shake my head and reply: "Of course I do! That's like my biggest wish ever!"

Melissa says: "Well I know you'll find the job you want soon enough baby, I have every faith in your ability to achieve your dreams!"

I smile as I type: "Thanks Lissa, you always know just what to say to make me feel better."

Lily finally texts back: "I think everything will happen in due time. It wasn't supposed to happen right now, or when you first started out. The job you're at now is just a stepping stone to where you're supposed to end up. Don't get too complacent though, shake things up, fill out some apps. Keep on the lookout for that dream job!"

I smile at Lily's text, always the responsible one.

I text back: "Thank you Lily, I'm definitely not getting too settled in place, I'm ready to shake things up, start on new journeys!"

Jack sends back: "Yea, yea. You sure do talk a lot about what you wanna do, but I see you making no moves to doing it!"

I shake my head, because Jack is always so negative.

I reply: "Don't worry about the moves I'm making, just like in chess you have to make the right move at the right time to win the game. I'm waiting on the 'right' move to come along. Then when you see me moving, I don't want you to say anything besides "I see you!"."

Jack sends back a laughing emoji, I just roll my eyes and set my phone down. I've had enough of him for right now, so I'll revisit that later. I look at Mr. Baldoni's schedule and see that his next meeting is at 4:30pm.

I look to see who today's meetings are with. Looks like the one he's in now is with Mr. Orion, he owns an import/export company. Then the meeting at 4:30pm is with Ms. Sheraton, she owns a hotel supply chain. The meeting at 7pm is with a Mr. Helm, he's into manufacturing cars. I see Mr. Baldoni is trying to branch out, that will be good for him, and great for business.

I just hope he's able to make whatever deals he's working on stick. I know if he messes up one deal, that messes with the rest of the deals for the day because he loses whatever little confidence he had.

Sometimes I wish he was a dominant alpha, I feel like if he were his business would already be booming, and I'd be working where I wanted to end up.