1 Chapter 1: The CEO From Down the Street

“Laurel Daniela Dominguez, Chief Executive Officer of Paper Weight International. It has such a gorgeous ring to it. No, not gorgeous but glamorous. My new title will have a glamorous ring to it.” Laurel says.

Sidney straightens Laurel’s posture. She readjusts Laurel’s blazer, only to find more cut hair in the creases. “Did the beautician not put a cape on you?” Sidney asks.

“She did and did a fantastic job too, I must say.” Laurel spins. She admires her hair through the full-length mirror that sits in the corner of her office.

Sidney continues to remove all the hair she can, despite Laurel’s fidgeting. “And done. You look great.” Sidney says, smiling genuinely.

Laurel fluffs her hair.

“Stop, the curls will fall,” Sidney says, getting the broom.

“Mierda, there it is. A fly away.” Laurel yanks the single strand of hair without hesitation. She blows herself a kiss. “Perfect.”

“I like it,” Tony Williams leans against the doorway of Laurel’s office door. He stands there smiling, holding a binder full of contents unbeknownst to Laurel.

Laurel squeals, “Tony! You made it!” She walks towards her best friend, arms extended for a hug.

Tony hugs Laurel.

“Mmmm,” Laurel hums. “I smell the Fahrenheit Dior cologne I got you for Christmas last year.”

Tony chuckles. “You do. It smells damn good.” He smiles down at Laurel, “You know I wouldn’t miss this. Plus, you aren’t the only one who invited me.”

Laurel stands back, confused. “Sidney, did you—”

“No actually, Señor Dominguez invited me too. He said he wanted to talk to me about something.” Tony interrupts Laurel.

“I see. Well, it is probably another surprise for me.” Laurel playfully shoves Tony. “Way to ruin it! Ah, you should have kept that to yourself, now I am expecting something.”

Tony chuckles. “And what are you expecting exactly?”

“Something to celebrate my promotion, of course. Vicepresidenta had its charm, but CEO? That is a dream, my dream. Daddy must have realized this and sees my potential. My being an heiress could have helped with my promotion too, but,” Laurel walks toward the center of her office, “I could not make as much magic happen here, as I can in Daddy’s central office. And today, it becomes my central office.”

Tony nods. “You deserve this, Laurel.”

Laurel looks at herself in her full-length mirror. “I know.” She turns to Tony. “Thank you.”

“Got any words? You know, 'one small step…'” Tony asks.

“You can hear all my words in my speech to the company. Sidney, they are all prepared and in order, yes?” Laurel inquires.

“Yes, ma’am. All printed, collected, and in order from ‘congratulations’ to your ‘thank you’ speech.” Sidney doesn’t look up from her iPad while talking. She taps the pink binder beside her. “All in here.”

“Your speeches? Rick didn’t even announce his retirement to the company yet.” Tony comments.

Laurel ignores Tony for a moment. She walks over to her desk and opens the pink binder Sidney was tapping on. Inside are the speeches, each page held in recycled plastic sheet protectors, of Paper Weight International’s design. Laurel then says, “Well, a wise man once told me ‘if I stay ready, I never have to get ready.’”

“Laurel, we were playing ping pong. I told you that after you complained about my win streak.” Tony laughs. “If only you paid me the same attention you paid the guys at the bar, maybe you would have won…”

“That is not the point, Tony,” Laurel says. “The point is, Sidney and I spent this past week working on these speeches and memorizing them. Even just last night, I had Sidney quiz me to make sure I did not forget anything.”

“Yep. Sure did.” Sidney’s tone is nonchalant.

“Think of it this way, Sidney. Should I need to step out, you can deliver the speeches!” Laurel turns to Tony, proud of her preparation.

Tony’s phone rings. “Excuse me, ladies.” He says. Tony answers the phone in front of Laurel and Sidney. “Hello, Señor Dominguez. Yes, I am here. I’m down the hall, saying hello to Laurel.”

“Tell Daddy I said hello, and that I am waiting for his summons!” Laurel says.

Tony nods. “Yes señor, uh Laurel, he can hear you. He says ok, but I have to speak with him before you.” He says.

Laurel rolls her eyes. “That is fine. Hurry though, I am dying of anticipation.”

Tony hangs up the phone. “Off I go.” He says.

Laurel waves at him. “Off you go,” She replies.

“You look beautiful today.” He says. Tony winks at Laurel before leaving her office.

“Ma’am, I encourage you to tell Tony that when you become chief executive officer, he should cut flirtation down to a minimum.” Sidney makes her comment, again not looking up from her iPad.

“Oh please. It was not flirting.” Laurel retorts. She becomes occupied with her hair again, primping herself in the mirror.

“I’m telling you; he is,” Sidney says.

“And I,” Laurel pauses. “have emailed you a list of products that need ordering. Sort them by environmental friendliness and overall style and get back to me.”

Sidney snorts. “Miss Dominguez, you haven’t emailed me anything.”

Laurel whips out her phone. After a few thumb taps and scrolls, Sidney receives the email notification on her iPad and computer.

“Now, you should have received the email.” Laurel smiles triumphantly.

“With all due respect, you can’t just assign me busy-work because we aren’t in agreement,” Sidney says.

Laurel gasps. “Choosing and purchasing vegan-leather furniture for my central office is not busy-work! It certainly takes priority over whatever you are doing now.”

Sidney finally looks up. She says, “I’m looking for baby clothes.”

“Yes, and congratulations again to your girlfriend. However, she is only in her first trimester; only eight weeks if I am not mistaken. Did you not get my gift basket? Anyway, vegan leather is essential when I hold meetings with our clients, I need to show them a united environment-friendly front that exceeds the use of recycled materials.” Laurel says.

Sidney smiles at Laurel before she says, “Ma’am?”

“What?”

“You order beef by the cow. Literally. The cow.”

Laurel pauses before saying, “I can eat beef and be environmentally friendly!”

Sidney is laughing at this point. “You’re literally the person who is sooo hungry, they can eat an entire cow.”

“And you are literally so corny. Organize the list of vegan-leather furniture!”