Out in the Open Page 2

  “Well, Lexi, it sounds like you have great experience. Just one last question: What brings you to Chicago?” she asks curiously.

  Of course I’d expected this question. “It was a dream of mine to live in New York. I’m so fortunate I pursued it and was able to make that dream a reality. It’s truly an amazing city, and I enjoyed my experience there, but Chicago is home. And for personal reasons, it seemed like a good time to come back.”

  Satisfied, she nods. “Now do you have any questions for me?”

  I ask her about her management style and her role in the day-to-day work, their expectations regarding revenue for the account, and the size of the team I’d be leading. We talk for a few more minutes, and then Judy knocks on the door.

  “Well, thank you for coming in, Lexi,” Morgan says. “We’ll be in touch soon.”

  “It was a real pleasure,” I tell her.

  Judy leads me to Simon’s office. He looks me up and down, and I feel self-conscious under his intense gaze. As soon as Judy walks away, he says, “Thank God, someone who actually looks the part.” I smile at him questioningly. “This is for a prestige beauty brand,” he says. “We need someone the clients can relate to, not all the Forever 21s I’ve seen so far. You actually have a sophisticated sense of style.” I like him already. He asks me a bunch of questions, namely about my relationship with the creative team. I tell him I view it as a partnership because it’s very difficult to sell something if both parties aren’t aligned. I also tell him I’m very supportive of a team pushing the envelope and going off brief as long as it delivers what the client has asked for.

  “In my experience you can’t successfully sell if you don’t first give the client what they requested,” I say. “It’s important to deliver what they asked for then show them how it can be even better. This builds trust and makes them more open to the idea rather than being defensive, because we’re essentially telling them they’re wrong.”

  Simon nods and says, “I couldn’t agree more.” He asks me what some of my favorite campaigns are that I’ve worked on and why. I answer then ask him the same. Before I know it, Judy is back. Simon kisses both of my cheeks and says to Judy, “She’s a keeper.” I smile at him and say good-bye.

  “Things seem to be going well,” she says. She leads to me a conference room where Michelle is waiting. She introduces us and says she’ll be back within a half hour. In the first few minutes of our conversation, I can tell that Michelle is a bright girl. We talk about her experience in her current role and what she’ll be doing on the account. She asks me about my management style, which achievements I’m most proud of, and how I’d go about establishing relationships with a new group of clients. She’s sharp, and we establish a good rapport. Soon the half hour is up, and Judy returns to take me to my final interview. “Mr. Hartman is finishing up a call,” she says. “I’ll take you on a brief tour of the office, and then we’ll see if he’s ready.” I thank Michelle for her time and follow Judy out.

  “I know you weren’t originally scheduled to meet with Mr. Hartman, so I appreciate your being flexible. He travels a lot and happened to be in the office today, so I thought it would be good for the two of you to meet,” Judy says as she leads me around.

  I find it interesting that she’s referred to everyone else on a first-name basis—either Jake prefers to be addressed formally, or she’s fearful of him, neither of which I take to be a good sign. Judy informs me Hartman & Taylor occupies five floors of the building, which they’re already outgrowing. She shows me the office where I’d be sitting, along with the conference rooms, kitchen, and brainstorming area, which takes up half the floor. It’s meant to inspire creativity with a Ping-Pong table, pool table, meeting area with cozy couches and a TV, a library with magazines and books for inspiration, a huge bulletin board, a chalkboard wall, and a small kitchen. Pretty standard for an agency, though when I used to show my friends where I worked, they couldn’t believe it. “This is what you do at work?” they’d exclaim. I always sensed they were skeptical that I actually worked hard. But I do. My career is very important to me. As we walk, Judy tells me there’s a bar downstairs, Taylor Tavern, where people often gather, though it is not endorsed by the agency.

  We head to Jake’s office on the twenty-first floor. Judy introduces me to Joann Silver, his secretary.

  “Is he ready?” she asks.

  “Yes, go on in,” says Joann.

  I push aside my nerves and attempt to walk confidently into Jake’s office. He’s sitting behind his desk but stands to greet me. I offer him my hand and hope he doesn’t hear my sharp intake of breath. He is gorgeous. He’s tall, at least six feet, with a nice build and broad shoulders. I take in his icy-blue eyes, sun-kissed skin, and short golden-brown hair that’s a bit longer on top with that perfectly imperfect messy look. He smiles and reveals a pair of dimples, causing the butterflies I just tamed to take flight once more, flapping their tiny wings insistently. I’m momentarily paralyzed, entranced by his good looks. Jake regards me with an amused expression, and I decide he has a sense of boyish charm about him. Even though he’s very attractive, he seems approachable, and I bet that’s a big factor in his success. I was expecting him to be older, but he looks to be in his late twenties. As he towers over me, I realize I misread Judy’s reaction. She’s likely not fearful of him; it’s just that his looks are disarming. I sit down and take a deep, steadying breath.

  “Nice to meet you, Alexandra,” he says. “Thanks for meeting with me so last minute.”

  I manage to regain my composure. “Please call me Lexi.” I see my résumé on his desk and try to make out the notes he’s written beneath the “Alexandra Paige Winters” masthead.

  “So, Lexi,” he says, “why do you want to work for Hartman and Taylor? You’re obviously very accomplished, having worked at top agencies in Chicago and New York. What makes you interested in us?”

  Wow, he doesn’t waste time for small talk. “You’re right,” I say. “I have worked at some of the top agencies. And it was an exhilarating experience to be a part of that success. But I’ve found that companies rely on the same formula to stay on top. They want to go with what’s tried and true, which makes them averse to risk. I want to be part of a culture that’s willing to try new things and learn from failure, push new and innovative ideas, and most of all, continually strive to be the best. I’m ready to take on a new challenge.”

  He regards me intently with his blue eyes, beautiful and vast like the ocean, but what lies beneath is a mystery. I ponder how he can find a shirt in the exact same hue when he interrupts my thoughts. “So tell me about yourself.” Surprised by his change of tack, I pause. “I’ve read your résumé,” he says. “I have a good feel for your professional experience. Now I want to know more about you.”

  “Well, I grew up in the northern suburbs and come from a close-knit family of five. I have two sisters, and even though I’m the middle child, somehow I’m the responsible one. I recently moved back here from New York, and I’m living with a close friend until I can find my own apartment. I love working with creative people, which is why I pursued a career in advertising. I thought I’d be a copywriter, but after a summer internship I decided I was a better fit on the account side. Plus I love trying to find a solution when one doesn’t seem possible. I get energized when the client delivers a challenging brief that allows us to work through new solutions to solve their business problems. That’s why I ultimately went into account management. It’s the best of both worlds: I get to manage the work and relationships but still take part in the creative process.” I hope I didn’t share too much, but he seems satisfied with my response.

  “Where in New York did you live?”

  “Murray Hill.”

  “Do you miss it?”

  “Yes, but this is home.”

  “What do you miss the most?”

  “You’ll probably think I’m crazy, but there was this great deli near my office that had the best soups. I went there prac
tically every day.”

  Jake looks amused, and I wish I’d thought of something wittier. Then he smirks and says, “You know, we have great delis here too.”

  “None that I’ve found—not in the city at least.”

  “What about Cahan’s?”

  “I’ve heard it’s good, but I never went because it wasn’t near my office or apartment.”

  “There’s this thing called delivery. You should try it sometime.” I laugh, and he does too. Then he tells me he also lived in New York for about six months, right after he graduated from college.

  “Why did you live there for such a short time?”

  “I moved there to be close to a girl I was dating, but things didn’t work out.” I’m pleased about this revelation, although I have no intention of telling him about our shared history. “Anyway,” he continues, “I always knew I’d come work here with my uncle, but she wanted to stay in New York, so we parted ways.”

  “How did you know you wanted to work for your uncle?”

  “I practically grew up here. My dad traveled frequently, so I think my uncle tried to make up for his shortcomings. He attended my sporting events and helped me with homework, advice, that sort of thing. I’d often come to the agency after school and watch him work. I picked up a lot, and as I got older, he started formally training me.”

  “It must have been hard to go through high school without your dad around. What does he do?”

  “He’s a business consultant. He often traveled abroad and was gone for long stretches.”

  “Did it bother him that you wanted to work for your uncle?” I hope I’m not getting too personal, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

  “No, I think he was glad,” Jake says. “We never discussed it much, but he once told me he regretted not being around enough for the family. He encouraged me to do something I love but advised me to think about the long-term implications. When you’re in your late teens, you really don’t think about how your career might impact your family life.”

  “That’s good advice,” I say. It makes me wonder whether he has a family, and I find myself hoping the answer is no. I look at his left hand and notice he isn’t wearing a ring. “It must be nice working for a family business. My parents actually work together,” I tell him.

  “What do they do?”

  “My dad is an architect, and my mom is an interior designer. His clients aren’t required to use her services, but many of them opt to. She has a great eye.”

  “Why didn’t you go into the family business?”

  “Believe me, I thought about it. My younger sister Tara probably will follow in my mom’s footsteps. But I wanted to do something I’m passionate about. If I had the skill, I’d have been a fashion designer. This is the next best thing.”

  Just then Joann pokes her head into his office. “Mr. Hartman, your one o’clock is here.” Wow, it’s already one? It doesn’t seem like we’ve been talking for over an hour. Disappointment washes over me, and in that moment I resent Joann for the interruption.

  Jake turns to me. “Do you have any further questions?”

  “Just one. Would you still want to work here if it wasn’t your uncle’s company?”

  He thinks for a minute. “This probably wouldn’t have been my first choice right out of college,” he says honestly. “But, if for some reason I did end up working here, I definitely would stay. It’s a great group of people. We have some solid blue-chip clients, and we’re growing. When I started here, the company had around a hundred and twenty-five employees. Now we employ more than five hundred and recently opened an office in San Francisco. I think there’s still plenty of room to grow. In fact we’re on a bit of a winning streak, and that brings momentum. It’s an exciting time to be at Hartman and Taylor.”

  “Thank you so much for your time,” I tell him.

  “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lexi,” he says, as he shakes my hand, letting his fingers linger a bit longer than necessary. Or perhaps it’s just my imagination. Then he offers me another heart-stopping smile before he turns his attention to the man waiting outside his door.

  As I walk out of Jake’s office, I can’t help think that our conversation felt more like a first date than an interview. And for the first time since I walked out on Ben, I’m actually open to the possibility.

  I grab lunch and head back to my apartment. I’m just about caught up on Grey’s Anatomy when Liv walks in. She’s a teacher, and she has great hours.

  “How’d it go?” she asks, flopping onto the couch next to me.

  “I think it went well. The creative director seemed to take a liking to me.” Liv raises her eyebrows. “Liv, he’s gay.”

  “Oh, too bad.”

  Liv is on a mission to find me a man to help take my mind off Ben. I keep telling her I’m not ready to date anyone. “Lexi,” she always says in exasperation, “I’m not saying you have to marry the guy—just go on one date. You need to find your rebound.” As much as I protest, she keeps trying to fix me up, but I always turn her down. “What else?” she asks. “How did it compare to the other places where you’ve interviewed?”

  “I really liked it. I think it’s my top choice. The head of new business said it’s a good time to join the company because they’re winning a lot of accounts.”

  “Of course he’d say that. He obviously wants you to work there.”

  “Well, they have been getting a lot of good press. And I don’t think he’d lie about it. His uncle is one of the founders, so he has the family name to uphold. He also happened to be adorable.”

  Liv perks up at this revelation. “Lexi, spill.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. He looked to be in his late twenties, beautiful blue eyes framed by golden-brown lashes, strong jaw, good body, killer dimples, and no wedding ring.” Liv knows I’m a sucker for dimples.

  “Is that all?” she teases. “What’s his name?”

  “Jake Hartman.”

  “Let’s go find out about Jake,” she says, leading me to her computer. “Also, does the company have a policy on inter-office dating?”

  “Liv, they haven’t even given me an offer yet.”

  “I’m just sayin’,” she replies.

  We first look him up on Facebook, but there are many Jake Hartmans, and none look to be a match. Then she does a Google search and comes up with a number of hits. She skims a bunch of links then filters the search by image. And there he is up on the screen, looking all sexy.

  “Lexi,” she exclaims, “he’s gorgeous!”

  “I told you. I’m sure he has a girlfriend, or he’s a player. A guy like that doesn’t stay single for long.” I close the window and shut the laptop. I don’t want to think about Jake Hartman anymore. “What do you want to do for dinner?” I ask.

  “Let’s do sushi tonight instead of Sunday because I’ll be out of town this weekend.”

  Since I’ve moved back, we’ve started a tradition of Sunday-night sushi. “That’s right!” I exclaim. “The wedding is this weekend.” Liv and her boyfriend, Jason, are going to Dallas for his friend’s wedding. She and Jason have been dating for nine months now. I really like him and suspect they’ll get engaged. It’s one of the reasons I need to start looking for my own apartment. Liv always has had a boyfriend. Even back in high school, she typically was dating someone seriously. Although I didn’t have many boyfriends, I had plenty of crushes, but I was always too shy to act on them. I’m kind of old-fashioned that way. I know a lot of bold girls who give out their number to guys who haven’t even asked, or will go up to a cute guy in a bar and strike up a conversation. Not me. I think the guy should make the first move. I want to know he’s interested first.

  I like to take some credit for Liv and Jason’s relationship. When they first met, she wasn’t that into him. They were fixed up by a mutual friend after she’d gone through a bad breakup. Maybe that’s why she’s so intent on setting me up. I could tell there was something different about him, and I kept insisting she give him
a chance. She was so hung up on her ex, though, that she didn’t see she had a good thing right in front of her. At my urging, she agreed to go out with him again, and discovered the great qualities I recognized all along. He worships the ground she walks on, but he’s not a pushover either. He’s a defense attorney, and a good one from what I hear. He puts in a lot of long hours, so he and Liv spend only a few weeknights together. This works out for me because I get to spend more time with her, and I like having someone to do things with; it helps keep my mind off Ben.

  That night I can’t fall asleep. Inevitably my thoughts drift to Ben. I keep thinking back to when we were together, looking for signs of a red flag. The only thing I can think of is that I told him I wouldn’t move to New York without a commitment. Perhaps he wasn’t ready for marriage, but we’d been together seven years. Maybe that should have been a red flag in and of itself. But we were young when we met, and then he was busy with medical school and his residency. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I thought he was one of the good ones, although I don’t have much to compare our relationship to, given my dating track record. I went out with a few guys in high school—none seriously—and had many random hookups in college. During my sophomore year, I dated a guy for about six months, but then summer came, and we parted ways amicably. We lived far apart, and neither of us was up for a long-distance summer romance. Then Ben came along. He was the first guy who made me feel truly beautiful and loved. The memory of his romantic proposal plays over in my mind, and I wonder how things could have gone so wrong. I feel like I failed somehow, like I wasn’t enough for him. It torments me that I don’t know why he cheated, but I can’t bring myself to talk to him. I’m just not ready yet; the hurt is still too raw. Deep down I know I’ll never get back together with him, and the thought fills me with despair. But I could never be in a relationship with someone I can’t trust, and I know I’d constantly doubt him. It’s been four months since I ended things, and I really miss having him in my life. I tried to stay in New York after our breakup, but it proved to be too difficult; plus most of my friends and family are here. As the tears slide slowly down my face, I wonder whether this feeling will ever go away. I finally drift off to sleep, and Ben haunts my dreams.