Chapter 7

Audrey examined the balance sheet in her new office that her staff has prepared. Sitting in her new office that she just purchased a few weeks ago, she looked at the 'Bouquet Catering' logo and pride surged in her chest. She remembered how her grandmother smiled the entire opening together with her father who did not stop walking around making sure everyone got a food and a drink on their hands. Her mother and brother were just as proud and congratulated her with a big bouquet of flowers placed outside the office.

She was focusing on the papers when her phone buzzed, she picked up the phone and answered.

"Bouquet Catering, how may I help you?" Audrey asked.

"Hey Dree, want another project? I heard Mr Russell is hosting another event for his corporate anniversary and they're looking for a caterer. I wonder who might fit into the picture?"

"Ohh you're the best Ava! I'll contact the event planner. It's the same person, Miss Jane right?" She squealed as her best friend informed her.

"Yeah, you might want to come by my office and meet her yourself. I'm sure she'll consider you since you held a successful catering on the last event. Then, you can treat me to a nice restaurant for dinner too." She answered.

"Alright, see you there in fifteen minutes." She hung up the phone and quickly gathered her bags and proposals, and drove to Russell Corporations.

She arrived at the place exactly fifteen minutes later and requested to meet with Miss Jane on the 27th floor. She knocked on the door and enter to meet with the event organizer, handing the proposal for being the caterer of the event. As they were discussing, she heard a voice of a man outside the office door.

"I want it by this afternoon, understand! Jane I need you to personally send an RSVP to the Jenkins family today. Understood?" The man was wearing a fitted black suit, his dark hair was perfectly sleeked back and there was something about him that gives an odd superiority vibes.

"And who do we have here?" He smirked, handed out his hand to her.

"I am Audrey Bouquet, sir. I am offering my proposal to be the caterer for the Russell corporate anniversary." She quickly stood up and shook his hands.

"This is Mr Cale Russell, the owner of the Russell corporate. Miss Bouquet were the caterer for the Russell and Jenkins event last month, sir." Jane added.

"Oh Mr Russell. I'm sorry I didn't know you're the Mr Russell." She said sheepishly.

"That's alright. I think I still remember the perfectly cooked halibut on that day. You're hired. Congratulations. I have to leave now but I hope to see you again real soon, Miss Bouquet." He shook Audrey's hands and winked at her as he left the room. She was thrilled to get the catering proposal but she was also puzzled as to what just happened.

"Well, you heard the boss. Congratulations. I'll email you on the rundown and specifications we require. Thank you for your time Miss Bouquet." She congratulated and shook her hands.

"Thank you very much Miss Jane. I'll look forward to it." She took her leave and quickly called her friend to treat her promised dinner.

"Sorry, I still have a few things to finish up. Do you mind waiting for me downstairs at the coffee shop in the meantime." Ava apologized and direct her to the coffee shop which was located just a few steps away from the building. Audrey went to the coffee shop as directed and sat down with a cup of café latte. She was flipping through a magazine when someone approached her.

"I didn't expect to see you this soon when I said that literally 10 minutes ago." Audrey looked up and was surprised to see Mr Russell standing in front of her smiling.

"Mr Russell! I'm waiting for a friend and she told me to wait for her here." She replied looking a little uneasy.

"May I? My meeting was cancelled." He asked directing to the empty seat beside her.

"Yes, of course." She replied awkwardly.

"So, how long have you been a chef Miss Bouquet?" He asked and they talked about her journey starting the catering business. They talked for almost an hour when Ava finally showed up.

"Audrey, Mr Russell! Hi!" Ava greeted shockingly.

"This is the friend that I told you about. I think she works for you in the marketing department."

"Yes, of course. Well, I will leave you now that your company has arrived. I hope to see you again Miss Bouquet." He stood up and left the coffee shop. Ava looked at him and stood there still staring at the closed door where he had left.

"He's gone, Ava. Hello, earth to Ava." She tried to pull her friend to the empty seat beside her.

"What the hell just happened? You don't just freaking casually talk to Mr Russell. He's the Cale Russell of the Russell corporation, Dree!" She almost yelled in shocked but her friend told her to keep her voice down.

"Yes, I am aware of that. We already met upstairs in Miss Jane's office actually and he gave me the job. He gave me the job, not Jane." She explained emphasising on the word he.

"So, what do you talk about here? And how can you even sit with him here? Do you have any idea how many times I tried to even speak with him while working for him? Like zero chance! I doubt he even knows my name. You saw that when you just told him I actually work for him right!" She inflamed further as she explained.

"I don't know, he just walks up to me and sat there. He asked about me and the catering business. That's all. I'm just as surprised as you are." She clarified trying to calm her friend. They talked for a few more minutes or in actual fact, Audrey was trying to calm her shocked friend for a few more minutes before they left the coffee shop and head out for dinner.