CHAPTER 1

                                    

                                          
I can't believe it. This is really happening. I look down on my body adorned with a brown pencil skirt, a white blouse, and black stiletto heels instead of the usual jeans and T-shirt I used to wear working at the coffee shop. I'm so excited and nervous to start my new job today. 
  
I walk inside the building to the receptionist at the front desk for directions to my supervisor's office. I can't believe I am going to be working here. Somebody, please pinch me! I need to make sure this isn't a dream.
  
"Ouch," I say, feeling a sting on my right arm. "Why did you do that?" I ask the pretty lady at the front desk. She's a beautiful brunette with gray eyes, an oval face, and a lovely smile. 
  
"You asked someone to pinch you, so I did," she says, still with that beautiful smile.
  
"I said that out loud?" I exclaim, my eyes are wide.
  
"You did, honey. Welcome to the Crawford Wine Company. My name is Nora, how can I help you?" 
  
My new job is at a family-owned wine company founded in 1970. I only know this because the person who helped me get the job told me. I don't know much about wine. But, I don't think I need to know too much to be a secretary. 
  
"My name is Eleanor, I'm the newly appointed secretary to Mr. Crawford. How do I get to his office?"
  
"I didn't know Mr. Crawford needed a new secretary. Can you wait a minute? I need to call and confirm."
  
"Sure, no problem." Oh, my God. Why does she need to confirm? Could this mean I didn't get the job? Why would the older Mr. Crawford tell me I got the job if I didn't? I'm hoping this is a minor mix-up. I come back from my runaway thought train when Nora speaks.
  
"Sorry for keeping you waiting; take the elevator to the twentieth floor. Once you get there, you'll meet someone who can help you the rest of the way."
  
"No problem, thank you," I say, releasing a deep breath of relief. Thank God. For a minute, I was scared I didn't get the job. The older Mr. Crawford told me he really had to convince his grandson, Jason, to give me the job. I'm so happy he did. This job will be the beginning of great new things in my life.
  
Following Nora's instructions, I arrive at the twentieth floor. I'm greeted by another beautiful woman waiting by the elevator. She has the same dirty blonde hair color as me, but hers is styled in a short bob while mine is in a ponytail. She looks older than me, maybe in her early thirties. I'm guessing she should be around the ages of 32 or 33. I'm 23 years old, so that would make her older than me by ten years. If she started here at the same age as I am now. She'll probably have a lot of experience.
  
"Good morning. My name is Vivienne. I'm Mr. Crawford's secretary. I'll be helping you settle in," she says with a stern face. 
  
"Morning. I don't understand. You're Mr. Crawford's secretary? I thought I was hired to be his secretary?" I ask, confused. This is the second time someone's said he doesn't need a secretary.
  
"No, you're not. I'm Mr. Crawford's secretary. You're anything we decide you're going to be."