He said yes and told me what needed to be done.
“I am going to need the results by next Friday for the first two folders and results the following Tuesday for the third folder. We will be discussing all three files at the meeting with Jameson the following day, that Wednesday before we leave. We need analysis and figures telling us where Jameson Industries stands financially. We need to know how solid their portfolio is. They want to grow and we are going to give them the best advice to do so. The three folders you are going to be working on contain information on three of their most recent investments. We need to make sure they are making sound decisions. Compile the data so we can go over it at the next couple of meetings. We will combine your findings with everyone else’s findings on their other investments, and hopefully have a productive meeting with them in a couple of weeks.”
“When are we leaving?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t have your calendar updated. We leave two weeks from this Friday. We are taking a morning flight and all of your bags will be packed for you. You don’t have to worry about that. We also are going to a charity event for autism the night before we leave. I take it you purchased an evening gown on your day of shopping?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I usually am unable to attend because I am in the States, so I just send a check. This time, since I am here, we are going.”
We? Did he mean everybody from the office? He must have read the confused look on my face because he answered my question without me having to ask it.
“Everyone from the office is invited, and most will attend. It’s a night for everyone to have a nice evening out and support charity at the same time. Samira will make sure you get an invitation.”
I wondered if we would be going together. I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want to seem presumptuous. Joshua didn’t mention anything more so I decided to just wait and see.
“I should get back to my office and leave you to your work.” He held my gaze and looked like he wanted to say something to me. Can you tell how much I want to be with you? I waited, but nothing came and he got up and walked out of my office.
I pushed aside my feelings of disappointment of not being asked to attend the charity event with him. Maybe it was a group thing and everyone goes together in a caravan. Who knows? It was time to focus on work.
I felt a little over my head but I knew if I did well with this task, it would be an incredible start for me to get recognition here in the Dubai office. I contacted Conrad and told him I would have to reschedule dinner because I was swamped and he was very understanding.
CHAPTER FIVE
The next two weeks were brutal. Everyone was working long hours and there was no time for socializing. Conrad kept trying to schedule dinner and I just didn’t have the time. I was working until midnight every night.
One afternoon, the following week, I was buried deep in my analysis of Jameson numbers when I was snapped out of my trance-like concentration by a light tap on my door. I looked up to see Jake’s smiling face. I gave him a huge smile.
“What a nice surprise!”
“I wanted to see if you want to take a coffee break. It’s so nuts around here.”
“I would love to.” I grabbed my purse and we walked to the elevator.
“There is a little café next door, if you don’t mind being in the heat for a couple of minutes as we walk outside.”
“Not at all. It will be nice to see new faces.”
We went to the café which was really cute and quaint. It was nearly 2:00 so it wasn’t packed, which was nice. We got our coffees and grabbed seats near the window. We were right under a fan which was blowing cool air on us.
“So, are you feeling overwhelmed yet?” He adjusted his suit jacket as he got comfortable.
“Surprisingly, no. I am trying to soak up as much information as I can. This is my dream job so I love what I am doing.”
He raised his eyebrows and gave me a little smile.
“Dream job, huh? That’s fantastic. I can understand why you say that. I think you have to love the finance industry to be in it long term. And from what I have heard about you, you have long term goals.”
“Oh? What have you heard about me?” I felt like we’d known each other forever. Jake was so easy to talk to.
“My brother raves about you.”
Raves about me? I need to hear this!
“He says that he had never had such a bright, promising intern in the program before. I, personally, have never seen him happier. Normally, he dreads the long trips. This time he didn’t. I think you might be the reason.” His eyes twinkled a bit when he said that. The expression on his face reminded me of the expression Samira had on her face when she told me there was a buzz about me around the office.
I didn’t know how to respond so I just sat there, cheeks flushed, as I drank the hot, rich liquid.
“You seem to bring out the human side of him, Sarah. Joshua has always been extremely focused on work. Even as kids he didn’t like to play a lot. He’s always had a very stoic demeanor.” That explains why he is so cold sometimes. “But around you, he is different. Everyone sees it but no one would dare say anything to him. It’s refreshing to see him so happy.” I wanted to shout with happiness. Could it be that Joshua had true feelings for me?
“After our father died, he took on a lot of responsibility keeping the company going. Mother was so distraught she didn’t know what to do. Joshua stepped in and took care of everything. I was still in college so I wasn’t much help at the time. Sometimes I think he feels he missed out on a lot of life because he had so much responsibility at a young age. But his experiences also made him the strong person he is today. Mother still relies on him for many things. He has never married and part of the reason is because mother has never approved of any of his girlfriends. Not one. Natalia, who you met last week, was desperate to marry my brother and I thought it would happen. He wasn’t completely happy with her, but he was content.”