“... My name is infact Makena Anderson...”

MAKENA'S POV

I wasn't able to host that team meeting the other day because Coriane and Aurum convinced me otherwise. As much as I hated to admit it, it was fun hanging out with them. Except for the "eating someone else's popcorn" part, of course.

Anyway, I had to schedule that meeting eventually. Today, we were jam-packed into my dainty office space.

"I came with cookies." Anaya, my finest model declared as she gracefully strolled in. Settling on one of the bean bags on the couch.

As her brown hair bounced over her shoulders, I wanted to call her a perfectly beautiful lady. But, I think we're all tired of listening to me calling every lady perfect. Nevertheless, she's perfect.

Aurum also strode in, "I brought drinks." Of course, the other bean bag became occupied. Although, I'm pretty sure those drinks came from OUR refrigerator.

"Who wants a slice of the pie?" Joseph declared, trying to find a spot to seat to any avail.

"It's a team meeting." I twirled around in my fancy office seat, "Not a dinner party."

My workers were insufferable. They are really nice people, and they never stop vibing. In other words, they are just like me!!! But, we aren't a traditional team.

For example, they always bring food to our team meetings. I'm not kidding you right now. At the end of the day, we talk more than we eat.

Joseph scoffed, crossing his arm displeasantly. "We know that. Dinner parties have enough seats for everyone."

He didn't need to gesture around the room for me to understand what he was talking about. We do not have any other office furniture asides from the bean bags and my rotatable chair. Team meetings are usually....chaotic.

"Get a bigger office." He glared at me, shaking his head in disappointment.

I responded cooly "I'm thinking about that."

Quite frankly, I've been thinking about getting a bigger office. Work would be so much easier.

For starters, I wouldn't need to have team meetings consisting of five people. Due to the limited space, I can only have meetings with the heads of each department. Anaya, head of the modeling team. Jacob, head of my tailors. Corianne, head of the marketing team which is just her. Aurum, my assistant, and myself.

The heads would pass across the discussion to others. In total, I have about 19 workers. I have more tailors because they do all the hard work.

Still not done with the more chairs conversation, "Or at least, more chairs." Jacob huffed and puckered his mouth. Overgrown child.

"We have couches in the living room." Aurum the bluntest person I know faced him, "Move that here."

"I'm a tailor. Not a furniture mover." He didn't look pleased in the slightest bit. Even though I felt kind of guilty, I wondered why. We all know there are never enough seats. This is why he should have come earlier to secure a spot.

"Then you wouldn't mind standing for the duration of this meeting." Aurum simply stared at him blankly, not reacting to his displeasure.

It made him upset all the more, as he grumbled in frustration.

Corianne walked in, carrying a plastic chair. "You can sit on my leg, Jacob." His precious girlfriend to the rescue!

I wanted to point out how she wasn't a furniture mover either, but Jacob didn't look as though he was in the mood for my bad jokes.

Searching the back of his neck awkwardly, "Umm... How about the other way around?" He said to Cory, as she found the perfect spot to place the chair. In the middle of the bean bags, with enough room for ventilation.

Corianne shrugged, not minding any bit, "Fine." It was for the best anyways, Jacob was a 6ft giant, compared to petite 5'5ft Corianne.

So, they settled in the chair, as she rested comfortably, nestled on his legs.

"I'll try to ignore that." Aurum cocked her head, as I wished she would indeed ignore their unprofessional position.

"Anyways," I addressed the four pairs of eyes staring at me intently, "... we have got some work cut out for us."

"We already have work. We need to get our outfits into the market. Plus, we have more demands since our marketing team seems to be doing their job." Jacob chipped in, even though it was quite unnecessary.

Pfft, the marketing team consisted of just one person, his girlfriend. He's just doting on her.

Twirling a strand of hair, "Don't thank me." Cory directed a flirtatious giggle at Jacob, almost straddling him now.

I feel bad for my chair.

"We didn't plan to." We can all trust Aurum to deflate anybody's ego. It was a talent, and a very resourceful one too, during a time like this.

Rolling my eyes at their antics, "We have more work." Their silence encouraged me to continue, "Our design line will now be working with Right production team."

I originally planned to share the news with more enthusiasm. But I was too tired to care at the moment. Meetings were exhausting.

"Are you being serious?" Anaya's eyes bubbled with excitement, but she still asked just to be sure.

I couldn't resist the cockiness in my voice, "I'll think so, since there's a contract and all." As I waved my hand dismissively.

Her face spread into a wide grin, revealing her perfect dentition, "That's so cool!!!"

"Congratulations Makena." Jacob sounded less enthusiastic than I had expected. I wasn't exactly expecting him to do a happy dance the way I, Cory, and Aurum did. I was just expecting something more than a poker face.

"Congratulations to everybody." I shrugged off their pleasantries, having to focus on the topic at hand. "Now we need to get serious. I'm looking forward to expanding."

"That wouldn't be a bad idea." The incorrigible Jacob said, still not quite over the issue of no chairs. I don't know why he's still complaining, he got to cuddle with Coriane.

I ignored his indirect poke, "We need a place of our own. Obviously, we need to start launching more outfits. We need more tailors."

If our demands start to increase, so should our staff. It's high time I took this thing seriously. Not my typical "Makena way" of doing things.

"The marketing team could also use more hands." Coriane reminded me, and I nodded in understanding. She works harder than the rest of us, and hardly gets the recognition. I could consider a raise.

Anaya contributed, "I don't mind more models."

There was another nod of understanding from me. Everybody wanted something.

"I'll take all you've said into consideration. I will also be looking for a place to rent. But, before then let's place our priority first."

"What's the priority?" Perplexed Aurum pondered.

I humored Jacob, "Getting another couch." Just this once.

"That wouldn't be a bad idea yunno." He wiggled his brows at me, trying to stifle a laugh. Maybe I should take him into consideration for real this time.

"That brings us to the end of our meeting." I declared, not having anything else to say. Frankly, I usually don't have much to say in meetings. I only never stop talking when I am outside the walls of professionalism.

"Congrats once again Makena. I'll have to tell the good news to Joanne and Mitchell." Anaya stood up from her bean bag, referring to our other two female models. {We didn't have a male one then.}

"Thank you." Smiling brightly, I watched her walk away from the room.

She was the only reserved person I hired. The rest of them were just as loud as I am.

Aurum also got up, "This is also my cue to leave." She spoke while avoiding my eyes, "I need to meet someone."

"Huh. Who?" Of course, it made me suspicious. She was looking at everything but me.

"Nobody you know." Her response was immediate and brief. Making me even more curious. I know everybody she knows, and I don't mean this as a stalker would.

It was best to let her go, and interrogate her later. So, that's what I did. Which left just three of us. The lovebirds, and my third-wheeling self.

"You knew about this?" Jacob was talking to Cory, not looking quite pleased.

I knew he was referring to the contract. Cory knew about it a few days before, and we even went to celebrate. But I made her promise not to tell him about anything that happened. Not because I wanted to surprise him, but because I didn't want him to know about my embarrassing moment.

"Yes," Coriane also acted weird, avoiding his gaze. "Makena told me yesterday."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"She made me promise not to." She looked at him sheepishly, and I saw his expression soften.

Even though he didn't look mad, Jacob scoffed for theatrics. "Pfft."

"Allow me to make it up to you"

Snaking her arms around his neck, Cory balanced herself on him, straddling him comfortably. As she took his lips in hers, I knew my time in my office was up.

"And this is my cue to leave." My nose scrunched up in disgust. I want to unsee what I just saw.

"Congra-mmnn" Jacob tried to say congratulations but it was punctuated with a moan as Coriane pushed her tongue in further. Shameless.

"Ewww."

I fled. Yes, fled from the room, making sure to slam the door. I don't want to hear what the outcome of their makeup session would be. And I sincerely hoped that my office desk would be unscathed.

While I stood in front of the door, trying not to look traumatized, Aurum walked past me. She had changed into a pair of shorts and a black turtleneck. I could even see her new sneakers on her feet and she loves them to death. She put in too much effort. Too much effort if it wasn't a date.

"Aurum?" I cocked my head to the side, crossing my arms.

"Yes?" Her expression was blank, as she waited for my next words.

My eyes narrowed with even more suspicion, "Who are you going to see?"

"Someone."

"Duh." I rolled my eyes at her poor choice of words, "Thank you for clearing it up."

Of course, it's someone!!!

"Just let it go." I could hear the silent plea in her words and it only woke up the inquisitive beast inside of me.

Realization hit me in the face, "It's someone I know isn't it?" I gasped, knowing she had lied.

"Yes." She felt guilty. I could see it even as she tried to avoid my eyes once again.

"Hmph. Why are you hiding it from me?"

"I'm not hiding anything."

"Okay." I shrugged it off, not pushing further.

It was now her turn to be suspicious, "Okay?" I never let things go, but pushing her wouldn't solve my problems either.

Lying easily through my teeth, "It's not my position to know." It's in fact my position to know. She's my baby sister.

"Ok... I'm leaving...." She walked towards the front door, taking a last look at me before leaving. Tsk, Tsk, amateur.

"Ok," I said to myself since she had already left.

She had a secret, and I would find out. If not, my name isn't Makena Anderson. And it is.