4 Chance at a Big Project

Leia POV

Meanwhile, Leia herself is intrigued by Jack Garlan. He was her father's friend and like her, he built his business from the ground. Yes, his family had some money and prestige, but it was his business savvy and talent that made them the name they are now. She would see him from time to time at her father's house but today was the first time she ever saw him up close. She's not sure how old he is, but he is much younger than she first thought. She thought that he was as old as her dad but he was only about 10 to 15 years her senior. And he was quite the debonair. He was very attractive even for his advanced age. He exudes a sex appeal that men much younger than him can only dream of. She's not sure if it is attraction that she's feeling towards him but she knows that there might be something there. 

She was so self conscious during their lunch but she wasn't sure if it was because of those intense eyes that keep looking at her when he thinks she can't see, but growing up the way she did, she learned to be very observant of her surroundings and the people around very discreetly or if its her jitters because of her secret or if it is real attraction she is feeling. She's not sure she wants to find out. She thought that it might be a good idea to stay away from Mr. Jack Garlan as much as she can. 

She realizes that he's weighing her every word and gauging it for the truth. What is going on in his mind? Did he think that she's simply Ben Archibald's puppet, that she's the airhead everyone thinks she is, and that Ben is still the real brains behind Ben Archi or does he think that she is really talented because of what the firm achieved through her. Did he believe that it was really all her hard work? She was surprised that his opinions about her seem to matter to her. 

He asked a lot of probing questions about Ben Archi and its supposed boss, but she is not sure he believed everything she said. Though she doesn't think that he's onto her yet. Jack Garlan is a very smart man and unless he stops probing, she's afraid that he will find out her well guarded secret. And if that happens, she will definitely be out of business and she will forever be just Carlson Clark's bastard daughter. She doesn't know what she'll do if that ever happens. 

Going back to her office, Colette, her officemate, wanted all the details. 

"So, what happened?" Colette asked. 

"Oh, nothing special," she answered. "He wanted to meet Ben, but as we know very well. Our dear boss isn't that easy to catch," she said laughing. 

Colette laughed with her and said, "Oh yes."

"Okay, back to work," Leia said to Colette, "gossip time's over." she said smiling.

"Oh, by the way, a certain Mr. Blanch called about a project he might want us to work on," Colette said, "I put his number on your desk, he said to call anytime." 

"Okay," Leia answered, walking quickly to her desk. "Thanks," and picked up the paper with the number on her desk. 

"So, work comes first," she thought, as she settled in her seat. She deliberately put thoughts of Jack Garlan away from her mind, for now. 

She called Mr. Blanch and it turns out that he was from MMT Developers, one of the largest Real Estate developers in the country. He said that they caught wind of Ben Archi and would like to invite them to a bidding party this weekend, to which Leia readily agreed. Mr. Blanch said that they will email the invite and send details for the party and the upcoming project and to ready something up for the bid. Leia agreed and they said their thanks and hung up. 

Leia was so excited. Landing a project for MMT would indeed be a feat. 

"Woohooo!!!" she shouted. 

The whole office was surprised by her shout. "Guys! That was MMT Developers, they want us to bid on a project!" she excitedly told them. 

"Wow," everyone was as excited as her as they all clapped. 

"Wow, indeed!" she exclaimed. "We're really moving up ei?" she told her co-workers. "To be seen by MMT, wow! wow, indeed!" She was all smiles. 

"Ohh, I hope we get it," Colette told her and she nodded her agreement. "I'll do my best," she promised Colette.

'Oh, I'll email Ben, tell him the good news." she said. "I'm sure he'll be proud." 

"Go do that," Colette agreed. 

Leia spent the whole afternoon prepping her portfolio and prepping her bidding letters and imagining what the project would be. She thought that it might be more than one project. MMT is known for developing condominiums, subdivisions and even commercial buildings. She was getting piqued thinking about what the project or projects would be. She was practically salivating. It will definitely be a big achievement if she gets just even one project. She will surely prepare not only her portfolio but herself as well. She knows that people will ask for Ben but there will never be a Ben Archibald for them to see. That's a problem she will have to deal with in the future, but for now, she will ignore it and make the name Ben Archi as big as she possibly can. If and that's a big if, the secret ever comes out, people will see that she is indeed capable of getting out of her father's shoes. 

"Ding"

The notification for her email sounded. She excitedly opened her email and indeed it was details for the party and the projects for bidding. 

"Oh my goodness," she thought. "There are eight projects to bid on!" 

The party will be formal too and it's this coming weekend. "Oh my, I don't have anything to wear!" she thought to herself. She quickly went online and went through the online catalog of Natalia's, a famous women's boutique who creates beautiful cocktail dresses and found the one she wanted. It was a silver mini dress. It has 3/4ths sleeves, shows enough cleavage to entice without looking like a slut and ends mid-thigh. Low enough to be decent but high enough to look sexy. It's also almost backless ending low in the back but not to the butt. It was perfect! She ordered in her size and went back to her computer to work on her bids for the projects. For sure, it was overtime for her once again, as she wants to bid on all the projects and hopes to land even just one."