Chapter 2 - The Corporate Ladder
By eight o'clock the next morning, Lisa was walking through the gleaming glass atrium of Moraway Appliances’ corporate headquarters in downtown Columbus. The floor was polished Italian marble; the air smelled of expensive espresso and crisp air conditioning. Every time she walked into this building, she felt a thrill that her cramped apartment could never provide. This was where power resided. This was where wealth flowed like water.
Lisa worked as a mid-level marketing specialist. Her job was to design promotional campaigns for regional retail partners, but her eyes had always been set on the executive suites on the fortieth floor. And for the past four months, someone on the executive track had been looking back at her.
""Morning, beautiful,"" a smooth voice purred near her ear.
Lisa turned to see David Cole stepping beside her at the elevator bay. David was thirty-six, tall, impeccably groomed, and wore tailored custom suits that cost more than Michael made in an entire month. He was the regional sales vice president, a rising star in Moraway’s commercial division, and notoriously ambitious.
""Good morning, David,"" Lisa said, feeling a flutter in her stomach as she instinctively smoothed her skirt.
David looked down at her wrist, then smiled teasingly. ""Still carrying that ancient bag? I thought we talked about upgrading your image, Lisa. In this corporate jungle, perception is reality. If you look like entry-level, the board treats you like entry-level.""
""I know,"" Lisa sighed, feeling a familiar burn of shame. ""My... husband thinks luxury items are a waste of capital.""
David scoffed, stepping into the private executive elevator and holding the door for her. ""Your husband thinks like a blue-collar laborer because that’s all he will ever be. No offense, Lisa, but you are a thoroughbred hitched to a plow horse. A woman with your poise and drive shouldn't be worrying about monthly utility bills. You should be dining at Le Cirque in New York, attending charity galas, and living in a penthouse in Upper Arlington.""
The elevator ascended smoothly toward the upper levels. Lisa’s heart raced at his words. For years, she had felt crazy for wanting more, but David made her feel validated, seen, and desired.
""It's not that simple,"" she murmured, though her resistance was paper-thin.
""It is that simple,"" David said, stepping closer until she could smell his expensive woodsy cologne. He reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. ""Life is about making choices. Some men build kingdoms; other men just fix the plumbing in someone else's castle. The board is announcing the new global CEO and President of Moraway next week after the founder’s mysterious retirement. I’m heavily favored for a massive promotion to Senior Vice President of North America. When that happens, my life changes forever. And I want you by my side, Lisa. Not in the background. By my side.""
""Are you serious, David?"" Lisa breathed, her eyes widening.
""Completely,"" David whispered, flashing a confident, dazzling smile. ""I've already spoken to a real estate broker about an estate in Dublin. But I can't be seen with a married woman whose husband is wiping grease off washing machines in our own regional service fleet. It’s an embarrassment. Make a decision, Lisa. Stay stuck in the mud, or fly with an eagle.""
The elevator doors chimed and slid open onto the thirty-fifth floor. David winked, adjusted his gold cufflinks, and strode out toward his corner office like a king surveying his domain.
Lisa stood frozen inside the elevator cab for a long moment, clutching her personnel folder tightly to her chest. Her mind was racing at a thousand miles an hour. David was offering her everything she had ever dreamed of: status, wealth, prestige, and a life without budgetary restrictions.
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And what was Michael offering her? Discounted salmon and an unbroken brass clasp.
By noon that day, Lisa had made up her mind. She called an attorney recommended by one of her office colleagues. She didn't want a long, drawn-out battle. She didn't want Michael's pathetic repair van or his meager four-figure savings account. She just wanted her freedom. She wanted out before David’s grand promotion made her past an obstacle to her glorious future.
