She Came to Impress — and Stayed for Love

A six-chapter illustrated WLW mini-novella about a determined young professional, a formidable redheaded executive, and a conference where the most important negotiations happen after business hours.

Chapter One — Business Before Breakfast

"Robert, I don't care whose department made the mistake. I want it corrected before the European markets open."

Victoria Harrington stood barefoot in her hotel suite, a white towel wrapped securely around her body, her long copper-red hair falling over one shoulder.

At forty-two, Victoria was accustomed to handling crises. Most were considerably less complicated than the people responsible for them.

"No, Robert. Moving the deadline isn't a solution. It's an admission that we can't meet it."

She listened for a moment.

"Good. Now make it happen."

The call ended.

Victoria placed the phone on the bedside table and shook her head.

"One day," she muttered, "someone is going to surprise me by solving a problem before calling."

She glanced at the clock. Eight fifteen.

Her keynote presentation wasn't until ten, leaving plenty of time to dress, review her notes, and prepare for another day surrounded by people who were far more interested in exchanging business cards than exchanging ideas.

She studied herself in the mirror.

Long red hair. Green eyes. Freckles scattered across her face and shoulders. A figure she maintained through discipline, regular exercise, and an unapologetic fondness for beautiful clothes.

Her career was thriving. Her finances were excellent. She traveled wherever she pleased and answered to very few people.

She was single, comfortably so, and had no intention of changing that merely because society seemed convinced a successful woman ought to have someone waiting at home.

Still, there were evenings when an empty hotel suite felt a little too empty.

She had considered dating again.

Unfortunately, most of the women she'd met either seemed intimidated by her career or far more interested in her lifestyle than in the woman behind it.

Victoria reached for her hairbrush.

"Well, darling," she told her reflection, "at least business never complains when you work late."

She smiled at her own joke.

Several floors below, a twenty-seven-year-old woman was rehearsing an introduction she had been preparing for eighteen months.

Emily Parker wasn't simply hoping to meet Victoria Harrington. She wanted to work for her, learn from her—and, if fortune happened to smile upon her, discover whether the beautiful redheaded executive was as captivating in private as she appeared in public.

Emily had a plan.

Getting Victoria's attention was only the beginning.

Chapter Two — A Woman with a Plan

By eleven thirty, Victoria had finished her keynote presentation and was surrounded by a small gathering of younger female professionals.

She enjoyed these informal discussions.

Titles and corporate hierarchies had a habit of preventing useful ideas from reaching the people who could act on them.

"What advice would you give someone hoping to reach your position?" asked a young blonde executive.

Victoria considered the question.

"Stop trying to look important. Become useful enough that people notice when you're absent."

Several women nodded.

"And learn to disagree intelligently. A room full of people telling me I'm brilliant is a room where I'm probably about to make an expensive mistake."

That produced laughter.

A beautiful brunette in a navy suit raised her hand.

"May I challenge something from your presentation?"

Victoria turned toward her.

"Please do."

"My name is Emily Parker. I work in regional consulting."

"All right, Emily. What did I get wrong?"

Emily smiled.

"Your European expansion forecast assumes your smaller distributors will maintain their current margins. I don't think they will."

Victoria's expression changed.

Most people approached her with compliments. Very few opened a conversation by questioning her financial projections.

"That's a substantial claim."

"I brought the figures."

Emily opened a slim folder.

Victoria looked at the pages.

Then she looked at Emily.

"You came prepared."

"I thought it would be embarrassing to criticize your strategy without evidence."

Victoria smiled.

"An excellent instinct."

For the next several minutes, Emily explained her analysis while the other women listened.

She was articulate, composed, and surprisingly comfortable under questioning.

More importantly, she had clearly done her homework.

"How long have you been following our European operations?" Victoria asked.

"About eighteen months."

"Eighteen months?"

"Yes."

"That's a remarkable amount of attention for someone who doesn't work for us."

Emily met her gaze.

"I've been hoping that might change."

Victoria studied her.

There was something unusually appealing about this young woman.

She wasn't trying to impress through flattery.

She was trying to demonstrate that she belonged in the conversation.

Victoria appreciated the distinction.

"Are you attending the afternoon sessions?"

"Most of them."

"Cancel one."

Emily blinked.

"Which one?"

"Whichever you were least looking forward to."

Victoria handed her a business card.

"Two o'clock. The private lounge beside the conference rooms. Bring the rest of your analysis."

Emily accepted the card.

"I'll be there."

"Good. I want to see what else you've discovered."

As Victoria walked away, one of Emily's colleagues grabbed her arm.

"Emily! You just challenged Victoria Harrington in front of everyone!"

"I know."

"Have you lost your mind?"

Emily looked down at the card.

"No."

She smiled.

"I think my plan is finally working."

Chapter Three — The Unscheduled Interview

Emily arrived at the private lounge five minutes early.

Victoria was already there, reading something on her tablet.

"Miss Parker."

"Miss Harrington."

"Victoria will do. We're not in a courtroom."

Emily smiled and took the offered seat.

"Did you review my figures?"

"I did. Unfortunately, you've identified a problem my own planning team hasn't mentioned."

Emily tried not to look too pleased.

"Unfortunately?"

"For them."

Victoria placed the tablet on the table.

"For you, it's rather promising."

The conversation that followed was much more demanding than Emily had expected.

Victoria questioned her assumptions, challenged her conclusions, and asked how she would correct the weaknesses she'd identified.

Emily defended her recommendations without becoming defensive.

An hour passed almost unnoticed.

Finally, Victoria closed the folder.

"You have something I rarely encounter in people your age."

"What's that?"

"Patience combined with initiative. Usually I get one or the other."

Emily laughed.

"I've been accused of being impatient."

"Then you've learned to conceal it beautifully."

Victoria leaned back.

"Now, I'm curious about something."

Emily waited.

"Why my company? There are larger organizations. Some would offer faster promotions."

Emily considered how much to reveal.

"Because I've watched the way you run it."

"And?"

"You make decisions. You take responsibility for them. You don't hide behind committees."

"That doesn't necessarily make me pleasant to work for."

"I didn't say I was looking for pleasant."

Victoria laughed.

"Careful, Emily. You'll ruin my reputation."

Emily relaxed.

"Can I tell you something embarrassing?"

"Those are usually the most interesting things people tell me."

"I've watched your interviews. Probably all of them."

"All of them?"

"Most of them twice."

Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"Should I be concerned?"

Emily laughed.

"Only if you object to having a very enthusiastic admirer."

Victoria studied her more closely.

"An admirer of my management style?"

Emily hesitated just long enough to answer the question without speaking.

Victoria smiled slowly.

"Ah."

Emily felt her cheeks warming.

"I wasn't planning to mention that."

"Apparently not."

"But since we're being candid..."

"Yes?"

"I think you're extraordinary. Professionally and personally."

Victoria rested her elbow on the arm of her chair.

"That is a rather bold thing to tell a woman who might someday employ you."

Emily took a moment before answering.

"Would you rather I pretended I wasn't attracted to you?"

Victoria's smile broadened.

"No. I dislike pretense."

"Then I'd rather risk being embarrassed."

Victoria regarded her with growing interest.

The young woman had courage.

Not the loud, performative kind.

The real kind.

She glanced at her watch.

"There's a reception this evening. I'm expected to attend."

Emily nodded.

"Of course."

"I intend to make an appearance, escape as soon as etiquette allows, and find somewhere quieter."

She paused.

"Would you like to join me?"

Emily's face brightened.

"I'd love to."

"Eight o'clock. The hotel bar."

"I'll be there."

Victoria rose, collecting her tablet.

"And Emily?"

"Yes?"

"Bring yourself this time. You can leave the financial projections in your room."

Emily smiled.

"I think I can manage that."

"Excellent."

Victoria walked away, privately amused.

It had been a long time since someone had managed to surprise her twice in a single afternoon.

Chapter Four — Two Glasses of Red Wine

By seven forty-five, Emily had changed into a short navy skirt, a fitted jacket, and comfortable black flats.

She had spent nearly forty minutes deciding what to wear.

Then another ten reminding herself that she was simply having a drink with a woman she admired.

A very beautiful woman.

A very powerful woman.

A woman who could probably have anyone she wanted.

At precisely eight o'clock, Emily entered the hotel bar.

Victoria was already waiting.

She had exchanged her business suit for a shimmering champagne blouse, a short elegant skirt, and towering black stilettos.

Emily stopped beside the table.

Victoria looked up.

"Well?"

Emily blinked.

"Well, what?"

"Are you going to sit down, or are you conducting another professional assessment?"

Emily laughed.

"Sorry. You look spectacular."

"Thank you. You look lovely yourself."

Victoria indicated the chair beside her.

"Come and rescue me. I've spent the last twenty minutes avoiding a gentleman who wants to explain cryptocurrency to me."

Emily sat down.

"Did you tell him you're not interested?"

"Three times. Apparently he considers rejection an invitation to provide additional information."

They both laughed.

The waiter arrived, and Emily ordered a glass of red wine.

"To surviving conferences," Victoria proposed when the glasses arrived.

"And to unexpected opportunities," Emily added.

They touched glasses.

For the first half-hour, they exchanged amusing stories about colleagues, disastrous presentations, and the peculiar habits of senior executives.

Then Victoria surprised Emily with a question.

"When did you first realize you preferred women?"

Emily considered her answer.

"University. Although looking back, I probably knew much earlier."

"Did it surprise you?"

"Not particularly. My first girlfriend was the one who seemed surprised."

"Why?"

"Because I asked her out before she had worked up the courage to ask me."

Victoria laughed.

"That sounds familiar."

Emily looked at her.

"And you?"

"I've always known. I simply spent far too many years pretending a demanding career left no room for relationships."

"Does it?"

"Only if you allow it to."

Emily studied her.

"Do you?"

Victoria looked into her wine.

"I have."

There was a brief silence.

Then Emily asked, "And now?"

Victoria turned toward her.

"Now I'm reconsidering."

Emily smiled.

"Because of the conference?"

"Because the conference has become unexpectedly interesting."

They moved closer as the evening continued.

At one point, Victoria rested her hand gently on Emily's knee.

Emily covered it with her own.

Neither moved away.

"Can I confess something?" Emily asked.

Victoria laughed.

"I'm beginning to suspect you collect confessions."

"I wasn't sure whether you'd even speak to me today."

"After that analysis? I would have been foolish not to."

"That's not exactly what I meant."

"I know."

Victoria's voice softened.

"Emily, you didn't have to spend eighteen months studying my company to get my attention as a woman."

Emily smiled.

"Perhaps not. But I wanted you to respect me before I tried anything else."

That answer affected Victoria more than Emily realized.

She had known plenty of women who found her attractive.

Far fewer had made the effort to understand what mattered to her.

Victoria leaned closer.

"And what exactly are you trying now?"

Emily looked straight into her eyes.

"To find out whether you'd like to kiss me."

Victoria smiled.

"That happens to be an excellent question."

"And the answer?"

Victoria gently brushed a loose strand of hair from Emily's cheek.

"Yes."

Their first kiss was brief, affectionate, and accompanied by the kind of smile neither woman could conceal.

When they separated, Emily looked almost astonished.

Victoria laughed softly.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Emily."

"I've imagined doing that for months."

"And?"

Emily's smile widened.

"The reality is considerably better."

Victoria glanced toward the elevators.

"Would you like to continue this evening somewhere we don't have an audience?"

Emily nodded.

"I was hoping you'd ask."

Victoria rose and offered her hand.

"Come along, then."

Emily took it.

For once, she had no carefully prepared plan for what happened next.

And she found that surprisingly wonderful.

Chapter Five — An Offer Worth Considering

"You're going to miss breakfast."

Victoria glanced toward the bed.

Emily lay comfortably beneath the white hotel duvet, her brunette hair delightfully untidy, wearing an expression of complete satisfaction.

"I have a meeting at nine," Victoria replied. "Breakfast can wait."

She settled onto the edge of the mattress and reached for one of her black heels.

Emily watched her.

"Is there anything you're not exceptionally good at?"

"Sleeping late, apparently."

Emily laughed.

"That makes two of us."

Victoria smiled and fastened her shoe.

For a moment, they enjoyed the comfortable silence.

Then Emily spoke.

"I wasn't sure how this morning would feel."

Victoria turned.

"Neither was I."

"Really?"

"Of course. I may appear invincible in a boardroom, darling, but I'm still human."

Emily looked pleased by the admission.

"Good. I was beginning to wonder."

Victoria reached for the leather portfolio beside her.

"Speaking of boardrooms, I reviewed something before you woke up."

Emily groaned.

"You worked?"

"Briefly."

"Victoria!"

"I know. An unforgivable character flaw."

She handed Emily a page from the portfolio.

"What do you make of this?"

Emily read it.

Then read it again.

"Is this your executive assistant position?"

"Yes."

"Why are you showing it to me?"

"Because I think you could do it."

Emily stared at her.

"You're serious."

"Entirely."

Victoria explained the position: coordinating her executive schedule, handling confidential communications, supporting strategic projects, and accompanying her on international business trips.

Emily listened carefully.

"And this would be a permanent position?"

"If we agree on the terms."

"Reporting directly to you?"

"Yes."

Emily looked at her.

"Victoria, you do realize what this sounds like?"

"Tell me."

"Like you're offering me an extraordinary career opportunity the morning after we spent the night together."

Victoria nodded.

"That's precisely why I don't want you to answer immediately."

Emily put the paper aside.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Naturally."

"Would you have considered hiring me if we'd said goodnight downstairs?"

Victoria thought for a moment.

"Yes. Your analysis impressed me enough that I was already considering finding a place for you."

"And last night?"

Victoria smiled.

"Last night convinced me I'd very much enjoy having you around."

Emily laughed.

"That's a dangerous combination."

"It could be. Which is why we need to be sensible."

Victoria took Emily's hand.

"I want a genuine professional working relationship, with responsibilities and advancement you earn on your merits. And I also want to explore whatever this is between us. I won't pretend those desires are unrelated."

Emily nodded slowly.

"Then I'll tell you what I want."

Victoria listened.

"I want the position. I want the challenges. I want the experience of working with you."

She paused.

"And I want to keep seeing you."

Victoria smiled.

"That sounds promising."

"But there's one thing I need."

"What?"

"I don't want us to start treating each other like strangers the moment we walk into an office."

Victoria considered that.

"We'll need professional boundaries."

"Of course. I'm not asking you to kiss me in the middle of a staff meeting."

"How reassuring."

Emily grinned.

"I'm asking for a relationship that doesn't disappear simply because we happen to work together."

Victoria's expression softened.

"That's reasonable."

"And if one day the romantic part doesn't work?"

"Your professional future remains yours. We'll put proper safeguards in place, including an independent review of your employment terms."

Emily nodded appreciatively.

"Good."

Victoria glanced at the position description.

"Well, Miss Parker, I believe we have the beginnings of a serious proposal."

Emily picked up the paper.

"Actually, I have a counterproposal."

Victoria looked delighted.

"Already?"

"I'd like more involvement in strategic projects. Not simply arranging your meetings."

"How much involvement?"

"As much as I can prove I deserve."

Victoria smiled.

"Now that is a conversation worth having."

Emily leaned toward her.

"And there's one other thing."

"Yes?"

"If I accept, I'd like our first trip together to be Paris."

Victoria laughed.

"Why Paris?"

"Because I've never been."

"That's your business justification?"

"No."

Emily kissed her.

"That's my personal request."

Victoria looked at the young woman for a long moment.

"Emily Parker, you are going to make my life considerably more interesting."

Emily smiled.

"That was always the plan."

Chapter Six — The Woman Beside Her

Three weeks later, Victoria Harrington called an unexpected meeting in her executive office.

Her staff gathered quickly.

Nobody knew quite what to expect.

Victoria stood near her desk, impeccably dressed in an ivory blouse, a fitted charcoal pencil skirt, and elegant black heels.

"Ladies, I have an announcement."

The office door opened.

Emily entered.

Her brunette hair was arranged in an elegant updo. She wore a beautifully tailored navy jacket, a short pencil skirt, and extraordinarily high black heels.

She looked poised, excited, and determined not to show how nervous she felt.

Several women exchanged surprised glances.

Victoria waited until Emily stood beside her.

"This is Emily Parker. She'll be joining us as my private secretary and executive assistant."

A few employees recognized her from the conference.

One whispered, "Isn't that the woman who challenged the European figures?"

Victoria heard her.

"Yes, she is."

She smiled.

"And she was right."

That attracted everyone's attention.

"Emily identified weaknesses in our expansion model that our own team overlooked. I've asked her to help strengthen our strategic planning while taking responsibility for my executive coordination."

Emily stood a little straighter.

Victoria placed an arm around her waist.

"She'll also be accompanying me on international assignments."

A blonde department manager looked surprised.

"All of them?"

"Those for which her participation is useful," Victoria replied.

Emily smiled.

"I intend to make myself very useful."

That produced laughter and applause.

As the meeting concluded, Victoria turned to her staff.

"I expect you to challenge Emily with meaningful work. She's not here to carry my handbag."

Emily quietly added, "Although I've seen the handbag collection, and I wouldn't object occasionally."

The room erupted in laughter.

Even Victoria couldn't suppress a smile.

"Careful, Miss Parker. You haven't seen the shoe collection."

After the employees departed, Emily closed the office door and leaned against it.

"Well," she announced, "that was terrifying."

Victoria laughed.

"You hid it beautifully."

"I nearly forgot my own name."

"I doubt anyone noticed."

Emily looked down at her outfit.

"At least the shoes survived."

"Those shoes could survive a hostile takeover."

Emily laughed and crossed the room.

Victoria watched her approach.

"I must admit, you exceeded my expectations at the conference."

Emily stopped in front of her.

"Professionally?"

"Considerably."

"And personally?"

Victoria slipped her arms around Emily.

"Immeasurably."

Emily smiled.

"Do you know what's funny?"

"What?"

"For eighteen months, I imagined what it would be like to work with you."

"And?"

"I never imagined I'd actually get the opportunity."

Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't?"

"Not seriously."

"Then why work so hard to impress me?"

"Because even if nothing came of it, I wanted to know I'd tried."

Victoria regarded her thoughtfully.

"That's one of the things I admire about you."

Emily's expression softened.

"What else?"

Victoria gently touched her cheek.

"Your intelligence. Your determination. Your refusal to be intimidated."

She smiled.

"And your remarkable ability to make me forget what I was supposed to be doing."

Emily giggled.

"Speaking of which, I checked your calendar."

"Oh?"

"You're free this evening."

"How efficient."

"And I've made a reservation."

Victoria laughed.

"Have you?"

"Seven thirty. A little French restaurant near the river."

"That's rather presumptuous."

"I prefer to think of it as initiative."

Victoria shook her head in amusement.

"You've been working for me less than a day, and you're already organizing my social life."

Emily slipped an arm around her waist.

"Somebody has to."

Victoria kissed her.

"Very well. Seven thirty."

Emily grinned.

"And tomorrow morning, I'll have those European projections on your desk."

Victoria's eyes widened.

"You've finished them?"

"Last night."

"Emily!"

"What?"

"You were supposed to be relaxing."

Emily gave her a mischievous smile.

"I had a particularly demanding woman to impress."

Victoria laughed and drew her closer.

"Darling, you accomplished that some time ago."

Emily looked into her eyes.

"Then I suppose I'll have to find new ways to keep your attention."

Victoria smiled.

"I look forward to discovering them."

Outside, the city continued its busy afternoon.

Inside the executive office, two women who had met through ambition were beginning something neither had originally expected.

Victoria had found a brilliant young colleague who challenged her professionally and made her extraordinarily happy personally.

Emily had achieved the opportunity she'd pursued for eighteen months.

But the greatest surprise wasn't the new position, the international travel, or even the magnificent office.

It was discovering that the woman she'd admired from a distance was someone she could genuinely love.

She had come to impress Victoria Harrington.

And now, quite unexpectedly, she had somewhere she wanted to stay.

THE END

She came looking for an opportunity. She found a career worth pursuing, a woman worth loving, and a future neither wanted to leave to chance.