The Assistant Saga

Camila ?

Lilith took a double take as she was walking back into the building. Her meeting had gone swimmingly and Lego has decided to hire OCS for a HR consultancy project spearheaded by Lilith and even agreed to keep them on their retainer. 

Law degree coming in useful. Bea should never have given it up. Though, she is partner now and I’m still here slogging as a senior associate trying to make partner. Doesn’t matter, I’ve got this in the bag. This Lego deal will put me miles ahead of Ava and Cam combine. Maybe now I can finally ask Cam if she will be my girlfriend.

It has never occurred to either of them to depend on their families to make it. Independence has always been a very highly valued trait and the ability to make it without depending on the family name, money or connection is the baseline. Anyone and everyone who knew the Youngs and de Almeidas knew that. This made the closing of Lego all the more satisfying as it proved her abilities and not her family name. Putting the victorious feeling and her plans for when she win the partnership race, Lilith followed Camila from a distance. All thoughts of returning to office went out of her head.

Isn’t that… 

Lilith racked her brains trying to place the face of the person she saw Camila staged a run-in with.

The Chief Operating Officer of Vauseman Hospitality Group!

A light bulb went off in her head as she placed the tall striking Nordic woman that is currently standing next to Camila. 

Didn’t they make their stance clear many many tries ago that they are not interested in working with the OCS or hiring the OCS for any projects at all regardless of size? Come to think of it, no matter how many times we’ve met with them, we had never seen the CEO or even the CFO. It was always this woman that was responsible for meeting with us. And of course rejecting us.

Lilith rolled her eyes to herself at that thought. 

Cam looks comically small and cute standing right next to her. Oh shit.

Even though she knew that the rejection was coming, it hurts to watch Camila’s face fall and the smile died from her face after the COO walked further into the building beyond the gantry. 

Damnit. 

Lilith did a quick calculation in her head. 

I hope this will work.

She walked to a secluded corner, making sure to stay out of Camila’s sight as she did so. Camila walked out of the lobby with a dejected look on her face as she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.

Bzzt. Bzzt. Bzzzt. 

Lilith startled and nearly dropped her phone as it started to ring. Camila’s name on the caller id stared back at her.

“Hey Cam, what’s up?”

Lilith answered cautiously, all the while studying Camila from that vantage point of hers.

“Hey Lil, are you in the office?”

“No, I was out for a meeting and am on my way back.”

Lilith crossed her fingers behind her back.

This counts as on my way back right? I was technically back then I took a detour so I’m still on my way. Yes, it works.

Lilith nodded to herself at her own reasoning, completely missing what Camila had said.

“So I was wondering if you want to get dinner with me tonight. Just you and me.”

“You are not asking out the disgusting PDA pair?”

“No, it has been a shit day and I just want to have dinner with you. Recharge a little.”

Lilith watched Camila scuffed the toe of her shoe on the pavement as she asked her and her heart swelled. She was more certain of her decision now than before. 

“Just the two of us then.”

Lilith replied, suddenly feeling shy.

Lilith you idiot! This is not the first time you are having dinner with just Camila alone. What is there to be shy about. You are getting more and more ridiculous. This crush is getting more and more ridiculous and out of hand. Argh!

“I’ll find a place and text you the details? I don’t think I’m heading back to the office, I have some other meetings to get to.”

“Okay, text me! I gotta run, see you later?”

“Yeah, see you later. Bye Lil.”

Lilith could see Camila putting on an act during the call, pretending that she wasn’t just rejected by the Vauseman Group again or the fact that the rejection still stung regardless the number of times it had happened. There had been rumors that the Vauseman Group was thinking of signing OCS but Lilith knew better than to try again. There was a limit to the number of rejections she could take after all. 

Then again, landing them would create a chain effect and whoever lands them would definitely make partner. No one else could compete on that level, especially if their affiliated companies were all signing service agreements with OCS under that one person.

Lilith watched as Camila got into a taxi while scrolling her phone. After the coast was clear, she got out of the corner, unlocking her phone as she walked. Scrolling down to a particular contact, she hit the call button.

“Hi Joanne, I know this is super last minute and I just left but is Jamie free now? I have an idea that I would like to run it by her.”

Lilith listened intently to the response on the other end of the line.

“Ah, I see. Yes, that time is good for me. I’ll head over in a bit. Thank you so much Joanne, see you in a bit.”

I hope Jamie buys this. Else, I would have to find something else.  

“Taxi!”

Finally this is over. I cannot believe that Jamie got Sean to sit in on such a short notice. I mean, I was hoping but it worked!

“ I look forward to working with your information security team and listening to their ideas.”

Sean said as he shook Lilith’s hand.

“Nicely done Lil. Looks like we will be seeing more of you. It is time you introduce the other team we are working with to us.”

Jamie patted Lilith on the shoulder on her way out.

“Good luck, I’m rooting for you to win. Though, with this new move, I don’t think you would emerge the winner.”

“Some times we have got to lose the battle to win the war.”

“Sounds like there is something else at play.”

Jamie laughed.

“Either way, it is still a win for us no matter how we look at it. But I hope someday you will let me in on whatever this is. I would like to think that we are more than just a consultant-client relationship. Friends perhaps? With this new agreement, we are going to be working together a lot more and a lot more often.”

Lilith chuckled.

“Friends, definitely friends. I’m hoping it will work out. Once it does, I’m sure you would know even without me telling you. That said, I would still tell you all about it if you want.”

“Deal. I’m looking forward to that story then. Got to rush off to another meeting, Joanne will walk you to the lift.”

“Catch you soon.”

Lilith walked to the lift with Joanne in tow, trying to keep the happiness she felt under wraps. Things had worked out the way she planned it in her head. Jamie had gone a step further and got Sean, their Chief Information Security Officer to sit in as Lilith laid out the changes she wanted to make to their service agreement.

“Thank you so much for squeezing me into Jamie’s schedule.”

“Tell me the story you promised Jamie and we will call it even?”

“Is this why they say secretary knows best?”

Joanne winked as the lift doors closed.

I hope Camila likes this surprise.

-- Jiro’s Sushi --

“Over here!”

Camila waved when she saw Lilith entered the sushi bar. It was one of their more frequent haunts whether is was just the two of them or with Ava and Beatrice.

As much as I love Bea and Ava, I love it more when it is just me and Lil. Now if only she will just get it together and ask me.

“So!”

Lilith opened without preamble as she sat down.

“I have something for you and I’m really hoping that you will take it up.”

Camila looked at Lilith puzzled. They had been in contact all day before Lilith left for her meeting with Lego and there hadn't been any hints that Lilith was planning something or planning to give her something.

Oh my god, is this it? She is going to ask me now? Jiro is a pretty good spot to celebrate the occasion. Now I wish Bea and Ava are nearby so I can get everyone together to celebrate after I say YES.

“Yes.”

Camila said randomly at the end of her thoughts, completely disregarding the fact that Lilith was still explaining what is it that she wanted to give her and the context.

“I’m sorry what?”

Lilith clarified, puzzled by the out of the blue response.

“Oh…”

Shit. So, I guess it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It’s okay Cam, we can get thru this.

“I’m sorry, I was in my head. What were you saying?”

Lilith looked at Camila, trying to discern what was going on with her.

“Okay okay, just because this is you, I will repeat myself.”

Lilith smiled at Camila indulgently.

“I was saying, remember how I had a meeting with Lego this afternoon?”

Camila nodded.

“Jamie, that is their vice president of human resource, has signed a service agreement with me for a project that they want to undertake and also agreed to retain us as their go-to consultancy firm.”

“Oh my god Lil!! This would catapult you to the front of the race! Ava and mine combined might not even come close to your total. Congratulations!!”

Camila squealed, happy for Lilith. At the same time, she could not help but remember the rejection from the Vauseman Group in the afternoon.

“While I was there, I ran into Sean, their CISO. He was wondering if OCS does information security consulting and would like a recommendation for a person to work with. So I gave them your name and a quick run thru of your department and the specific area that you are in-charge of. Donna, she’s Sean’s secretary, should be calling you tomorrow to talk more concrete details of what they require. From what I gathered, they are looking to do a mega project that would stress test their entire network to see how it holds up against an attack. I think they want to do a double blind test? I think he called it a double blind test. He said you would know what he means.”

Camila was stunned into silence. There is a high chance that this particular project would put her ahead of Lilith and yet, Lilith was the one that got it for her.

Lilith put my needs above her need to win.

“Cam? Are you mad? Did I overstep? Oh my god. I did overstepped didn’t I? I am so so-”

Before Lilith could complete her sentence, Camila flung herself into Lilith, wrapping her in a very tight hug. Lilith’s arms wrapped around Camila on instinct.

“Thank you so much. But you know that this might mean I would be ahead of you in terms of revenue generation and reduce your chances at making partner significantly right? I mean, I’m going to make sure they retain us as their consultant with a scope that matches the project they want us for this round.”

“I would expect nothing less than that from you Cam. You are the most important person in my life.”

Camila died on the inside at Lilith’s declaration.

Now would be a good time to confess you idiot.

Unbeknownst to the other, the exact same thought flashed thru both their minds but in true Lilith fashion, she ignored it.

“I’m just glad that you’re not mad and I didn’t overstep.”

“Mad? Why would I be? You are giving me the chance to make you eat my dust in this race. Why would I be mad?”

Camila cackled, her dour mood from before dissipating.

“Anything for you Cammie, anything for you.”

This is so worth it. What is losing when I can see Camila looking at me like this.

-- the next day --

“Camila Declan speaking.”

“Hi Ms. Declan, I’m Donna calling from Sean Haynes office.”

“Hi Donna, yes! I was told that you would be calling. How may I help you?”

“I have Sean on the line for you, if you would please hold.”

“Sure thing!”

“Hi Ms Declan, I’m Sean Haynes, Chief Information Security Officer here at the Lego Group.”

“Hi Mr. Haynes, please call me Camila. I have been waiting for your call.”

“Camila, please call me Sean. I was given a brief overview of your capabilities by Lilith yesterday and would like to meet with you to further discuss how the OCS can help us in what we are planning on doing.”

“Yes, Sean. Lilith gave me a rundown on what she had told you about what services OCS can provide and how we can be of value in this project that you are trying to pull off.”

“Great, in that case, please call Donna and arrange a time for us to have a meeting on the scope of OCS’s involvement and settle the administrative details of us working together. Nice talking to you Camila, I look forward to working with you on this. Lilith was very complimentary on your technical abilities yesterday. I must say I am excited to see it in person.”

“Lilith is too kind. I will strive to not disappoint you Sean. I’ll call Donna to set something up. See you soon.”

“It’s fine, I will just transfer the call to her. Bye Camila.”

“Bye Sean.”

“Hey girl.”

“Donna! Hi! Yes, could you…”

“Sean is free next Monday at 11am, Tuesday at 4pm, Wednesday is out, Thursday at 9am. Fridays he don’t normally take meetings but I think he might make an exception for this. So, which day do you prefer?”

“You are fast.”

“I am Donna.”

Camila laughed.

“Could you pencil me in for next Monday at 11am?”

“Do you have any preference for lunch?”

“Lunch?”

“Yes, I know Sean. If you are as good as Lilith said you are, Sean would have a million and one questions to pick your brain and the meeting would eat into lunch and beyond. So, do you have any allergies or dietary preferences that I should know of?”

“That is… no, I don’t. Anything is fine as long as it is not too spicy.”

“Great! I will see you on Monday at 11am then.”

“Donna?”

Donna was about to hang up the phone when Camila’s voice stopped her.

“Yes?”

“If I could ask, how did you know what Lilith said about me?”

“You should ask Lilith about Joanne. And just so you know, I taught Joanne all she knows. Is there anything else that I can help you with?”

“No… that is all. Thank you so much!”

Upon hearing the dial tone, Camila pulled the receiver away from her ear and looked at it oddly.

She taught Joanne everything she knew? So Donna mentored Joanne. Okay, but what does that has got to do with anything I asked?

“Is everything okay Cam?”

Lilith walked into Camila’s office to find her staring intently at the phone receiver.

“Sean Haynes secretary, Donna. She is… a character.”

“How so?”

“She said to ask you about what Joanne is like and to tell you that she was the one who taught Joanne everything she knows about being a secretary. Do you know what that means?”

“Oh. That Donna. You are either very lucky or really unlucky. Depends on whether Donna loves or hates you. Joanne absolutely adores her. Donna is Donna, she does her Donna thing and your life is either so much better for it or you are in hell. I don’t really know how else to describe it. When you meet her, tell her I said hi and ask her if she can do that Donna thing to show you what I’m trying and failing to explain here.”

“This entire conversation doesn’t make sense but I don’t care right now. I have a meeting with Lego I need to prepare for!”

Camila clapped her hands in joy.

“That reminds me, can I help you Lil?”

Yes, you can. You can say yes you will be my girlfriend. That would work.

“Oh, I’m here to ask if you wanted to grab lunch.”

“Just with you or?”

“The usual. You, me, Shannon and the disgusting PDA pair.”

“Mary isn’t joining us?”

“She has lunch with a prospective client so she is giving it a miss.”

Camila locked her computer and grabbed her bag.

“Alright, I’m done. Let’s go.”

They headed to the lifts to meet up with the rest after Camila locked the door behind her.