Meredith got back to her desk and began to gather her things for the meeting. While Taylor was making this project a big deal for the completely wrong reasons, it actually was a big deal. If they could win the favor of Edward Maxwell and get an increase in budget it would mean departmental upgrades on software and possibly even computers. But most importantly it would increase the allowed amount Mr. Hubert could spend on raises.
Meredith turned the corner as she thought of the possibilities. She could maybe actually go shopping for some new work clothes somewhere with more than one dollar sign on Yelp. Karen and Greg were already in the meeting room with notebooks ready to hear what it was Meredith had for them to do.
“Hi guys.” Meredith said as she unloaded her packets on the desk and asked Greg to close the door. “So Mr. Hubert has asked me to head this project with the two of you specifically. It is coming directly from Edward Maxwell’s office and the client is a promising Luxury car brand.”
“Oh! This sounds exciting!” Karen said as she reached out to grab the packet Meredith handed her.
“Oh, it is very. And it is also extremely important. Mr. Hubert wants us to do the best we can on this and wow not only the client but Edward Maxwell as well in hopes to increase the budget of our department. That means software upgrades, product upgrades, and most importantly raise increases.”
“Oh!”
“That would apply to Karen and myself. But in addition if we could increase the budget we may be able to hire another employee which would in turn be very beneficial for an intern such as yourself Greg.”
“Nice!” Greg responded as he opened his packet.
“We are going to be doing a full revamp on their marketing and it will be centered on this new car they will be releasing at the next auto show. As it has yet to be released we have non disclosure agreement on the top to sign before we even begin. I will need you to take these to Edward’s office immediately after our meeting Greg.”
“Oh, okay. Definitely.” Greg responded energetically.
“What is our deadline?” Karen asked as she signed and handed her NDA to Greg.
“We have two weeks officially. We will be presenting to Edward Maxwell’s office next Friday. However, Mr. Hubert wants us to complete it by this Friday so we can work out any changes they may give to us.”
“Okay. That’s a tight schedule but a good point.”
“Needless to say the three of us working on this will definitely receive the greatest perks from this should we win over Mr. Maxwell’s office.”
“Is this the new car they are rolling out?”
“Yes and the colors they will be offering are on the next page.”
“Oh, wow! Such a limited selection.”
“Not only is the color selection limited but so is the car itself. It will be produced as a limited edition luxury car and they want to rebrand around it as the catalyst for their company.”
“This is both exciting and nerve wrecking.” Karen noted as she continued to look over the packet. Greg was quietly listening to their meeting and frantically taking notes of everything.
“It is but we get to start with a clean slate. With that amount of design control we should be able to come up with something amazing.” Meredith assured them.
“True. And the limited color selections should actually benefit us in the long run if they want to center everything around the launch of this car.” Karen added.
“Exactly. I was thinking we can make these colors our primary palette and work to incorporate each of them into the main marketing focal points.”
“Yes. and tie it all in together. That’s a great idea.”
“I have a rough schedule set up and want to have all sketches done tomorrow we can meet at end of day and compare our sketches then work them in together and come up with final sketches on wednesday and begin illustrations. I’ll work the type if you want to set the graphics.”
“That’s perfect it would give us a very strong look.”
“I plan to create a new font just for this and have it used on all the media produced. Let’s plan to have it finished by Thursday and any retouches we need we can do before lunch Friday.”
“That’s so fast.” Greg finally added.
“Well we need to get feedback as soon as possible from the client and from Edward Maxwell’s office so we can make adjustments.” Karen told him.
“Greg, this is your priority but you are still to assist the other designers in whatever they are working on.” Meredith told him. “If we need you for something you are to immediately drop what you are doing and assist us.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“And don’t forget we signed the NDA’s so this is top secret.”
“Understood.” Karen replied seriously.
“Yes, ma’am!” Greg said again.
“Okay unless you have any other questions?” Meredith waited as they shook their heads. “Good let’s get to work.”
Meredith had been working at Maxwell Sharp Marketing Inc. for a little over a year. She had graduated and started work within less than three months. She was twenty-four and felt like she was forty. A cat lady that worked too much and never went out. She definitely didn’t feel like she was in her mid twenties.
She felt like her relationship with Chad had aged her and turned her into a Hermit. She went out but mostly by herself to the movie theaters. She enjoyed going to The Music Box in Wrigleyville and watching all the fun movies they had. She also frequently went to a few other theaters on a regular basis as well.
Taylor kept trying to get her to join group meets and go with other movie fans and maybe meet a handsome single guy while she was at it. Meredith had tried it once but she felt awkward the whole time thinking about how Taylor wanted her to find a date. All Meredith really wanted was to enjoy her movies. But she did enjoy herself and might try it again sometime. Best to try it again when she didn’t have such a big project to work on.
Meredith reached her desk and drafted an email to Mr. Hurbert outlining their schedule for the week. He requested to be in the meeting Friday before lunch to see what they had before they sent it to Edward Maxwell’s office. Meredith agreed then began researching the car company and it’s past ad campaigns. She was working into the night and printed a few sheets to take home with her. She would continue to sketch at home with Dino.
Meredith headed home, having gathered up some relevant material to continue to sketch into the night. She usually didn’t bring work home for several reasons. Firstly she wanted to have a work free environment, at least that’s what she told herself. Really she just wanted to resist overworking herself, which would be very easy to do considering her Hermit lifestyle.Secondly she was afraid of losing something and having to come up with a lame my-dog-ate-my-project excuse. Or in her case her cat.And speaking of her cat, thirdly, she didn’t want her cat to interrupt and felt it was rude to not give him some much needed attention after having been at work all day.This was a different situation and she had promised herself as she walked down the subway stairs towards her L train that she w
Taylor had been true to her word of keeping distractions away from Meredith so she could focus on her project. That being said she did send a picture of Edward Maxwell to Meredith when she woke up along with heart emojis and a text that said “For motivation purposes. GL on your presentation.” Edward had piercing green eyes and dark brown hair with a perfectly groomed matching dark brown beard. His nose was angled just right so as to not be overpowering but not hidden behind such a majestic beard. He was wearing a pinstriped suit with brown derby shoes and his tie and top three buttons were undone exposing his a little chest hair that had peeked up from beneath his shirt. He was built but not popping out of his suit built. He wasn’t as muscular as Ben the guard but he definitely worked out. Meredith could see why Taylor called him one of The Davids It was Friday and Meredith, Karen, and Greg weren’t actual
Meredith had gotten an email from Edward Maxwell’s assistant, Henry saying everything looked good but the font looked old. What did he not understand about classic? That was okay because she had anticipated as much and in fact held back so as to truly wow them next Friday. She still had two fonts that she had created and she knew just which one she was going to use. She talked to Karen before heading out and called it a day. She still had to get ready for this mixer that Taylor was taking her to.Meredith arrived home and had racked her brain the whole way from the office building to her apartment about what to wear tonight. She wasn’t even sure what a mixer was. Is it a date? Is it just a coed hang out of some sort. What was it? She decided to try google.A mixer is an informal social gathering where people interact with the purpose to get to know
Meredith woke up the next morning feeling good about herself. It wasn’t love at first sight. She didn’t believe in that. The guy wasn’t even Prince Charming even though the had a princely accent. She had finally stopped saying no and went out. Even if she hadn’t had a decent time with one of the guys there she had fun. She tried sushi for the first time. And although she wasn’t excited to go try it again she didn’t find it terrible, except that weird green paste. She did karaoke for the first time and actually really liked it. The whole event was pleasant. She didn’t have to date the guy she had been paired off with but he seemed like a nice enough person to hang out with again. He was funny, he had interesting hobbies, and he was smart. She decided to text both Taylor and Jordan the same message: Thanks for last night. I had a lot of fun
Meredith avoided the pigeons and made sure she had no loose popcorn in her purse as she headed to the Metra the next day. She would take the train to Schaumburg where her mother lived. Meredith’s mother picked her up at the train station and the went to Yu’s Mandarin for lunch. Meredith really had been craving Chinese food since the sushi left her wanting a little more asian in her life. “So how have you been this week?” Meredith’s mother asked her after they ordered drinks. “I got a big project at work so I have been crazy busy. It’s due on Friday so I still have a lot of work to do.” Meredith looked around the restaurant. She felt uneasy as though someone were watching them somewhere. “Oh! Meri, that's wonderful.” Her mother had called her Meri since she could remember. “Will you get a promotion?”
Meredith spent all day Monday with Karen in the meeting room with their laptops going over the ad campaign and adjusting and perfecting their designs. Mr. Hubert kept walking up to the glass window and just watching them without coming in. They knew he was anxious when he kept pulling out his mustache comb and running it through his mustache over and over. It just added to the creepy effect he was creating, which wasn’t helpful to their concentration.“Even if they don’t see this as amazing I’m proud of what we have going here. It truly is amazing.” Karen told Meredith as they looked at the preview on the screen. “Choosing to go with the more risky font without a backup is a bit of a gamble but it allows us time to perfect it rather than split between two projects essentially.”“Exactly. Mr. Hubert wants us to wow
Meredith showed Jordan into her apartment with a giggle. She had promised to show him her origami collection since he showed her his photography. He had phrased it: “I show you mine so you have to show me yours.” “I don’t know how my cat Dino will take to you but it seems like he is giving us some privacy. Not many places to hide in this small apartment but leave it to a cat to find a place to vanish to.” She said as she pulled the large hat box down from her armoire and bent down to set it on the coffee table. It took up most of the table. “Nice box.” Jordan said in his slightly slurred British accent with a smirk. He had a double meaning as he had been checking her out from behind but it went over her head. “Thank you. I got it a a thrift store. I thought it would be perfect for my origami.” She opened the box
The next day Meredith met Karen, Greg and Mr. Hubert in the meeting room and they went over their ad campaign. Mr. Hubert sat for thirty minutes not saying a word just scrutinizing it in every way possible.“And you didn’t make a backup?” He finally asked.“No, sir. We thought it would better to risk a gamble on having more time to refine and polish one rather than work on two.”“That was a good idea. Had anyone else done it I wouldn’t have agreed but the two of you are something else. Great work indeed.”“Thank you, sir.” Meredith and Karen said in unison while Greg nodded in agreement.“I want the three of you to spend as long as possible with the printers to