4. The Worst Day

Cammy

I look up at the Somersett Incorporated building and let out a low whistle. Mirrored glass finishings with silver balustrades made for a gorgeous exterior. The interior matched the beauty of the outside, showing just how much Elijah Somersett has put into his building.

The receptionist is a pretty young thing and greets me with a black mask emblazoned with the Somersett Inc name in the lower corner. “Cameron Westwood, I am here for a 7 am appointment with Mr Somersett,” I relay to her, and she nods when she sees my ID before gesturing to the lift. “You’re to go to the boardroom, which is on the 31st floor. The receptionist there will lead you to the correct room,” she says with a smile which I return.

I have everything expertly rehearsed and all the questions revised. Somersett Inc. can make or break me today, and they are quite aware of the hold they have. After the lockdown, Elijah has the rights to all the most significant city projects, and everyone is dying to be let in. If I can score at least one of the municipal projects, it would help me immensely, so I hope for a peaceful, silent partnership.

When the lift's doors open, I walk towards the receptionist’s desk, and she leads me to the boardroom, which is unsurprisingly empty. “Mr Somersett will see you shortly, Ms Westwood. You’re more than welcome to remove your mask as we have taken the proper safety protocols inside the building.” The petite brunette says with a smile to her eyes before walking out.

Suddenly, I feel quite hot underneath this damned face mask and rip it off. This meeting can make or break me, and right now, I have no idea what to think. I wish Cassy were here to help me through this because, for the first time since my startup, I am terrified.

I hope I don’t mess this up.

The door to the boardroom opens, and I straighten my back, waiting to meet the man who can save my life. “Cameron Westwood, apologies if I have kept you waiting,” he says, and my heart drops immediately when I hear his voice. He is still wearing his mask as he approaches me while looking at the folders in his hands, but I know that I will never get this deal as soon as he looks up at me.

My company is as good as dead.

Elijah Somersett looks into my eyes and removes his face mask to reveal an amused smirk. “Well now, little minx, I guess we do meet again,” he says, calling me that god-awful nickname with a chuckle, reaching out his hand to take mine and giving it a squeeze. I could do nothing but stare at the man I had emptied a glass of wine onto the night before. No wonder his face looked somewhat familiar; the only thing missing was his long blonde hair.

“It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Mr Somersett,” I say, trying to be as polite as possible as he takes a seat at the head of the conference table. I sit next to him with my hands folded in front of me. I am so nervous, and this cocky little shit had a Cheshire Cat grin on his face, revelling in the fact that he now holds my future in his hands. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Westwood. Let's start then, shall we?” He says, ignoring the Miss in his greeting.

I don’t know what I am going to do; he’s sitting here pretending to read over the proposals sent when I know he is only doing it to punish me. “Well, from what I can see, Westwood Architecture used to be in the top three architecture firms in the UK before the pandemic hit. What caused it to fall?” He asks, looking at me with a serious expression. I take a breath, willing the words to come to the surface, the exact words I have memorised.

“Our company had five foreign projects running simultaneously with developments in the works. In November of 2019, we ordered a few billion pounds worth of stock to start a high rise development in Tokyo and Taiwan. This unfortunately needed to be cancelled for obvious reasons, but our suppliers refused to take back the stock, so now we are sitting with billions of Pounds worth of unused product. Those accounts had to be paid, so did my employees, and since no one had a plan in place for a pandemic like this, the loss was far more than the gain. Tokyo cancelled, so did Taiwan and Australia.” I repeat off the top of my head to a very unimpressed Elijah.

He sits back in his chair. “Miss Westcott, do you remember the SARS pandemic in 2003 and the MERS outbreak in 2012?” He asks, placing a closed fist over his mouth as he looks at me. I nod. “I do remember them vaguely, yes.”

“SARS scared everyone in the business world, and with fear of losing money as well as clients and employees, big companies all invested in contingency plans to prevent what they all feared. My company is one of those who acted, with my father putting plans in place for me to continue in 2013. So my question to you is, why didn’t you plan for something like this, knowing disaster could strike at any given minute?” He asks, gesturing with his hand as he speaks, and I am rendered mute at his question.

I clear my throat, feeling the blood rise into my face. “I was still a high school student in 2003, and in 2012 my company was still starting out. To be completely honest, it has slipped my mind-”

“It slipped your mind, and now you have been reduced to begging other companies to bail you out of a financial mess you created.” He says, sitting forward, but I have had enough and get out of my seat. “If that is all, Mr Somersett, thank you for your time,” I say with a rage sitting in my chest but knowing that it is beneath me to act out on it. I expected a rejection. Hell, I have faced plenty of others before, but this one felt personal.

I walk towards the door but then feel a tug on my wrist and breathe out a frustrated sigh. “Kindly let go of my hand, Mr Somersett,” I say through gritted teeth, not even bothering to look back at him. He steps in front of me and tilts my chin up to look at him. “I apologise; that last line came out harsher than I expected. Please, have a seat so we can discuss things further.” He says, but I shake my head and give him a sweet smile.

“No, thank you, Mr Somersett, you have proven that a bruised ego is worth more than helping out my company. I know full well that my company’s failings are my own; what I don’t need is you telling me that.” I say, stepping away from him and moving towards the door. “Have a lovely day further, Mr Somersett,” were my last words to the only man who could have helped me, and for the first time in my life, I left a boardroom feeling defeated.

Elijah Somersett not only knocked me down but completely crushed me to the ground.

“Hey, you’re out early. How did it go?” Cassy asks me with apprehension in her voice, and I shoot her a glare. “The guy from last night… He was Elijah Somersett, so that should already tell you how it went.” I say, heading straight towards my whiskey tumbler in the corner of my office. I hear her letting out a sigh as she walks towards me. “Hey, I tried to tell you last night, but you wouldn’t hear anything. I even texted you afterwards.” She says, wrapping me in a hug, and I feel tears run down my cheeks as I myself break down.

My life is over.