Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 3, 2013 19:10:40 GMT
Monday, June 2nd. 11:24 a.m. Jack’s office.
“ I understand your concern.” Jack nodded, hands folded neatly before him on the mahogany wood of his desk. His calendar was closed, as he had already been scheduled for Mrs. Sanchez’s court date in March. She continued her rambling over the absurdity of the reasoning behind her lawsuit, refusing to be sued under such charges. Mrs. Sanchez crossed her legs, unaware that she was showing off the large run in her hose. Jack shifted his eyes to the burgundy walls of his office. Truth be told, Mrs. Sanchez deserved it. It was a federal offense to refuse to pay debt, clearly. It all sounded like confusion to Jack; controversy over the language of the contract she had signed back in August of the previous year. Mrs. Sanchez stood and shook his hand, thanking him for his time. Jack smiled politely without promising a successful trail, and encouraged her to make needed arrangements for her upcoming hearing in the next couple of months. He would keep in touch. Jack stood as he watched Mrs. Sanchez make her leave, fingertips lightly touching the mahogany. She had been his last client for the morning, and as the afternoon hour approached, Jack found himself with nearly thirty minutes to spare before his lunch hour. This brought a wave of relief to Jack, seeing as how he had been experiencing case after case since seven that morning. Desperate for a break, Jack began to pack away his calendar and planner into a small briefcase. Kirkwell’s would be open for the duration of his lunch, as it typically was. Kirkwell’s had always been his favorite location for lunch, as he had always been a pastry fan. It became a morning, afternoon and evening event for Jack. So much so, they knew him on a first-name basis, though he always preferred that they didn’t call out to him each time he entered the cafe. It was all good intentions, Jack had long since concluded, and simply chose to take it with a soft smile and nod. Just as he had fastened the lock of his case and headed for the door, the familiar chime of Jack’s office phone stopped him in his tracks. Almost grudgingly, Jack turned on his heel to return to his desk for the call. " Jack Carrington." He listened. The man on the other end was a familiar voice from the front desk. Martin wasn’t a receptionist, though he had been filling the position since Valerie had left to be with her family. In fact, good fortune had come by Martin today. A young woman is here to speak to you about your job posting. Should I schedule an appointment for her? Jack smiled lightly, aware of the minor excitement in Martin’s voice. Martin was a janitor, though Jack offered him extra pay to perform minimal tasks such as answering the phone and offering assistance to clients. It wasn’t quite up his alley, and in the three days that he had been on his new job, Martin was ready to jump from the nearest skyscraper. " Absolutely not. Send her up." After thanking Martin, he placed the phone back on its cradle. The interview wouldn’t take long, surely. Taking a seat and curving his chair towards the window, Jack observed the view from the fourth story of Carrington-Bradford. From his office, Jack could easily make out the bridge, as the office was located at a fairly decent location in Brooklyn. His office curtains were almost always pinned back, as he loved to observe the view. Just as Jack had fallen into a minor state of thought as he scanned the water before him, his office door opened gently. Turning back to his desk slowly, Jack observed the young woman who had applied for his job. “ Welcome,” Jack stood, extending his hand for her. “ Jack Carrington. Please, have a seat.”
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 3, 2013 20:59:23 GMT
Theta walked quietly along the New York street; completely absorbed in her thoughts. She half thought of turning around, and going home -- returning to the menial job she'd been working for almost a year and a half now. The college had had only good intentions, supposedly, when assigning her to an internship with one of the city's biggest businesses. But she hated it. Her days consisted of running for coffee, editing PowerPoints, and writing up business reports for superiors too lazy to do it themselves. And the pay was terrible -- so was the treatment. Most of the men who worked there looked at her like a piece of meat, and Theta, not one to accept degradation, had stood up to herself -- to no avail. The management was terrible and corrupt, and for all her modesty, she truly believed she deserved something better than that. After a year and a half of hell, she'd finally had enough. The trouble was, she still didn't know what to do with herself. Almost through with earning her degree in management, and she had nothing to show for it but a year's worth of sleepless nights and stacks of paperwork, not even her own, that she'd been pushed into completing. Theta sighed; of course, nothing was ever easy.
Her parents had always urged her to get into healthcare -- maybe become a nurse or a doctor, but science had never been her strong suit. She'd been told more than once she'd make a good lawyer, but it all seemed to late now. She hadn't taken a single course in law, except for the basic Criminal Law course her university offered to every incoming freshman. It'd been more of a curiosity to her, but maybe she should have listened to those people. Either way, it lent irony to her present situation. She only hoped this wouldn't end like salt in a wound. Visiting a major law firm, surrounded by successful people who knew what they were doing for the rest of their lives, might make her feel a tinge of regret. Or perhaps more than a tinge.
The only good thing about her internship was that it had pushed her into adopting a proper businesslike wardrobe. Out of nervousness, Theta had spent more time than usual getting ready; she wore black slacks, and modest heels that gave her an extra inch or two, a lovely pink blouse, and a suit jacket. She hadn't been sure what to do with her hair -- she'd pulled it up, then let it down, had even thought about braiding it -- but in the end, she had chosen to let her dark brown locks fall casually down past her shoulders. Shoulders usually set in self-confidence, now tight with the idea of another wasted year at hand. Just let this work out, she hoped, closing her eyes for a moment as building came into view.
She nimbly crossed the street, like a proper New Yorker, and slipped in through the doors behind an older gentleman. For a moment, Theta stood, studying the building; its look was just what she imagined. But she had no time to linger, the sooner this was over the better. She really didn't like interviews, she hated answering the typical questions: What are your strengths, your weaknesses? What can you offer this company? How would you describe yourself? Based on her appearance, the beautiful young woman did not reflect any description of herself. She loved cars; loved repairing and tinkering with things, but she'd always been told she was too smart to be a simple mechanic. So here she was, again, her future seemed to dangle in the balance, one more bad job, and she might end up asking her brother Bradbury for a reference to Starbucks. Oh, the horror.
The young woman pushed her thoughts away, and transferred her briefcase casually to her other hand as she approached the front desk. "Hello, I'm here to see a Mr. Carrington? I saw a job listing, and I'd be interested in speaking with him, if the position is still open," she smiled politely, her fears melting away with the casual act of conversation, no matter its briefness. She felt her usual confidence returning, and was able to stand a little taller, accepting the idea of a new challenge to tackle. Change would be good; anything was better than her old job. But she needed this, she just hoped she got it. She waited patiently while he called upstairs, and then gave her the go ahead -- offering her too a few simple directions. Theta thanked him and walked off, a new sense of optimism revealing the last of her frayed nerves.
Despite her readiness, the elevator seemed to take forever, but when the doors finally slid back to allow her entry into the hall, she paused -- biting her lip. But this place couldn't be like her former company; or so she hoped. If that was the case, she might as well turned tail and run to save herself some trouble. Theta, however, steeled herself and strode forward, taking in a deep breath before she knocked lightly on the door, hand moving to the knob to push it open a crack, waiting for an invitation to enter. It came presently.
Theta entered at his welcome, and offered a small, polite smile -- but there was slight surprise in her eyes; she hadn't expected him to be so . . . handsome. And young. But she quickly hid it as she took his hand; "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Carrington," she replied, taking the chair opposite him, and added, "I'm Theta Stone -- I hope I haven't interrupted anything coming on such short notice."
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 4, 2013 4:43:55 GMT
After shaking hands with Miss. Stone, Jack returned to his chair after Theta had taken a seat herself. Jack offered her a bright smile, studying her face with great absorption, as though Theta were the most important detail of his life at that very moment. Jack had always made it a point to do so; it was important in a lawyer, in a friend, and in this case, an employer - and that, Theta was. She had his attention invariably, and she was the reason he was sitting in his office at 11:45 that Monday, so why not give her his full, undivided devotion and attention? It was almost his code, one that he had never failed to live up to. It was, Jack was convinced, something that made him at least a fraction of a decent human being.
Jack leaned on his elbows casually, folding his hands into a neat clasp just below his chin. “Short notice is better than no notice, I’d like to say. I’m glad you’re here today.” Jack turned in his chair once again to retrieve two glasses next to the acrylic water dispenser nearest the office window. He filled the cup with water - one for Theta, another for himself. “My job listing was for a receptionist, as you know.” Jack passed Theta the glass of water, only partially full as to avoid a spill. To ensure that Theta felt comfortable, Jack took a sip and returned the glass to his desk. “My father owns this same firm in Boston, you see. Typically, he would these calls. Seeing as how this Manhattan, it’s to me.” Jack smiled brightly once more before moving on.
He didn’t want to bombard the young woman with questions. If he had intended for his interview process to be formal questions, he would have had her fill out a questionnaire and sent her on her way. No; Jack saw his firm as a place of opportunity. Martin, for example - a perfect instance of fair opportunity given, and an opportunity not taken. But given. That’s what mattered. In Jack’s eyes, it all boiled down to mind over matter; if you believe in it, be it so. The question with the young woman who sat before Jack wasn’t if she was good enough, it was if she believed in herself. “Let me start by telling you a bit about myself.” Jack had never done well with talking about himself. To others, Jack was a total mystery, having never opened up to a soul in Manhattan. He was that quiet neighbor, that lonely soul.
And a mystery, as most presumed, he would stay.
“I run the office here.” Jack gestured towards the room, but intending for Theta to visualize the entire seven-story firm. “We cater to a variety of clientele, of course. I’ve seen the occasional magazine editor sued for libel and those just...down their luck, right off the street.” Jack turned his head towards the window, but not away from Theta. “The world, Miss. Stone, is full of heartache. Loss.” Jack took another sip of his water, clearing his throat. “Our job is to help make new beginnings for those who need us. That is your job as well.” And it would be. No job was more glamorous than the next. Rather, it was distinguished by description and label.
Jack shifted his eyes down to Theta’s briefcase. “I see you brought a few materials with you. Did you happen to prepare a resume, my dear?”
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 4, 2013 19:22:24 GMT
Theta lifted her gaze to find Jack studying her with unveiled interest, and blinked curiously. For almost two years, she'd been used to people looking through her, not at her. Fetch this, fetch that, get me so-and-so . . . never "Good morning, Miss Stone, how are you today?" Theta didn't expect people to treat her like royalty, far from it actually; she just liked to be acknowledged every once and awhile -- for heaven's sake, she wasn't a wallflower. Jack's attention was a welcome change, and she smiled pleasantly toward him; butterflies turning in her stomach. He was really quite handsome, but Theta steeled herself -- she'd come here for a job, and she hoped to leave this office employed. Summoning her courage, the young woman sat little straighter, and crossed her legs, hands folded neatly on her lap; preparing herself for the questions she expected would follow.
“Short notice is better than no notice, I’d like to say. I’m glad you’re here today.”
Theta smiled warmly, happy to hear it, even if it was just passing courtesies. Please and thank you had become strangers to her the past few years, mumbled words and brusque orders their substitutes -- it was reassuring that manners still existed in the world, and inwardly, she regretted her internship turned job for the thousandth time. "I'm happy to hear it," she replied, her tone sincere. Theta was not a good actress; she could hide things, but in the end her expressions gave her a way. For Theta, there was no hiding behind masks.
She thanked him for the glass of water and took a sip, listening to him with interest. It was hard not to be interested in him; the way he looked and spoke to you. She nodded at his remark -- yes, a receptionist. She could do all that in her sleep. But that was purely a figure of speech; Theta had always been a diligent worker, if something wasn't done right -- it irked her. The thought of answering phones and recording messages all day for the rest of her life, though . . . Theta wasn't too sure about that. But they weren't talking about forever here; it was just a starting point. A fresh, blank slate that she was more than eager to have.
Taking another sip of her water, she rested her forearm on her leg; eyes invariably drawn to the man speaking to her. She smiled at his mention of Boston, nodding with interest. She was at ease with his polite conversation, any nerves that may have re-arisen were soothed by Jack's lack of pressure. She could easily see herself working for such a man; someone she'd actually be able to get along with.
“Let me start by telling you a bit about myself.”
That was an unusual spin, but Theta didn't question it. Instead she offered him a bright smile, curious to hear what else he had to say. It was nice not being pounced on, and she appreciated it. Talking about herself had never been her forte -- she'd always believed actions spoke louder than words, anyway.
As she listened to Jack, Theta's head tilted ever so slightly to the right with interest. He spoke so eloquently, she wondered where all the critical stereotypes about lawyers issued from. Those people couldn't have met Jack Carrington, then -- but again, she had a sense that the man sitting opposite her was a rare breed. Maybe she'd just been surrounding herself with too many of the wrong sort of people lately, but that was the conclusion to her observation.
“The world, Miss. Stone, is full of heartache. Loss.”
At that, Theta glanced down for a moment -- ambushed by thought -- but she quickly met his gaze again, thought in her warm brown eyes. She nodded, studying him with continued interest.
“Our job is to help make new beginnings for those who need us. That is your job as well.”
"Pardon me, my job?" she asked, unable to contain her bout of surprise at his choice of words -- a breathless smile appeared upon her face, "You sound decided on that matter . . . but I'm sorry, I --" Theta paused, composing herself, quite easily, in fact. "I should not have made such an outburst," she offered a small smile of apology, a flush spreading across her cheeks. It would probably be unwise to mention her unhappiness in her current job; unhappiness actually did not do her feelings credit -- she hated that place. She'd never set foot in the building again, too many things had happened, and she didn't like to discuss it.
“I see you brought a few materials with you. Did you happen to prepare a resume, my dear?”
Theta straightened herself, smiling toward him, "I did," she answered, glad for the change of subject, anyway. She set down her glass and opened the briefcase -- glad that her fatal flaw was one of organization and tidiness. It annoyed her brother and some of her friends, but if every one had flaws, she considered herself blessed in the matter. Sliding out the crisp white paper, she passed it to him across the desk. "I haven't worked as a receptionist before, or in a legal office, but I'm eager to learn. I've interned and worked in business the past two years, and I'll have my degree in management soon," she explained -- finding no need to get into greater detail. It was all there on her resume, and if he had questions, he'd ask. Theta had never been one to fear idle quiet in conversation; she didn't feel the need to fill up every pause with mindless chatter -- and she wanted to come across as professional. But then again, her immaculate references did her justice. Hopefully, everything was to Mr. Carrington's approval. Because, for the first time in a long time, everything seemed to be going seamlessly -- and Theta wasn't sure if she could trust it, only to be let down again.
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 5, 2013 4:49:41 GMT
** Please see the edit note below this post before reading. Jack laughed, glancing in the direction of the spot that Martin had been standing. “ Yes, m’dear. That’s Martin, he’s been working for this firm for years before I even arrived.” Jack grinned in Theta’s direction. “ He prefers his minimal assignments, he isn’t much of a chatter. He will grow on you.” Jack stepped towards the door, hands folded neatly behind him. He held the door open for Theta to exit, and Jack followed behind her. He took the lead down the hallway to his right, which approached a lone elevator. The firm was quiet, aside from the gentle sound of the saxophone over the speakers above. Jack allowed Theta to enter the elevator prior to himself, requesting the top floor the moment the doors began to glide together. “ Seeing as how we’re near the top, we will begin there.” Jack glanced upward, watching the arrow slide across the meter until it hit the roman numeral seven, accompanied by a gentle ding. When the doors slid open, Jack and Theta were presented with an open space. Before them was a grand window offering a few of New York’s skyline, scaling the entirety of the wide plaza. It was neatly decorated in cream, deep browns and whites. The plaza was entirely vacant aside of Jack and Theta and an on-duty security guard; still, you could hear a pin drop. Following Theta, Jack exited the elevator. “ Welcome to deck seven, Miss Stone.” Jack gestured with both hands, his voice echoing through the hollow plaza. “You’ll love this. Please, come with me.” Jack made a left once again, turning towards a hallway that exited the brightly-lit plaza. The hallway was a bit more condensed, causing a ring to the ears. The hallway smelt something like lavender, reminding Jack to look into changing the air fresheners on the lower level. “ This,” Jack said, bypassing various doors down the hall. “ Is strictly for employee use. This includes you.” Jack brought Theta to the end of the hall, standing before a set of double glass doors. “ Deck seven, as we call it, is heavily guarded, and they will not allow guests. This floor is entirely for your convenience before and after hours, and during your lunch hour.” Jack smiled widely, dimples visible. This part excited him, for he favored deck seven when he was alone. The double doors opened with a gentle whoosh, and Jack followed Theta inside. Before them was an entire poolhouse with a magnificent view of the skyline. The pool was magnificent to Jack - a gorgeous color with luxury, curved edges. Near the center, the pool narrowed. Upon a raised platform - nearly three feet above the water - was a recent addition, a jacuzzi that Jack’s father had insisted on adding to their Brooklyn firm. On the opposite end was a second leg of the pool. Golden, enlarged faucets protruded from the white marble flooring, forming a unified waterfall. Surrounding the pool above was a running track. “ She's glorious, isn’t she?” Jack cooed. He eyed the print at the bottom of the pool, where Carrington-Bradford LLP had been stamped to the bottom of the marble pool floor. Something hit Jack then, and his smile faded. In the water, as though it were truly there, he could hear a faint splashing. A laugh. Almost unnoticeable, Jack mouthed the name Charlotte. All at once, he was anxious to flee the room. Jack folded his hands behind his back, swallowing something painful knotted in his throat.
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 5, 2013 21:42:03 GMT
Theta didn't find it hard to sit tight while he scanned over her resume. She found it surprising that he seemed ready to hire her, without any of the usual nonsense employers put their potential subordinates through -- but she'd never question it. A job was what she came for, and if he was going to give her that, she wasn't about to start complaining. The only thing besides mild curiosity she felt was excitement; excitement for something new and fresh. And if Jack was her boss, well that had to be a perk of the job. Taking the moment of quiet to glance toward the window, Theta folded her hands in her lap and admired the view; wondering if she'd ever have the opportunity in having an office like this. As her gaze fell back to Mr. Carrington, she couldn't help but wonder at his age. He seemed so young . . . and to be so accomplished, it was enough to make her think about her own future.
He had stood, and was already filing her resume away. Theta took that as an obviously good sign, and smiled in spite of herself. To think she'd spent half of last night lying awake, reading to take her mind off things, when all she'd really had to do was show up and say her name. Conversation was easy for Theta, she enjoyed chatting, and maybe in this new position, someone would actually listen to her for a change. That would be nice. She didn't expect everyone to look as politely intrigued as Jack, though -- because then again, she couldn't remember meeting a person quite like him ever before.
“When can you start?”
Theta fought the urge to laugh with delight. She instead satisfied herself with a dazzling smile; lovely as she was, Theta was something to look at when she was truly happy with something. There was something about her amber eyes -- an extra hint of warmth that glowed inside them. She felt like she was finally getting back on track, where she belonged. "As soon as you're willing to have me," she replied, and that was the truth. Most New Yorkers might gawk at a young woman so eager to get herself back into the grind, but she was ready to make herself useful again. She was done wasting her life with things that didn't make her happy. It'd taken over a year, but she'd learned that lesson the hard way. So now she planned on reaching for that satisfaction, and she'd stretch until she reached it.
“Please, Miss. Stone. There’s no need to thank me.”
She smiled, glad she had thanked him anyway. She took his offered hand and met its firmness -- reminded briefly of how much she hated limp handshakes. But all of those thoughts fled away the moment she caught his gaze. There was something there; something she'd missed before. Even smiling, there was a melancholy glow to the young man's eyes. And she wanted to do something to ease the hurt she saw. Theta had always been told she had a gentle heart, despite hiding it behind a bold exterior, but she hated seeing people hurt. Strangers, close friends, it made no matter. Seeing it in Jack was enough -- he'd been so kind to her, and she wanted to repay him. She just wasn't sure how. She'd always been good at reading people, but never knew what to say; words were certainly not her strong suit. The only thing she could do, for now, was smile toward him, a softer, more thoughtful expression than she had worn before. Maybe someday, she would learn the story in those eyes. But not now, not after only just meeting him; the most she could do at the moment was hope to move on to another conversation, and relieve the haunted look in his face -- at least for a little while.
As he glanced away, Theta took a moment to study his face, before turning herself -- smirking slightly at the sight of the man she'd spoken with downstairs. There was a gleam of quiet humor in her eyes when she turned to face Jack again, picking up her briefcase, and taking his offered hand. She took a moment to smooth her jacket and nodded, "I would love to have the grand tour," she said, returning his smile with one of her own. Her laugh joined his as he confessed about not knowing where the lounge was, "That's nothing, at my last job, no one ever bothered to show me around -- I couldn't even find my desk." Of course, that had been frustrating and embarrassing at the time, but she was over it. A new job and a new boss had soothed her formerly ruffled feathers, and she already felt at ease.
"I take it, that man, he was the fill-in?" she asked with a hint of mischievous amusement in her eyes. No wonder he had seemed so relieved to see her.
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 6, 2013 5:54:08 GMT
Jack laughed, glancing in the direction of the spot that Martin had been standing. “Yes, m’dear. That’s Martin, he’s been working for this firm for years before I even arrived.” Jack grinned in Theta’s direction. “He prefers his minimal assignments, he isn’t much of a chatter. He will grow on you.” Jack stepped towards the door, hands folded neatly behind him. He held the door open for Theta to exit, and Jack followed behind her. He took the lead down the hallway to his right, which approached a lone elevator. The firm was quiet, aside from the gentle sound of the saxophone over the speakers above. Jack allowed Theta to enter the elevator prior to himself, requesting the top floor the moment the doors began to glide together.
“Seeing as how we’re near the top, we will begin there.” Jack glanced upward, watching the arrow slide across the meter until it hit the roman numeral seven, accompanied by a gentle ding. When the doors slid open, Jack and Theta were presented with an open space. Before them was a grand window offering a few of New York’s skyline, scaling the entirety of the wide plaza. It was neatly decorated in cream, deep browns and whites. The plaza was entirely vacant aside of Jack and Theta and an on-duty security guard; still, you could hear a pin drop. Following Theta, Jack exited the elevator. “Welcome to deck seven, Miss Stone.” Jack gestured with both hands, his voice echoing through the hollow plaza. “You’ll love this. Please, come with me.”
Jack made a left once again, turning towards a hallway that exited the brightly-lit plaza. The hallway was a bit more condensed, causing a ring to the ears. The hallway smelt something like lavender, reminding Jack to look into changing the air fresheners on the lower level. “This,” Jack said, bypassing various doors down the hall. “Is strictly for employee use. This includes you.” Jack brought Theta to the end of the hall, standing before a set of double glass doors. “Deck seven, as we call it, is heavily guarded, and they will not allow guests. This floor is entirely for your convenience before and after hours, and during your lunch hour.” Jack smiled widely, dimples visible. This part excited him, for he favored deck seven when he was alone.
The double doors opened with a gentle whoosh, and Jack followed Theta inside. Before them was an entire poolhouse with a magnificent view of the skyline. The pool was magnificent to Jack - a gorgeous color with luxury, curved edges. Near the center, the pool narrowed. Upon a raised platform - nearly three feet above the water - was a recent addition, a jacuzzi that Jack’s father had insisted on adding to their Brooklyn firm. On the opposite end was a second leg of the pool. Golden, enlarged faucets protruded from the white marble flooring, forming a unified waterfall. Surrounding the pool above was a running track. “She's glorious, isn’t she?” Jack cooed. He eyed the print at the bottom of the pool, where Carrington-Bradford LLP had been stamped to the bottom of the marble pool floor.
Something hit Jack then, and his smile faded. In the water, as though it were truly there, he could hear a faint splashing. A laugh. Almost unnoticeable, Jack mouthed the name Charlotte. All at once, he was anxious to flee the room. Jack folded his hands behind his back, swallowing something painful knotted in his throat.
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 8, 2013 4:12:12 GMT
Theta smiled toward Jack -- still slightly shocked at how quickly everything was moving. A new job, a new boss; essentially, a new professional life, just like that. Who knew, maybe she'd still end up a lawyer. The thought was amusing, but with her new situation, entirely probable . . . right? Shaking the thought off, she reminded herself that she was just an assistant. But for now, that was enough. She thanked him with another smile as he held the door for her, ever the gentleman. But she soon found her mind wandering, wondering if he was always prim and proper, that look in his eyes before . . . he had the look of a different world about him; like he was walking through a dream. Or rather, he wished it was all a dream; that he'd wake up somewhere else, in a world entirely different from this one.
She stepped into the elevator quietly before him, probably more excited than she should be for a tour of an office building. There was something marvelously fresh about it all, though, so she didn't blame herself the enthusiasm. Besides, Jack seemed to be enjoying himself; and she was content to see him at ease again. It was hard not to like him; and then again, there was her compassionate streak that never quite went out. It was something Bradbury often teased her about; that she looked so hard for the good in others she often missed a lot of the bad. That had usually ended up with her giving him a punch to the arm. To make it in this city, you had to be made of sterner stuff. But even born and raised right in Chelsea, Theta had never been the tough-as-nails type of girl. As much as she tried to hide it at times, she had a gentle heart. One that went out to the misfits, the heartbroken, and the lost.
At the soft chime of the elevator, Theta glanced at Jack as they stepped out, smiling with true curiosity. Her attention was immediately captured by the giant window overlooking the city; even living here all her life, there was something powerful in those sky-reaching towers. And to see them from this height, it was certainly something. Sparing it a moment, she let her eyes return to the silent hall, regarding the security guard for a moment, before her attention turned back to Jack.
“You’ll love this. Please, come with me.”
Theta couldn't stop her smile from widening. His voice held promise, that something exciting was behind that door -- not just office space, or an extra lounge, as she had originally suspected. "Lead the way," she murmured, sparing another glance towards the large, picturesque window -- another smile tugging at her lips as she moved after him.
“Is strictly for employee use. This includes you.”
She couldn't help but arch a wondering brow. The most she was expecting was a nice lounge; with comfy couches and another large window with a breathtaking view of the city. Somewhere she might have a chance to bury her nose into a good book when on a break. The thought of it was wonderful. She could only remember being at her old job, sitting in the cramped extra room that served as a faculty break room. It was always crammed, and someone was always, quite literally, breathing down her neck. Even thinking of that could not disrupt her eagerness, though; Jack's subtle excitement was contagious. She easily returned his smile, reminded of his handsomeness with the brilliant grin he'd offered. What could possibly be in there?
Theta soon had her answer. When Jack opened the doors, her mouth fell open. She fought the urge to stumble ungraciously after him and stood motionless at his side -- unable to really understand just why there was a gigantic, beautiful pool on the seventh floor of a legal office. But she was soon smiling, looking it over in shock and awe. She couldn't believe this was a part of the deal. It really couldn't be better. She loved to swim; anything involving water, Theta found utterly enjoyable. And she hadn't realized how long she'd stood speechless, until Jack broke the silence.
“She's glorious, isn’t she?”
"Beautiful," she agreed, her smile wide. Taking a moment to simply allow her eyes to slide across the grandeur and luxury of it all, she opened her mouth to say more -- but stopped when her eyes found Jack. He mouthed something . . . a name, perhaps? And a look of terror flashed in his eyes. Theta felt the same pang she'd felt before, but this time, acted without much thought. The young woman gently took his arm, drawing him back towards the door, "It's wonderful, really. Although I do think it's some ploy to get your employees here even earlier -- I don't care. I'll take it," she said, a teasing laugh in her voice, "I don't think anything else can top that, but what else can you show me? I want to see everything," Theta's eyes were soft; the look she got in her eye when she saw someone suffering, and made it her own personal mission to rescue them -- or try to, any way she could.
Pushing the door, and reentering the hall, she lightly let go of his arm, her touch lingering only a moment -- still concerned, before she smiled again, "The elevator was that way, right?"
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 13, 2013 23:34:05 GMT
Rooted to the marble, Jack’s eyes - for only an instant - were pained and dull. Never before had he heard her laugh so real, though it used to ring deliciously against his ears so often. What was it, merely a year ago? Had it been longer? Had time aged his ears, allowing him to forget the sweet luxury of her laugh? So tangible, he had seen her, just there, in the pool. Jack’s heart hardened and his stomach churned uncomfortably; he was only brought to his senses when the young woman to his side touched him gently. She moved him in that instant - not only physically, but in that instant, he had hoped that it was Charlotte who rested at his side. Upon taking in Theta Stone instead, Jack straightened himself as she led him away from the scene.
He laughed gently, causally, as though all the worries in the world had been nothing but crumbs upon his plate. The ache in his expression had been wiped away entirely, leaving the discomfort to sit within his heart instead. “Yes, earlier.” Jack responded quite pleasantly. Theta offered the way to the elevator, allowing her touch to tarry only for a moment. Nodding once, Jack allowed Theta to exit the room before him. He was thankful - silently so, but thankful nonetheless. “Yes, my dear. Just down the hall there.” Jack gestured with his hand down the extensive hall. “You’ve become a natural!” Jack allowed Theta to guide him down the hallway, where he once again took the lead after inviting her into the elevator, once again, before himself. After requesting the sixth floor in the array of buttons and whistles to the right of the door, Jack turned his attention to Theta once again.
She was a lovely young woman; eager, he could tell. Jack smiled as he admired her enthusiasm, willingness. That determination had reminded Jack of himself at that age. Come to think of it, that age hadn’t seemed so long ago. Recalling glancing over Theta’s resume, he remembered noticing that Theta was twenty-two. By the time Jack had turned twenty-two, he was wrapping up his time in law school. It had all been thanks to his father, who had practically taught him everything he needed to know. Still, Jack was eager to learn. If his father hadn’t insisted that Jack take his exam and be thrown into the work force early, Jack would have remained at law school until he had received - like his colleagues - a full education. That would have been a difficult feat still, as even his professors urged him to move on.
As the elevator came to a halt at the sixth floor, Jack followed Theta into a slightly more compact area. Though it was spacious, the windows were not quite as luxuriously wide and awe-inspiring. In fact, the most lavish decor about the room was the marble fireplace at the head of the waiting area that happened to match the flooring seen at the pool house above. “Welcome to floor six; here you’ll have your basic waiting area.” Jack eyed something on an end table - a disheveled wallet - next to a woman who sat impatiently, legs crossed stiffly to match her sour expression. Jack flashed her a warm smile before returning to Theta once more. He spoke to her in an undertone as he indicated for her to head off to the right towards a much darker corridor. “You see, Carrington-Bradford sees a variety of clients daily. Hundreds.” He stopped at the mouth of the tunnel-like passage. “My job is to take as many of those clients as possible. Of course, that is virtually impossible. We have a line of employees here,” Jack turned down the hallway, which looked as though it were illuminated by only candles. In fact, the lighting was simply kept to a minimum on account of the more tight-lipped seen there.
Jack kept his tone low. “This hall is,” He paused, eyeing the woman outside once more. “Out-of-bounds, really. Cases seen here are of high-priority in the eyes of the law. Not everyone who strolls in is looking to sue on account of a forgotten wet floor sign.” He smiled charmingly, moving a bit closer to Theta as he pointed down the way. “That final door sees criminals of the most peculiar type, seeking to plead insanity. That one there, to our right, endures countless predators of every shape and form. We keep to our privacy here.”
Jack led her a bit further. The ceiling groaned after a door slammed somewhere off in the distance. Jack turned the corner, where the hall ended with a door against a final wall. The hall was lit the same, the name on the door barely visible. "That’s the executive office on this floor, my office." He waved his hand. "It’s mostly files, but I’ve..." Jack paused, considering the statement. "I have been here when needed." He nodded, glancing at the young woman once more. Jack’s intentions were not to frighten her, though he assumed that his true intentions were understood. Theta was seldom allowed on the sixth floor unless authorized; of course, this was not on account of Theta’s lack of ability or inadequacy whatsoever. It was on account of her personal safety. Behind the two, a security officer turned the corner. Jack turned to him, nodding him away, ensuring that they were there on business.
"Do you have any questions thus far, Miss. Stone?"
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 14, 2013 0:39:54 GMT
Theta found it difficult not to smile, but the thought of Jack looking so distressed remained fresh in her memory -- and no doubt her gentle concern would linger. It was hard for her not to wonder, because she wanted to do something to ease that discomfort, but she knew the cards were out of her hands. It wasn't her problem to handle, just as Jack wasn't her's to comfort. He was her boss, and maybe down the line, a friend. She'd never been a guarded person, but despite her welcoming, warm personality, she'd always had trouble making friends. She was the misfit; the girl who'd always preferred being in a garage on a Saturday afternoon rather than at the mall with a clique of glamorous young women. She was by no means socially awkward, in fact, she was the opposite, but she kept much of what made her her to herself. Theta was simply a book that took a long time to read; not a safe that needed to be pried open.
Even now, as an adult, she saw the looks her 'friends' exchanged when she declined a trip to a fashion boutique. They'd always tried to make her their personal Barbie doll in high school, but she'd always chased them off. The only time she'd ever let them doll her up had been for her first date. And that hadn't ended well. Things involving men usually didn't end well, in her case. But Theta withdrew her mind from the past, full well knowing how pointless it was to dwindle in things years past. She was here. With Jack Carrington, learning the lay of the land here at her new place. And it was not hard to focus on her new boss, with his easy smile and kind eyes; his handsome face again warm with charisma. She couldn't help but feel little flutters in her stomach at being referred to as my dear. She imagined it was hard not to be charmed by Mr. Jack Carrington.
“You’ve become a natural!”
Theta smiled, bemusement sparkling in her eyes, "I'm learning from the best, right?" she replied, glad that their light conversation had returned. She couldn't find any hint of the pain she'd found so blatant in his expression back in the pool room, but she sensed it was something that ran much deeper than the common day stresses so loudly complained about by nearly ninety-percent of the population. The expression . . . had been haunted. It was almost easy to believe she'd imagined it -- he seemed so placid and cool; but she supposed even warm, still waters ran deep.
She stepped into the elevator, and made mental note of the buttons Jack pushed; committing them to memory. Deck 7 wouldn't be hard to forget. She grinned slightly to herself, considering how miserable she'd been only two hours before their meeting. Everything was turned around. Theta looked up to find him smiling at her, and returned the expression, easy warmth in her's. The young woman had always been a wretched liar, not that she'd ever made a habit out of dishonesty, but she was easy to read. Her eyes, her lips, the color of her cheeks, all betrayed her. Serious things she could keep to herself, that was one thing, but telling outright lies was quite another. She'd never had the need for the skill of deception, so it didn't upset her to not own it -- but she had always loathed the way she blushed when embarrassed, when shyness took over.
As the elevator dinged, she was roused from her relatively short reverie, and stepped off, studying the floor with curiosity as she waited for Jack to resume the lead. She walked quietly at his side; she sensed something ominous about the room. It was decorated in a lovely fashion, yes, but there was something cold about it. An undertone of warning, something she didn't immediately understand. But no doubt Jack would fill her in; she nodded at his explanation, following his lead toward the darker hall; feeling the same sense of wariness, but stronger. All at once it reminded her of something else -- a dark closest, rough hands . . . giving herself a mental shake, and swallowing, Theta brushed the thought off, raising her chin a little higher to investigate the closed doors, from the safe distance Jack kept her at. But her eyes were locked on the low-lit area, listening to him, yes, but half expecting some monster of a man to burst through the doors. Of course, she didn't think Jack meant to frighten her, but the emotion budded in her chest all the same; reminding her of that day . . . she couldn't meet his gaze. Couldn't let him see the slight fear in her eyes.
“That final door sees criminals of the most peculiar type, seeking to plead insanity. That one there, to our right, endures countless predators of every shape and form. We keep to our privacy here.”
Theta swallowed again, her throat feeling dry. But she couldn't find her voice. She could sense his closeness, and reassured herself with that as he lead her farther down the hall, though her legs fought with desperate reluctance. More flashes of memory flicked by; music muffled, the hardness of a wall against her back, her cry muffled by a strong, unwelcome hand. Now it was Theta's turn, seemingly, to be uncomfortable. But she walked on, her arm brushing Jack's -- staying clear of the doors. It didn't occur to her to feel embarrassed, to fear she looked ridiculous, like a little girl afraid of a shadow, she felt lost; trapped in a paradox of old terror. And it didn't fade. That word, predators, just kept ringing in her ears.
She was able to lift her chin to nod at Jack's words. Still, her voice felt numb and absent. Her face had gone pale -- just like before, she could not reign in the fear she felt; the memories that summoned that fear were fresh as the day they'd been created. This time though, it wasn't enthusiasm and curiosity in her expression -- it was simply discomfort and flighty. Theta jumped as the guard rounded the corner, her mouth dropping open in a soundless cry, if only for a moment, before she quickly closed it; fighting the urge to flee the corridor, and the darkness. And the nightmarish memories.
But Jack had stopped again, and faced her with an expectant expression. Biting the inside of her cheek, Theta attempted a smile -- but unlike her earlier ones, it's usual warmth never met her eyes. "No, just . . . I won't have to come up here often, then?" her voice quivered despite the effort she rallied to fight it. It was a pathetic reply, but it was all Theta had. Her eyes flicked warily down the hallway; terrified that the man from her memory would shuffle out at them at any moment. Lunge at her, like he had twice before; Theta hated her weakness, but she knew it was not a school-girl fear she carried. It was completely rational, she'd just never told anyone about it.
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 16, 2013 3:26:53 GMT
When Theta attempted a smile, Jack could sense her discomfort. He felt a terrible sense of discomfort himself in that moment; not that the hallway had frightened him, but a discomfort in uncertainty about just what it was about the atmosphere that made Theta uneasy. Jack silently scolded himself, he shouldn’t have brought Theta to the criminal department. Had he known that the place would internally haunt his new employee, Jack would not have dared take her near it. To reassure her, Jack placed two hands on either side of her arms. “No, my dear. You won’t have to step a foot on this floor.” She wouldn’t. In fact, Jack felt inclined to make sure that she had no reason whatsoever to ever visit the sixth floor.
Some kind of internal curiosity tapped Jack repeatedly, questioning Theta’s personal background. There was much about this young woman that he didn’t know, yet he could sense her own sensitivity - much sensitivity was internal, as externally she seemed to be a strong young lady. Of course, Jack would have never publicly made his wonders known. He rather liked guessing. Removing his hands from Theta’s arms, Jack smiled warmly, keeping his eyes on her own. “I promise that you’ll be well taken care of here, Miss. Stone.” Jack nearly whispered, meaning every syllable. Jack found it a miracle to witness the horror in her eyes fade, and something else dance around in her eyes. He’d made a difference in that moment; what that difference was, he wasn’t sure.
Jack turned on his heel and led the way out of the dim hall. Returning back to the waiting area, Jack observed that the woman on the couch earlier had, he presumed, gone to her appointment. The other end of the sixth floor was a brighter segment; there were two hallways that diverged from the main hall. The first hallway was home to much of the same criminal cases, though they weren’t quite as severe. “Down that hall there,” Jack gestured towards the first hall, though not bothering to actually lead Theta down the way, “are also criminal cases. However, these cases are minor offenses - theft, hot checks, things of the sort.” Jack saw these things regularly, though they were of no less importance. “The second hall adjacent is where you’ll find our attorneys who, generally, serve for those who do not have the means to afford one, as it is required by law.” Truthfully, however, this had been Jack’s installation as of recently. Carrington-Bradford, in other cities, did not have such departments.
Jack headed for the elevator once more, preparing Theta for floor five. After the two had made themselves comfortable in the compartment, Jack continued. “The fifth floor is under a bit of renovation. You’ll have to excuse the mess.” In truth, there was no mess. To Jack, the floor was an utter disaster. Files and textbooks had been disorganized and out of place for weeks now, causing Jack to be a frequent visitor of floor five to replace the materials himself. He didn’t mind it, really. After all, the new library might just be worth all the trouble. The elevator doors opened with ease to reveal a rather extensive hallway. The hallway extended down until it reached an open, octagonal space that split off into seven other hallways. In the center of the spacious octagon room was something most interesting - an eleven-foot statue of an hour glass. The more intriguing fact was, the sand was still falling.
The doors along the hallway were closed, though made of glass. The rooms within them were dark, though Jack explained. “These offices are vacant, most of them were moved into the newest space on the second floor. For now, my father has the blueprints as to just what he would like to do with them.” Jack stopped to remove a set of keys from his coat pocket, swiftly unlocking one of the glass doors. “Unfortunately, those details are not up to me.” Jack reached inside to turn on the lights. Without so much as a flicker, the lights illuminated the brilliant office space overlooking the city. The office was much larger than most offices, with a stunning view included. Jack glanced at Theta, noticing something dance across her expression. “I’d like to return them to offices.” Jack looked away, staring out the window with a kindhearted smirk. “Hopefully a bit of persuasiveness will be enough to sway my father.” Jack laughed, understanding the unlikelihood of this statement. From the office space, Jack could almost make out the tip of his home above the Pierre Hotel. He eyed it for a moment before allowing Theta to wrap up her viewing.
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 16, 2013 5:38:31 GMT
Theta's eyes were locked on one of the doors when she suddenly felt Jack's hands on her arms; their gentle pressure reminded her that he had not abandoned her. She swallowed, still nervous, but brought her gaze back to him -- feeling pathetic. She wondered what he thought of her. But the reasons for her fear was locked so tightly inside she doubted anyone would ever hear the truth of it. But meeting Jack's gaze, it was hard not to trust him. And the weight of old, haunting memories settled in her chest; never quite forgotten. The ghosts were always there, and usually she could keep them at bay, but there were always moments where she drowned in them all. It was part of the reason she resigned herself to quiet nights alone at her apartment. It was the reason for a lot of things.
“No, my dear. You won’t have to step a foot on this floor.”
The pale young woman bit her lip for a moment, before nodding; she kept her eyes on Jack, hoping to distract herself from the dark corridor, and the memories it stirred. It was much too like the first time . . . she'd been wandering the school hallway, after hours, to collect her things from her locker after a football game. She'd insisted her friends stay outside, preferring a moment of quiet after the earth-shattering cheering. Theta had never been afraid of the dark; she'd actually been rather fearless. Until heavy footsteps behind her had caught her attention, the smell of alcohol thick in the air, and sudden, cruel hands shoving her back up against the blunt coldness of the lockers . . .
Her eyes were far away in that moment, but urgently blinking, she forced the thoughts away -- focusing on Jack's eyes. He seemed to be reaching to her through them, throwing her the lifeline she so desperately needed. There was a flash of gratitude in her eyes; not that she could voice it, because to do that, she'd be admitting that she was terrified. And weak. And . . . beaten. At times like this, she felt like she had been beaten -- because no matter where she went, the phantoms of her nightmarish experiences would always creep up on her. She only wanted to escape them.
“I promise that you’ll be well taken care of here, Miss. Stone.”
Jack offered her that escape. For this moment, anyway. There was something in his whispered tone that suggested he meant it though. He wasn't just saying it to sound polite. He hadn't pretended not to notice the terror in her eyes, either, and he also hadn't demanded to know the cause of it. For all of that, Theta was grateful. In those few moments, she was able to collect herself -- remind herself that she was safe. It was painful to her pride to have to remind herself that this was a completely different day, a different place, and a very different man. It seemed they had both rescued each other, today. Her eyes hinting at their former warmth, and quiet gratefulness, Theta was able to smile -- a small one, but it was not false. It was probably the most genuine she had offered to him all morning, because he'd seen her at a horrible moment, and hadn't turned on her. She was used to questions and demands, but she'd never been able to answer them. What she wasn't used to was promising to be cared for. In her family, she was always the one doing the caring -- and mostly after Bradbury, her older brother. No one ever looked after her. She was the spitfire, the girl who wielded wrenches in her spare time, and seemed always ready to protect herself and those she loved. She was the defender, not the victim. Only that wasn't always the case.
She was able to breathe again, and quickly followed after Jack; not daring to glance over her shoulder, should the memories ambush her again. But she felt better at Jack's reassurance; the color had returned to her cheeks, and the usual spark in her dark eyes was back . . . her curiosity waxing again under Jack's explanations. She nodded, listening, almost able to forget about the dark corridor just behind them. She again didn't look back as they wound their way back to the elevator, but seemed more herself the moment the elevator doors slid shut.
“The fifth floor is under a bit of renovation. You’ll have to excuse the mess.”
That was easier said than done. Theta liked things neat. She actually enjoyed cleaning; everything had it's proper place. Her brother drove her crazy, with his organized chaos going on, but she supposed she'd have to reign in her inner neat freak. She nodded and smiled in reply, though she couldn't help but wonder what kind of mess he meant. Disorganization drove her insane; if they stayed longer than five minutes, it would be hard to restrain herself from fixing a few things.
She easily followed along, eyes scanning the room; taking in the expansive space of it all, "You call this a mess?" she asked with a soft laugh. All she saw was the brightness of an empty, repainted room. But her attention was quickly captured by the hourglass -- and she felt herself invariably drawn to it. She studied it, lost in thought a moment, before Jack's voice called her back -- and she returned to him, glancing over her shoulder at the curious centerpiece.
Theta's eyes peered into the darkness of the room as Jack retrieved the keys; nodding, a smile on her face. Her earlier fear forgotten, for the moment anyway. At the brush of his fingers, the lights flicked on, and Theta's smile widened slightly. There was something about the New York skyline. It had just always been home. "They have beautiful views. I wouldn't mind working up here -- if I was a lawyer," she mused, approaching the window; thrilled by the height, and the physical representation of urban life, as far as the eye could see.
“Hopefully a bit of persuasiveness will be enough to sway my father.”
Theta grinned in response, "Should I wish you luck?" she asked, the beginnings of a soft chuckle in her voice. Her eyes lingered on Jack, before flicking back to the expanse of the city; she never ceased to be amazed by it.
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 17, 2013 3:48:13 GMT
Luck. Jack laughed heartily, playfully shifting his attention to Theta once more. “Oh, I wish luck was enough.” Jack chuckled, considering the face of his father for a moment. He was a tall, rather intimidating business man commonly seen with a cigar in his mouth. William was everything Jack wasn’t; loud and abrasive, upfront and slightly arrogant. It baffled the common public, causing everyone to wonder just why William raised his son to portray mannerisms so differently. After all, Jack was a bit more refined than his father. Perhaps not as wise, not as experienced, but much more refined. Jack extinguished the lights in the room and locked it once more after Theta turned to exit and he continued her down the hallway.
The two approached the hourglass steadily, but Jack seemed immune to its presence entirely. He gave it fond glance before making a sharp turn around the corner into the next hall, but that was the extent of his acknowledgement of the monument. The hallway they entered was a bit wider than the former, adorned with black and white photographs along the wall. Jack did not recognize most of the men sitting in chairs with the cigars, nor was he much aware of the agreements taking place when the two men shook hands and offered a posh smile to the photographer. It was the history of Carrington-Bradford. Below the photos were named engraved on golden plates, names all ending in Carrington.
Jack unlocked the door nearest the front of the hallway. In fact, it was one of the three doors down the hall. The hall, like most on the floor, were strangely quiet. The room was already dimly lit - it typically remained that way; additionally, it was an elongated room with a matching meeting table, surrounded by leather seating. In the center of the table was a center piece, mimicking the hour glass situated in the main hall. Again, the sand was still falling. “Welcome to my humble abode,” Jack teased. “You’ll find me here nearly every Tuesday, Wednesday evening and Friday morning.” His meetings on Tuesday generally were all-day affairs. They were scheduled back-to-back with fifteen-minute break times every three hours. The meetings ranged from a variety of points: future blueprints mapped out by his father’s team of architects, new emergency procedures, budgeting affairs, and the list continued. Still, the stress hardly swayed Jack. Somehow, he managed to remind himself to remain upbeat and optimistic for the future.
Jack had hoped that the future plans, soon, included buying out the space above Carrington-Bradford. The firm was seven stories, situated in an eighteen-story building near the head of Brooklyn. The space above Carrington-Bradford was largely vacant; with a few months of quick renovations, the space could be functional. Jack knew that it was out of his hands, and in truth, he liked it best that way. Jack turned to Theta. “Are you familiar with the meeting process, Miss. Stone?” Theta wouldn’t likely be sitting in on many of Jack’s meetings. Of course, there was the occasional all-staff meeting in which his receptionists have previously attended, though it was not required for them to sit in.
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THETA STONE
Aries ♈
Posts: 67
Age: 22
Occupation: Law Student/Intern
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Sky
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Post by THETA STONE on Jun 18, 2013 22:56:12 GMT
Theta felt her lips curving into another smile; Jack's laughter was infectious. But she shot him a slightly puzzled look. He seemed to have it all together; answers tucked up his sleeve, like a magician with a set of tricks. There was something about him that gave that impression. Maybe it was because he was only a few years older than her, still remarkably young, and had all this going for him. Theta found her eyes drawn to the window -- to the skyscrapers, the penthouses, the sky-high mansions that New York's finest called home. It was a whole other world. Some of them had worked for that bird's eye view, but most of them hadn't known a day of real work in their lives. Theta didn't begrudge them anything . . . but sometimes she just found herself wondering. Wondering what it would be like to have more money than she knew what to do with. At her old job, she'd barely been breaking even; living in New York City was anything but cheap. And sixty-percent of her salary went to her rent -- enough space for her and her alone. But it was a pitiful excuse for an apartment; it had two rooms, her bedroom and the "everything-else" room. The thoughts going through her head were enough to make Theta remind herself to check out new buildings; there had to be someplace nicer, and a little cheaper . . . maybe in back in Chelsea; the sudden nostalgia lit a familiar warmth in her heart. What she'd had there had never been larger than life, but she'd never wanted for happiness.
“Oh, I wish luck was enough.”
The young woman laughed softly, brushing a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear, "I'm afraid I know the feeling," she replied with a fond smile; she thought of her mother. Her parents . . . well, they were always interesting people. But once she and Bradbury had been born, their mother had gotten a lot more strict, more hard. Theta hadn't known the woman who was easy-going and had longed to travel around the country in an old RV. But Bradbury had escaped most of her attempt had discipline . . . maybe that was why he ran around, clinging to his early twenties with a false age and a mediocre job. Theta fought the urge to roll her eyes. Her life's biggest challenge was her older brother; she loved him dearly, but it was tough love he needed. She wouldn't change him for the world, he just needed to grow up, and face the world like the adult he undeniably was. Nagging him always tore Theta, but she knew she was in the right; she was twenty-two and had had it more together than him since she was sixteen. In her family, she'd always been the true adult.
She turned quietly to follow him, glancing back towards the large hourglass with barely concealed interest. But Jack offered no commentary on that ground; and so, missing the opportunity, Theta tucked away her questions for later. Instead, she took to studying the pictures on the wall as they strode past. Looking sideways at Jack, a small grin on her face, she spoke again, "So is everyone in your family born practicing law?" she asked; she liked the look of the old photographs. Like Bradbury, she had a thing for pictures; looking at these old black-and-whites, it was like stepping back in time. Her own family wasn't like that. In fact, she wasn't even sure her own parents had went to college. They didn't have anyone in a brilliant career like that . . . and Theta had always planned on being the first, or the second -- depending on how her efforts with her brother went -- but those dreams had all seemed to crumble. She'd gotten stuck in a rut, and now had to make up for lost time. The problem was, she had no idea what she wanted to do. She knew what she didn't want to do, though, so maybe that was a start . . . no banking, never again. No fetching either; she didn't intend to spend the rest of her life as a trained lapdog. Once, she had considered being a lawyer, ironically enough. That idea had fell away when she'd seen the cost of college; extra years studying law would add hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt on her already heaping pile. But she'd always supposed that was life . . . everything happens for a reason, right?
Collecting her thoughts, Theta walked into the next room Jack presented her with. She smiled at his words; trying to imagine him holed up in here for hours of every week, surrounded by other people. It couldn't be easy, that was a given. Running a hand over one of the backs of the supple leather chairs, she raised her dark gaze and nodded -- wondering, for a moment, what her life would have been like if she had studied law. She would have still been working for her degree; but after that? What if she'd found herself here, working for the very same man? Of course, she would have been a lawyer too, not a receptionist. Her internship could have been one for law, instead of business. Who knew where she could be now.
“Are you familiar with the meeting process, Miss. Stone?”
Theta smiled, "A little. I wasn't invited to many of them, and if I was, I was the one sent back and forth getting coffee for the senior employees," she confessed with a slight shrug. She wished she was better at these things, that she had more experience to bring to the table. She just didn't want to be a disappointment, and after . . . after her panic in the hall, she didn't want to make a fool out of herself. Again. She didn't think Jack thought the worse of her, she she still wondered what was going through his head. That hadn't ever happened before; at least, not in front of someone.
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Jack Carrington
Capricorn ♑
Posts: 114
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Lawyer
♡ Status: In a Relationship
OOC: Kassie
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Post by Jack Carrington on Jun 22, 2013 3:40:10 GMT
Jack nodded, considering Theta’s response for a moment. He questioned the workplace Theta had endured before visiting her office only an hour ago. Was all of this new to her? Jack felt a pang of sadness for her, hoping that Theta would find a better place here. That is, if Theta was unhappy before - Jack’s intuition could easily be way off base. Still, Jack couldn’t help but get a feeling that something went wrong down the line. “ Well,” Jack glanced in her direction, allowing himself to causally lean against the doorframe, “ you’re a lucky girl. We happen to be able to fetch our own coffee on our own time here.” Jack smiled playfully in her direction before looking out the window once more. The skyline reminded him of Boston; it was what took place on the streets that set home and New York City apart. It was, additionally, the painful memories that Boston held close; it echoed in every alleyway, lurked behind every street corner and haunted him for what felt like an eternity - it was what drove Jack out of the city and into Manhattan. Thinking back to Theta’s earlier question, he tore his attention away from the window and returned it to her. Jack was careful not to talk about himself, and even when he spoke, he gave vague information. “ Businessmen.” Jack stated. “ The majority of my family were businessmen. It was Mortimer Carrington who chose to study law in 1922.” He nodded to the photographs outside, referring to a young man holding a giant pair of scissors before a small firm in Boston, standing next to a second man, formally known as Bradford. He grinned for the camera at his accomplishment, despite the unlikelihood of his success at the time. Fortunately, Carrington-Bradford was a huge success during the time of Prohibition. “ He always refereed to the firm as an hour glass,” Jack continue, studying the photograph. “ The sand, he would say, would never run out.” What’s strange was that the man had been right. Since the firm had been planted in Boston, the hour glass had yet to run out of sand from its top dome. Jack looked away from the photo, almost ashamed. Could Jack possibly be the one to cut the life of the firm short? Jack sighed before leading Theta out of the meeting room wordlessly. He made a turn, heading once again for the hour glass. This time, Jack avoided looking in its direction altogether. Rather, he made a beeline for the opposite end of the room, curving around the hour glass and making his way for a brightly-lit hallway with virtually no doors, but multiple windows. Jack did not bother to open the doors, as men and women occupied the rooms. “ If you ever need a break, this will be your hall. Food is offered daily, there’s no need to bring anything.” Jack nodded to woman who waved at him from the inside. “ The cook is located on the lowest level, if you have any requests.” Turning to the hall with the hour glass once more, Jack spread his arms. “ Again, the fifth floor contains mostly offices and meeting rooms down each hall, aside from your break room.” He smiled. “ We like to promote progress on the fifth floor.” In truth, Jack was anxious to move on. Jack lead Theta to the elevator once more, where he would move on to the fourth floor. The elevator arrived near Jack’s office, where Theta had gone to meet him earlier. “ My office will always be, given the chance you ever need me,” Jack stated affectionately, gesturing towards his door down the hall, “ and chances are, I will always be in my office.” Jack grinned lightheartedly; it was the truth - when Jack wasn’t enjoying his time alone, he was in his office. The office was only his home away from home, only...a slightly less welcoming home away from home.
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