Chapter 1
SAWYER KENSLEY
As I prepared for work that morning, I woke with this strange energy bubbling within me. I couldn’t quite picture why I was overly excited, but a sense of anticipation, a feeling that something good was going to happen before the end of the day, hummed beneath my skin. For my work outfit, I chose a sleek, minimalist dress, a contrast from my usual casual tech-wear. I spent a little extra time on my hair and makeup, letting my hair fall in an effortlessly polished style.
I arrived at the office earlier than usual and I was greeted by the warm smiles of my colleagues and my ever-bright assistant, Caitlin. The morning at the office went by smoothly, reviewing codes, sprint planning, and a brief, cheerful Slack exchange. The atmosphere was positive and infectious, refuelling my feeling of good fortune.
Then, an unexpected announcement came in. My team lead, Mr. Rodney, had called for an emergency meeting in the main conference room. A cold chill ran down my spine. Emergency meetings like this rarely went well and it usually signaled that there was some kind of critical bug or impending product launch crisis.
I immediately joined the others, my heart pounding in my chest as we began to file into the room. Mr. Rodney stood at the head of the table, his expression impassive. The whole place grew silent except for the hum of the server room.
“Sawyer Kensely,” my boss’s voice boomed, cutting through the tension. “Please step forward.”
I froze for a fleeting second. What had I done this time? Was this some kind of performance review gone wrong? I walked toward him, my steps slow and calculated, my palms clammy.
“S..sir..”
Mr. Rodney held out a sleek, tablet-like device. “Congratulations, Sawyer. Effectively immediately, you are promoted to Senior Software Architect.”
Everyone gasped in the room. My eyes widened in shock, my mind trying to process the information. Me? Senior Architect? How? I was speechless.
The room broke out in applause and I was engulfed in a wave of congratulations. I was stunned as my colleagues offered their well wishes, some even offered high-fives and coding-related puns.
After the congratulations had subsided, everyone returned to their offices while Mr. Rodney gestured for me to stay behind. “Well done, Sawyer,” he said. “You’ve earned your place here. Your innovative solutions and dedication to clean code have paid off.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said in excitement.
His expression suddenly changed. “However,” he said again, “your promotion will be fully sealed once you secure the API integration contract from the Langston Enterprise. This contract is very vital for this organization, it’s the final and most crucial milestone.’’
I nodded, my confidence faltering. I had heard a lot about the CEO of the Langston group before and from my past experience with colleagues who had worked with him, he was a pain in the ass. I immediately felt downcasted, doubting if I could ever have the courage to demonstrate the value of our API.
According to everyone who had crossed his path, they all shared similar opinions about the CEO of Langston Enterprise. he was insufferable, and meticulous, he operated with the precision of a finely tuned machine and expected everyone around him to do the same. He was a workaholic; he hated missing deadlines and always looked out for the slightest mistake, which resulted in icy glares and critiques. Rumours had it that his life revolved around spreadsheets and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
I swallowed hard. “I understand, sir. I’ll do my best, I won’t let you down,” I said in a low tone.
After our brief discussion, I returned to my desk buzzing with excitement and fright. I immediately messaged my best friend, Sarah, to share the good news. Sarah was more enthusiastic than me, flooding our chat with smiley emojis.
“OMG. Sawyer! That’s epic,” Sarah exclaimed. “We have to celebrate. No, we MUST celebrate tonight! My place!”
I shrugged. I usually preferred quiet evenings after work, debugging and exploring new frameworks. “Sarah…. I don’t know….”
“No excuses, Miss Kensley!” she insisted. “We’re celebrating tonight and that’s final. I’ll see you at my place after work.”
I agreed reluctantly after she threatened to show up at my office if I refused. True to her words, Sarah was waiting when I arrived, a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket and a selection of sophisticated snacks laid out on the coffee table.
“Come on, let’s get you ready,” Sarah said to my surprise as she pulled me towards her bedroom. “We’re going out.”
“Out?” I asked, my brow furrowed. “You said we were just having a quiet celebration here.”
“Did I?” Sarah replied. “Listen, baby, I have a big surprise for you.”
I shook my head. “Sarah, no. Listen, I have a lot to worry about right now.”
“What else would you worry about if not the perfect outfit for your big night, baby? Get your act together, we’re going out and that’s it,” Sarah said.
“My promotion is still pending, Sarah,” I said. “I have to sign a contract with this CEO, or else I would lose my promotion.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. Sawyer, you’re the best when it comes to making a pitch, and I know this would be as easy as the others,” Sarah said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I sighed. “You don’t get it. This man is crazy, he’s not easy to please. What if he rejects my pitch? He had done the same for my older colleagues, what makes you think he would accept mine?”
“That’s because, you, my darling, are not like the others. You, baby girl, are Sawyer fvcking Kensley. You’re the queen of pitches and that man is going to fall in love with every word that comes out of that mouth of yours.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m scared, I don’t want to lose this promotion. I’ve been waiting for years and now, I have to go through hell to get what I want.”
“That’s why you need to go out. Unwind, have fun, meet people. Trust me, it will help clear your head to think properly for your pitch,” Sarah suggested.
I shook my head. “No, what I need to do is stay home and think.”
“Yes,” Sarah said, her eyes sparkling. “Today is your big day, darling. You deserve a moment of relaxation.”
Maybe she was right. I needed some time away from my problems. After styling me for what took forever. Sarah finally declared us ready. “Alright, let’s go celebrate,” she said, grabbing her keys.
I climbed into the passenger seat, curious about our destination. I tried to get Sarah to disclose where she was taking me but she remained tight-lipped and continued to smile.
Finally, Sarah pulled into the parking lot of a popular nightclub. The thumping electronic music and flashing LED lights were different compared to my usual quiet evenings spent watching my favourite TV series.
“Sarah! A club?” i exclaimed. “Seriously?”
“Come on, Sawyer,” Sarah said, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the car. “Live a little. You deserve this.”
I hesitated, my gaze fixed on the multitude of people dancing and laughing inside. The bass was intense, the atmosphere electrifying.
“I….I don’t know, Sarah,” I complained. “This isn’t really my scene. Can we go somewhere else?”
“Nonsense,” Sarah said in a firm tone. “You’re a senior Software Architect now. You need to celebrate in style.”
Before I could protest further, Sarah dragged me towards the entrance, the bass vibrating through my body. I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me, a feeling of being completely out of my element. I had a feeling that this night would bring more surprises than just a loud dance floor.
The rhythm of the music vibrated through my bones as I walked through the crowded dance floor. Sarah, on the other hand, was in her element, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she swayed her hips to the beat, a drink clutched in her hand. Despite my inner struggles, I found myself loosening up, the atmosphere slowly taking over.
Suddenly, Sarah nudged me, her eyes wide. “Girl, look,” she whispered, gesturing toward a group of men sitting near the bar. “They’ve been watching us.”
I glanced in their direction, anger crossing my face. Truly, they were looking our way, their gazes lingering a little too long. “So?” I replied. “Let them look.”
“Seriously,” Sarah insisted, her voice laced with excitement. “They’re kind of….hot.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sarah, I didn’t come here to get hit on by any man. I came to celebrate, clear my head, and go home. I’m not interested in some rich guys trying to pick up women.”
“Oh, come on, Sawyer,” Sarah nudged me again, her eyes pleading. “Just look at them! They’re loaded.”
“Exactly why I’m not interested,” I grunted, taking a sip of my drink. “I don’t need their money and I certainly don’t need their attention.”
A few minutes later, one of the men, tall, handsome, and impeccably dressed, approached us. He had a confident smirk on his face, the kind I didn't trust in men.
“Hi, ladies,” he said, his voice smooth and practised. “I’m Vance.”
I didn’t look at him. “Hi,” I said in a flat tone.
“Can I buy you ladies a drink?” he asked, his eyes fixed on me.
“No, thank you,” I said, turning my attention back to Sarah. “As you can see, we’re fine.”
The man didn’t seem bothered. “Come one,” he said again, his voice more persuasive. “Just one drink. It’s on me.”
“I said no,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “Please leave us alone.”
Vance smirked. “Look,” he said, pulling out a sleek, black wallet. “I can pay for your time, too. Whatever you want.”
My eyes flared with anger. “Are you serious?” I snapped, my tone rising. “I’m not for sale, you dimwit. Get lost.”
I grabbed my purse, the strap digging into my shoulder. “I’m out of here,” I said, then turning to Sarah, “you’re coming?”
Sarah, her eyes wide with shock, tried to stop me. “Sawyer, wait!” she called, but I ignored her, pushing my way through the crowd.
The flashing lights amplified my anger as I stormed out of the club, the cool air making me feel relieved. I didn’t bother to turn back, my mind was still filled with anger and frustration. I felt insulted by that sick fellow. I had come here to celebrate, not to be insulted and definitely not to be bought. I had a great job, and I wasn’t interested in any man’s money.
After waiting for a few minutes and seeing that Sarah wasn’t going to leave the club with me, I hailed a taxi, my fingers trembling slightly as I gave the driver my address. As the taxi pulled away, I glanced back at the club. I couldn’t shake the feeling of disgust that had settled over me. I knew Sarah would be mad at me later, but right now, I didn’t care. I was done for the night and I was done with men like Vance.
