xp_logs | Hope and Julian, Friday afternoon (Reply)

A normal working day gets a fun twist.

"Budget for the fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project that needs your signature. Contracts for the caterer, florist and booking agency for the same and you need to go in for a tuxedo fitting Wednesday at three." Hope put down the various packages of paper towards and pushed a pen towards him. "I also took the liberty of sending flowers to Mr. and Mrs. Ratner for the 35th anniversary of their marriage in your name. Here is the bill."

Julian quickly signed the various missives and pushed them back toward Hope one-by-one, "35 years- flowers seems a bit light, perhaps a paid vacation might be more in order? See if you can book them a cruise- somewhere without cellular reception, you know how Matthew can be." He gave his personal assistant a conspiratorial wink.

"On the company account, Mr. Keller?" Hope stated in a dry tone, though she had to fight of a smile. Matthew Ratner wasn't very liked among the junior staff and it would be nice to have away for a bit.

"Fine, spoil sport- take it out of my personal funds, and push back the tux fitting, please," he knew Giuliani would wait. The final form signed, "Any meetings today?"

Hope finished tucking away the signed documents and pulled over her tablet. "You have a meeting with the board for said fundraiser this afternoon. I just sent over the seating plan to your email. When you get back, the weekly conference call with Mrs. Keller. Maybe she wants an update for the fundraiser?"

"More likely she wants to make sure I'm still in one piece," he sighed. "She was livid over the attempted kidnapping a while back...found and, um, plugged, the leak faster than I would have thought possible."

Hope frowned at the mention of an attempted kidnap. That did not quite sound familiar to her. "A worried mother is not so strange if that is the case." She hesitated, not wanting inquire any further.

"With how often I get kidnapped?" Julian shrugged, "She might be better off worrying if I wasn't in mortal peril." Standing up he turned and looked out the window, it wasn't the top floor of the office building, but where he stood afforded him a respectable view. "Are you happy in your job, Miss Abbot?"

"I find the work very interesting, especially now that I have been starting to get involved in the more event planning side." Hope replied honestly. "Though I still have much to learn."

"You're doing fantastic, you know- my workload actually feels manageable, and I don't have to worry about you selling secrets behind my back," he paused, "I hope." After a beat he gave her a wink and took a seat again, "So what can I do to thank you?"

She gave him a bright smile as she put her tablet down. "There are many things I can think of. It all depends on what you are offering..." Tilting her head to the side, Hope carefully inquired: "I would love to learn more about the event planning side of things. Maybe even get some training in the future." She strongly suspected that Julian found those parts most tedious, at least the details of it.

Julian chuckled, "I more meant a vacation, or a car...not more work. You'll have that soon enough, if you'd like, but...don't you ever relax, Hope?"

"I don't have my license yet, so a car is not really needed yet. And for a vacation... I just came back from Switzerland for three weeks. I just had my vacation. And it's far too much." Hope retorted dryly. "Besides, learning about things I enjoy is fun. I like being busy." And it gave her far less time to brood.

"Well then," he smiled and held up his hands in mock surrender, "if you insist, let the reward for work well done be more work." He made a note on a scrap of paper, "You're current wardrobe is fine, but take the rest of the day, call a friend and go shopping. I'll have a car brought around for you, make sure to get some things that are professional- you'll be needing them for fundraisers, and charity events."

"I still have the notes to finish up as well as about a dozen phone calls to make." Hope raised her eyebrow. Though she could use a few things if she was going to end up attending events...

He waved off her concerns, "Not taking no for an answer- I'll make the calls." At the moment of silence that followed, "I can make phone calls- I mean, I assume I can, I have this fancy office and everything."

Hope eyed him for a moment, then pointed. "This is a phone." She replied rather drolly. "If you dial 204, it should connect you with the person who is be able to arrange for a car." She dug out her one of her file folder and pulled out an sheet of paper full of names and numbers. "These are the most used or important extensions used within the building. Would you like me to make a copy for you?"

Julian gave her a somber stare back, "I think I can manage." He picked up the phone and dialed the motor pool, "Julian Keller, I need a car for my assistant- something that can get around the city easily, but isn't too flashy." After a pause, "Yes, a driver too- immediately." There was another lull, "Thank you, Martin," he finally said before hanging up the phone. "Side door, call someone to go with you- unless you want to hang out with a driver all day by yourself- not as fun as it sounds, I guarantee."

"Well, there is a very large sale at Nordstroms I have wanting to check out..." Hope hesitated a little, glancing at her work that was still stuck in the folder. But she could make a phone call or two from the car...

"That settles it then," Julian picked up the phone on his desk. "Have a car brought around for Miss Abbot in a half-hour...wherever she wants to go. Good." Hanging up the phone, Julian floated the folder out of Hope's hands and onto the desk in front of her. "Who are you going to call to come with?" he asked as he fished a credit card from his vest pocket.

"I think I am going to see if Tandy can get away from her work at Meridian's for a bit." Hope mentioned after a bit of thought. "I am sure she would not mind checking out a sale or two."

"Perfect!" Julian smiled and leaned back in his chair, "Now go, and don't come back until you've had fun."

"Besides, catching up on some gossip is also always fun as well." She threw him another mischievous look as she gathered up her materials, only needing to get her coat and purse.