Glitter and Gold

As the week passed, Ariana was glad to go back to college. She hated being out of routine and disliked being behind on her work even more. She also had to speak to her professors about going out on placement work next week, and thankfully they all agreed and offered to give her credit for it. "Hey, you think we could meet up and talk through what's expected of me Monday?" She sent to Stanley.

@ A Drop On the Window

Friday night Stanley was busy in the office still working. When he saw the text from Ariana, he smiled softly, "sure come to the office, I'm working late tonight," he sent back. He called down to the front desk to let them know he might have a friend coming by later, and to let her in.

He then went back to work, pulling financial records up on the system and printing them, for the audit.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana read the message, a bit unsure about meeting him in the office but he was clearly very busy. "sure... Where is the office?" She sent back with a row of laughing faces as she began to gather her stuff up. She figured she would head straight there from college, Sophia didn't need to be picked up until 10 anyway.

Once she had the address Ari headied to his office, deciding to pick them up some take out on the way there. "Hey" she greeted him as she walked in, placing the food on his desk. "Pad Thai or Khao pad?" She asked him.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley looked up hearing his door open, "oh hey," he said softly. He was in his usual work suit, but had his tie loosened, and his shirt unbuttoned slightly. He looked tired, and stressed. He smiled weakly, "thanks for meeting me here," he said.

He moved across the office, to sit down, "Either is good," he admitted. He sighed, "So Monday, you excited?" he asked softly.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana slid the Pad Thai across the table to him, picking the other on up for herself as she sat across the desk from him. He looked really tired. "I'm really sorry, if you don't have time I can leave Stan, I don't want to put you under pressure?" She offered gently, pulling her hair behind her ear. "I feel like nervous is a better word for it" she said with a soft laugh.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley chuckled softly and sat back, "No it's fine, I've got some time," he said lightly. He smiled and looked at her, "nothing to be concerned about," he said lightly. He pointed over to the paperwork in boxes, "so since some money has gone missing from one of my businesses, I need to figure out where it went, who took it," he explained. He looked at her, "the accountant and lawyer, are going to go through all the accounts, and expense reports searching for discrepancies," he added.

He looked at her, "What they'll want you to do, is search through all of that paperwork, for specific receipts or invoices, so they can check them off, plus they'll probably make you get them coffee, and lunch, and give you a hard time," he admitted.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana nodded slowly, looking over at the many boxes of paperwork she was going to have to sit through. "Let me guess, your lawyer and your accountant are both men?" She asked, when he said they'd give her a hard time. She rolled her eyes softly and looked at him, pulling her legs up under her on the seat. As she ate, she realised this was probably the most under-dressed she had ever been to meet him, but also the most relaxed she had been around him, this almost felt more like meeting a friend- she liked it.

"That all sounds fine by me Stan... How formal is the office? How should I dress?" She asked him with a soft laugh.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley nodded, 'yeah if they get too annoying let me know," he admitted. He sat back, looking her over as he ate slowly. He didn't mind how informal she was tonight, he was just glad for the momentary distraction.

He shrugged softly, when she asked how formal the office was, "Dress however you want, you won't be dealing with clients, so dress comfortably," he admitted. He bent forward, "probably not too revealing though, save that for me," he teased.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana smiled at him softly "well actually Stanley... I was thinking maybe while I'm here we could act like we don't know each other so well?" She suggested softly "I just don't want them treating me like I got in here on a favour... Even though I know I did and I'm so grateful for that" she told him with a smile hoping wouldn't be offended.

She felt a little let down when he said she didn't have to dress up, because she had kind if been looking forward to that part. She chewed on her lip softly, setting her food down. "So will I really just be sorting through paperwork and doing coffee runs?" She asked, feeling a little stupid that she thought she would be able to do more.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley nodded softly, "oh of course, if you think that's best," he said softly. He sat back continuing to eat, thinking for a moment, "still if they start getting too bad let me know," he added.

He looked her over watching her, "To start with, I'll try make sure they let you do some of the other things as well, give you some proper experience," he admitted. He smiled at her, "wear whatever you think is most appropriate," he added. He looked around the room, "how are classes?" he asked.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana smiled at him kindly "thank you" she said, glad that he was willing to respect how she felt. She nodded, even though she knew no matter what she would try not to say anything to him, she was a big girl who could fight her own battles.

She nodded again as he said he would try and get her proper experience, eating some more of her food as she looked up at him. "Yeah they're going pretty good, I'm getting some credit for being here which is great,it takes some of the pressure off" she I formed him with a smile.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley smiled, "you're welcome, I'm sure you'll do great Ariana," he said lightly. He looked at her for a moment, "so do you have to get home early tonight?" he asked her softly.

He chuckled, "that is awesome good for you," he said lightly. He finished his food, and looked around his office, which was a mess.

@ Aoibhe

Ari smiled at him great fully before checking her watch "uhh yeah I gotta be home at 10, I've got some college work to get done... But we still have some time" she told him with a warm smile as she placed her food carton down feeling full.

Ariana followed his eyes around the room, chuckling slightly "how do you get anything done in here? This would all drive me mental" she teased him softly. It was clear that he was under a lot of pressure and she didn't know the best way to help him with that.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley smiled softly, "okay, that's good to know, I'm glad you are still focusing on your studies," he said softly. He sighed softly looking back at her. "It's not usually this much of a mess," he said softly. He raised himself out of his chair.

"Come on I'll show you around the office," he suggested, reaching out his hand for her. It was a ploy to get her to give him some physical contact, he hadn't had any today, spending pretty much every waking minute in his office looking for and printing paperwork.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana smiled gently and took his hand with a nod, allowing him to lead her around the office, asking a few questions as they walked trying to memorise as much as possible. "So where will I be based?" She asked him with a smile, twirling a piece of her ponytail around her finger as he lead her around.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley smiled and led her around, "You'll mostly be working in here," he said showing her a conference room. He smiled softly, "but this office next door, will be yours if you need it," he added.
He put his arm around her shoulders, "thank you for agreeing to help out," he said lightly.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana glanced in to the conference room, before popping her head in to the office with a nod "sounds good... I'm getting a little excited now" she said with a smile, glancing up at him as he wrapped an arm around her. He was beginning to look a little less stressed than when she arrived and she was glad she could cheer him up a bit.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley smiled and nodded, "it'll be nice to see you around throughout the week" he admitted lightly. He pulled her closer, "I really am happy to be able to help you out," he said softly. He loosened his hold on her, "I suppose you need to head home soon," he said softly.

@ Aoibhe

Ariana nodded softly "yes it well... But we're gonna act like we don't know each other right?" She asked, want to clarify that. She really didn't want people to think she got the job because of special treatment.. even though that was why. But she hoped to get some little but of respect while she was there. She glanced down at her watch "ah l, yeah in like a half hour or so, unless you need to get back to work?" She asked with a smile.

@ A Drop On the Window

Stanley nodded, "of course, I respect your wishes," he said softly. He smiled moving into the empty office with her. "Hmm, I could take a half hour break," he said softly, pulling her close to him. He looked into her eyes, "if you can think of something to do for half an hour," he teased.

@ Aoibhe