*There is no mention of the BSB in the first chapter*

"I don’t care what you do with it. Trade it, sell it, buy it, burn it. Just do something with it." Alexandra said as she tossed the file at one of her coworkers.

"Miss Soldatova, I need your signature on these before we can trade them." Her assistant Marla stated as she walked into Alexandra’s office, pushing through the crowd of coworkers that had developed around her desk demanding different things.  

"Alright, Marla." Alexandra sighed as she leaned her forehead into the palm of her hand while trying to take a small personal moment. Her moment of silence ended with the loud sound of a heavy file being tossed onto her desk.

"Your new client." A tall, older man said with dread.

"Alright! Everyone out! Do whatever the hell you want with your stocks. You don’t need my approval or opinion for everything, you went to college for a reason. Just leave me alone and if you really don’t know what to do, then leave it for me to look over at a later time. Now, go!" Alexandra shouted as everyone sluggishly left her office with their files in hand. "No Marla, you can stay." Alexandra said as she noticed Marla slowly walking out of her office with everyone else. Marla finished ushering the rest of the workers out of Alexandra’s office before she closed the door. Marla turned around and walked towards Alexandra’s desk with a warm smile as she tried to make her feel better. Alexandra rolled her eyes, groaned, and slid down in her seat part way. "Calgon, take me away!" Alexandra jokingly whined.

"Bad day, huh?" Marla asked as she handed her file to Alexandra's extended hand.

"Bad day? Nah, it’s barely 10am and there are at least 100 people who each want a piece of me, plus trading is slow and interest rates were raised again. Right about now I could use a stiff drink." Alexandra replied as she signed the papers that Marla had given her.

"Well Hun, I can’t really help you there but how about some coffee?" Marla asked as she took the signed papers back from Alexandra.

"Irish coffee?" Alexandra asked gleefully as she looked hopeful. Marla shook her head,

"Don’t you wish!"

"I guess coffee is fine." Alexandra pouted.

***

Alexandra continued to look over files when she heard a knock at her door. "Come in." She replied without looking up.

"Busy?" An older, good looking man asked. Alexandra peered up over her glasses and smiled.

"Yeah, but I need a break. Have a seat." She replied as she pointed to an open chair across from her desk. She finished signing a few papers before looking up. "So, what’s up, John?" She asked as she settled into her seat.

"New York doesn’t seem to agree with you." He replied after studying her face. Alexandra grinned as she looked into his deep green eyes. Even though their affair had ended the year before she still felt butterflies in her stomach when ever she looked into his eyes.

"Why do you say that?" She asked after a comfortable moment of silence.

"C’mon, Xand. When have you ever been happy in New York?" He asked seriously. Alexandra turned in her chair to look out her window as the rain fell on New York City. She watched the busy people running and rudely bumping into each other on 5th Avenue as they tried to get to different meetings on time.

"I’ve been happy here." Alexandra stated as she turned around to face John.

"You hated Los Angeles so we relocated you. And you haven’t been out of the office long enough to say honestly if you like New York or not, but I’m assuming not." John stated.

"Let me guess, your wife still thinks we’re having an affair and she’s threatening to leave you if you don’t get rid of me." Alexandra joked.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you’re happy here." John said ignoring her previous statement.

Alexandra looked up at his forehead and smiled, "I’m happy in New York." "Liar." He replied as Alexandra turned in her chair again to look out the window. "Enough of the bullshit. Why are you here?" She asked as she waited for the sun to breakthrough knowing that it wouldn’t any time soon.

"We need someone to head the office in Florida and we want to send you." John stated.

"Jonathan Elliot! What are you talking about!?" Alexandra said in shock.

"You’re the best person for the job. We want to send you." He replied calmly.

"Why? I think I’m a little too young and I don’t have enough experience." Alexandra stated.

"Xand, you’re 24 not 12. Your job here is actually harder than the one in Florida. In Florida you’ll have your own house fully paid, more vacation time, less responsibilities compared to this job, and a better salary." Alexandra looked at John for a moment without knowing what to say.

"Better salary?" She questioned.

"2 mill, give or take a few."

Alexandra’s eyes bulged in response. "Why so much?" She eventually asked.

"Because no one else who has the qualifications wants to uproot their families to move to Florida. You’re the only one who’s single without children." He explained.

"What part of Florida are we talking about and when would I leave?" John smiled as he answered, "Orlando and in two weeks."

"Alexandra?" John questioned when she didn’t say anything else as she stared out the window.

"Hmm?" She questioned in a daze.

"You haven’t answered me." He replied.

"Oh…I guess. There’s nothing holding me here except those morons you call brokers. But what about my house? Is the company picking something out?" Alexandra questioned.

"Well, actually we’re not. If you want, and only if you want, starting tomorrow you are allowed to take a two week fully paid leave of absence while you pick something out." John said.

"What’s my price range?" She asked.

"Less than a mill I am assuming. We are desperate for someone to head that office so they really don’t care how much the house costs." Alexandra looked John over again as she tried to comprehend what he was saying.

"But what if I don’t like it and I decide to quit? What about the house?"

John laughed, "I knew you’d ask that. It’s yours no matter what. The company’s been underpaying you for a while and I had to convince them to make it up to you so…" John replied with a slight shrug. Alexandra smiled as she stood up and walked over to the other side of the desk. She leaned down and hugged John.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"You’re welcome. I owe it to you anyway after all the hell I put you through last year." He replied as he hugged her back.

"I’m gonna miss you." She lied with a fake smile.

"Yeah, me too." He said back.

***

After a few minutes of hugging and small talk Alexandra heard a knock at her door and knew that it was Marla.

"I better be going. I’ll have my assistant call the airlines and make plane and hotel reservations for tomorrow night, okay?" John questioned as he stood up to leave. Alexandra gave him a small grin as she nodded her head. "Xand, it’s your chance to start a new life. This could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you." John said as he left her office.  Marla walked in after John left and looked behind her shoulder.

"What was that all about?" She questioned as she handed Alexandra her coffee.

"I’m relocating!" Alexandra gushed.

"You’re what!?" Marla asked in shock.

"I’m relocating to head up the Florida office." Alexandra tried to explain as she sat back down to continue signing papers. 

"When?" Marla asked as she took a seat across the Alexandra.

"I leave tomorrow to find a house and I start in two weeks with a larger salary."

"Wow…" Was all Marla could think to say.

"Mar, you’ve been like a mother to me and everything you’ve done for me has meant so much, I just want you to know that." Alexandra said as she leaned across the desk to touch Marla’s hand.

"Thank you, sweetie. You’ve been here for a little over a year and I’ve already grown attached to you. I’m going to miss you when you’re gone." Marla said quietly.