30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 2

26 Dec 2015 (oops I missed a day dammit)
Day 2: Tell about a character who lost something important to him/her.

Charlie met Daniel at a company event. 

They both worked for Walter Industries, one of the most profitable companies in the world. Charlie got the job through spectacular GPA and interview; Daniel got his through his father, not that he needed it. Charlie handled financial transactions for the Asian branches; Daniel was a genius at advertising. Charlie was a young highflier who was still looking for her passions; Daniel already landed his dream job.

The first impression was not spectacular. Their boss, Mr. Walter, a man in his fifties with streaked grey hair and three marriages, arranged for the Asian department to sit with the advertising department, for he was too lazy to organise seating other than in alphabetical order. Charlie arrived early. Daniel arrived three minutes late and sat beside Charlie. They made small talk, smiled politely, and went home with utter nonchalance. They forgot each other’s names within the week.

Daniel first started to really notice Charlie a year later, when he was assigned to create an ad campaign for the Asian department’s new product. He spent most of his time with the designer of the product and only saw Charlie a total of two times he first week, both when he went to the lounge for a cuppa. She walked with her head held high, the sound of strong, sure steps clicking away from her black heels. While Charlie was not extraordinarily beautiful, Daniel found that she was a very attractive woman. He was attracted to her confidence, which could easily be mistaken as pride had he not seen her pouring over her notes in her work-messy desk, and her smile that can only be described as confident. By the end of the first week, Daniel’s interest was piqued by this sure, strong young woman, but he did not even know her name.

Daniel made the first move. The next time he saw Charlie in the lounge, he approached her under the pretence of discussing the advertisement budget. But because they both wanted more, the conversation easily diverged into personal stories. Chatting in the lounge turned into never-ending texting. Regular texting turned into regular lunches during hours. Lunches extended to dinners. Work day meetings extended to holiday meetings. Constant meetings were eventually not enough, and they moved in together, a year after Daniel made the first move.

Charlie met Richard at a company event. 

Their first meeting was spectacular. Charlie’s friend, Ms Evans, a woman in her fifties with streaked grey hair and zero marriages, arranged for Charlie’s start-up company, Charlie & Co., to sit with the people of Chunky Crisps Industry, for she was too lazy to organise seating other than in alphabetical order. Charlie arrived early. Richard was already there and intentionally emptied the seat beside him. They made small talk, smiled politely, and went to his home with electrified nerves. They never forgot each other’s names.

Daniel first started to really notice Charlie a month later, when he went home early because of a sudden fever. She spent most of her days in the company and only saw Daniel two times that week, both when she went home for a change of clothes. She walked with her head down, the sound of muffled tip-toe tapping on their wooden floors. While Charlie was not extraordinarily quiet, Daniel found that she was very detached. He saw her wilfulness, which he realised he had mistaken for confidence had he not seen her in bed with Richard that day, and her smile could only be described as calcuated. By the end of the week, Daniel lost the wilful, flakey young woman, but he could not forget her name.

Afterthoughts: Wanted to write a fluffy, tragic story of lost love but realised I rambled too much and exceeded the word limit so I made Charlie a cheating a-hole to end it. 613 words not including Charlie’s pov. A story of lost love.

Charlie’s POV, after Daniel’s POV:
Charlie first started to really notice Daniel when he was assigned to create an ad campaign for the her department’s new product. He spent most of his time with the designer of the product and she only saw him a total of two times the first week, both when she went to the lounge for snacks. He walked with slow, deliberate, long steps and barely any sound. While Daniel was not extraordinarily handsome, Charlie found that Daniel was a very attractive man. She was attracted to his easy-going demeanour, which could easily be mistaken for laziness had she not seen his multitudes of drafts and proposals, and his smile that made her lips quirk reflexively. By the end of the first week, Charlie’s interest was piqued by this capable, friendly young man, but she did not even know his name. [Can delete.]