Chapter 2 A day in the life of Lillian

Today is a very big day for Lilian. She stands and stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her attire exudes aura. She is wearing a tailored black pantsuit, the jacket fitted to accentuate her shoulders, with a crisp white blouse underneath. A statement piece of jewelry, a bold silver necklace and a pair of elegant earrings, add a touch of elegance to her outfit. Her black pumps are high-heeled, yet comfortable enough to wear throughout the day. Her hair, naturally curly, is styled in a sleek, low bun, and her makeup is subtle, yet it enhances her natural features. "I can do this. I have been preparing for months. I will make Dad proud again". She says to herself reassuringly. She walks to her workspace in her room and takes her laptop. She begins to review the content of the meeting she will have with the director of arts and culture in Los Angeles. Anxious thoughts begin to swarm her mind again as she goes through the slides. Her mind wandered to her competitors, the CEO of Hanscorp, Vincent, and the CEO of Easel and Co., Mackenzie Roderigo.

A few weeks ago, she asked her personal assistant, Bella, to get her some information about Vincent. According to what Bella told her and a few regular chit-chats with her cousin Rani, Lillian couldn't deny the fact that Vincent is indeed a brutal businessman with an impeccable record. Lillian tries to shake the thought out of her head before she starts to lose focus and confidence. She picks up her phone to search for Vincent. "This is so not my thing, but I need more information about this Vincent guy." She says to herself as she taps the search icon. "He is all hype and no substance. Bella must be crazy for making me worry over nothing. My team and I are the real deal, building something meaningful, while he's just trying to keep up appearances and public image. How can all his pictures be of his business meetings and interviews? Wow, not even a single scandal about him when he is this famous. Still, he stands no chance against me." Lillian feels anxious, but she quickly puts her phone in her bag. "I hope the director deems me fit for this project." She says as she inhales and exhales deeply.

Lillian packs her laptop and other important documents into her bag and goes downstairs, heading for the door. "Aren't you going to eat breakfast, Miss Lillian?" Miss Kathy calls out from the kitchen. "I have no appetite now; I'll eat later," Lillian assures Miss Kathy. She rushes out of the kitchen with a sandwich and places it in Lillian's hand. Lillian smiles warmly, "Thank you." Miss Kathy assures her, "You're a brilliant businesswoman, and your proposal will be top-notch. I have seen your hard work and dedication to your job, and I believe you have what it takes to make the project a success." Lillian nods as Miss Kathy's words warmed her heart. Miss Kathy responds with a bright smile. She watches Lillian until she enters the car, and it zooms off. Miss Kathy is like a mother to Lillian, who lost her mother at a very tender age. She has a round face, a smattering of freckles across her nose, and short, curly hair. Her kind heart and gentle spirit are evident in her soft features and compassionate eyes. Miss Kathy was employed by Mr. Arturo, Lillian's father, a few weeks after Lillian's mom died. She truly loved Lilian like a mother would love her child. She is always there to offer a listening ear and comforting words whenever she needs it. Soon Lilian arrives at the company, Artverse, which was built by her father, Mr. Arturo. She is now the CEO of the company not because she is the only heir but also because she is talented and has a passion for art and innovative thinking. At the age of twenty, Lillian was able to land a successful project, displaying leadership and creative direction throughout the process. Her father continued to nurture her and made her the CEO. Lillian is now twenty-five years old and quite famous. She is among the top 10 most successful young CEOs. She is also the only female in this rank, and her father could not be more proud of his daughter. Lillian really enjoys working at the company, which covers projects on product design, art installations, exhibitions, and creative consulting.

Lillian enters the conference room where all the heads of departments are seated. They all greet Lillian as soon as they see her, showing their regards and respect. Lillian takes her seat and arranges all she would need. Soon the director of art and culture in Los Angeles enters the conference room. Everyone exchanges greetings with him, and the meeting begins. Lillian stands confidently in front of the conference room, takes a deep breath, and begins her presentation in a clear and concise voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed director of arts and culture, I am thrilled to present the Artverse proposal for the prestigious project, 'The Urban Renewal Center Design.'. Artverse has a comprehensive plan to revitalize the various neglected urban areas, incorporating public art, landscape design, and community engagement". Lillian clicks the remote and shows her team's impressive designs and concepts on the screen as she walks through the vision and highlights the unique aspects. The director listens intently, his eyes scanning the room with interest, acknowledging the fact that it is evident Lilian and her team put in a lot of work for the project. He is impressed by how Lillian addresses every concern and question with poise and professionalism. Lillian ends the presentation, and she knows she has given it her all. "Thank you, Miss Arturo. Your proposal is impressive, and we'll be in touch soon to discuss it further." Lillian exhales, a mix of relief and excitement running through her veins. She knows she is one step closer to landing the project.

Lillian gets back to her office and begins to work on some documents. The day passes by so slowly, and she can't help but feel the absence of her personal assistant, Bella. Bella would always have some interesting news ,just definitely something to talk about and get rid of the boredom that she was feeling right now. She told Bella to take the day off because she had informed her about how she woke up with a fever early in the morning. Lillian stares at the fancy wall clock and a tired smile appears on her face. In 10 minutes she would be able to close for the day. Lillian's phone rings and a bright smile appears on her face as she sees that the caller is her cousin Rani. " Lili guess what?!" Rani screams with her high-pitched voice. "Did you win a lottery?", Lillian asks, confused. Rani replies, " nope"! Lillian could guess forever and still not guess right when it comes to Rani. "Alright just tell me what happened that has made you be in such a good mood", Lillian asks as she saves the documents and begins to prepare to leave the office. "I'll come over tonight to give you the full gist", Rani says giggling like someone being tickled. Lillian is really happy if Rani is happy. She suspects that Rani has created another beautiful design that is the talk of the city. Rani is a fashion designer. She is very skilled and passionate about fashion. Rani owns a few boutiques, but she has a few people patronizing her business. She used to cry to Lillian occasionally about quitting, but Lillian would always tell her to keep designing and keep struggling, and soon she would see progress. The previous months were a reality of what Lilian had been saying. Rani's boutiques gained more patronage and more profit. A lot of people were beginning to recognize Rani's designs. Lillian is so happy that Rani's business is growing and now there may be even better news about it.

Lillian couldn't wait to get home and meet with Rani so that she could tell her all about it.