Fight to the Top

by S. L. Gape

  “Right, okay, simple misunderstanding then, I guess,” Mike said. “I’ll leave you to get on with things,” he said, making his way to the door, clearly stressed as he sighed loudly walking out.

  “Actually, Mike. Suddenly I’m not feeling so great, would you mind if I left? I’ll do what I need to from home, but I could do with some time alone.”

  “Yes, that’s fine,” he sighed again, leaving her office.

  Geez, he didn’t even try to talk her out of it. Or try to make her feel better. She couldn’t do this. She needed to get home, and speak to someone. She didn’t quite know who yet, but she just felt the need to leave.

  ***

  Georgia spent nearly a hundred dollars on the taxi, which was pretty stupid, truth be known. But she was fuming, and she could not believe this was happening. She knew it would be hard, especially in the first week, but she really thought she was being genuinely kind to her when she was upset. And she goes and pulls a stunt like this? This woman was horrific. Who would be so nasty?

  “Hey there, rookie. You okay?” she heard, turning around to see John jogging over with his basketball in his hand.

  “Hi,” she said sadly; and disappointed that she had not managed to get in her house before she was seen. She really wasn’t in the mood to see anybody right now.

  “Hey, what’s the matter? What’s happened?” he asked concerned.

  Georgia could feel her eyes fill up. Shit, this was not her. But it was too late, John was grabbing her in a big man, bear hug.

  “Hey, rookie, come here?” he said, squeezing her tight. It had been a very long time since she’d hugged a guy outside of her family. But at this moment, it was all she wanted and needed. And as a result, couldn’t stop the tears from coming.

  A few moments passed and Georgia had managed to contain herself. “I’m sorry, John. I am not this person,” she said embarrassed.

  “Hey, you don’t apologize. We have your back, buddy. Come take a seat,” he said, tapping her front door step. “What’s going on?”

  “Thanks, John. You have both been so incredibly kind in the short time I’ve known you. It doesn’t matter what happened, seriously, I’m good,” she said.

  “Rookie, sit your butt down now!” he snapped. The kindness in his eyes spoke volumes and she genuinely didn’t feel alone right now.

  She didn’t know what relevance it had, but she just oddly felt like John knew about her sexuality. She was concerned in case Texans really were homophobic and these incredibly kind people she’d made friends with turned her back on her because of it. “You know I’m gay, don’t you?”

  “Yeah I kinda figured. Although, my wife thinks I’m stupid,” he smiled kindly. “Although I dunno what relevance that has? Hey, do not tell me that’s what’s up. Has someone said something because of your sexuality?” he jumped up, livid.

  “Woah, easy tiger.” She smiled, holding out her hand to him, dragging him back down to the seat. “No, it’s nothing to do with that. I dunno, I just felt like I knew you knew, and was just curious I guess. Nope, I have been royally screwed over by the woman that I’m here to work with, again. I just can’t believe anyone could be so deceptive and poisonous. But seriously, I really don’t want to talk about it. I think I need a run. I just don’t feel ready to talk about it right now. I’m sorry,” she said sombrely.

  “Nothing to apologize for,” he said, holding up his hand to her. “How about you ditch the run, get in your sweats and come play ball with me? I’ll teach you to play. Which will take your mind off of it, and it’s still gonna give you a great workout. It’s a great stress release,” he said. “If you’re lucky, I’ll teach you a finger spin,” he said, picking up the ball and spinning it around on his finger, nudging her shoulder and smiling.

  “John, seriously you don…”

  “Ohhh, Rookie, if you’re gonna go down the ‘you don’t have to do this,’” he said in a great British, lady voice, causing her to giggle. “BS, then Imma seriously kick your ass,” he said, looking down at her. “Now go change, I’ll meet you out front in ten. Don’t be late, rookie, you’ll get a punishment. Like ‘twenny’ squats,” he said, jogging back over to his house.

  “Yeeeessss, sir,” she saluted him, as she watched him running backwards laughing at her.

  Randomly she felt somewhat better already. She still couldn’t believe the days turn of events, but maybe a game of basketball would help her work through this, if she even could. Seriously, could she really leave less than a week after arriving? Did she want to? Well that was stupid, she one hundred per cent wanted to. What would she do? She didn’t know if they would make her redundant? Pay her off? Demote her or just sack her? God this was all so messed up. She sighed heavily. She was so completely stressed out and felt helpless.

  Georgia changed into a racer back sports vest, an oversized Nike vest over the top and some running shorts. She tied her laces and grabbed a couple bottles of water for them both.

  Meeting him at his house as requested, John was fishing about in a giant cool box. Seriously, is anything normal size in this country, she thought?

  John took the waters from her and gave her a bottle of beer. He unscrewed his cap and held it out to her, “Cheers. Here’s to basketball, beer and buddies. Oh, and to forget about nasty broads,” he said winking.

  “You are too good to me.”

  “I’m allowed to be. I got a twenty riding on you being gay, easy money,” he said, laughing and putting the beer down. “Come on, rookie, lets teach you some basketball.”

  “You bet on me? Charming,” she laughed. “Okay, shoot. No pun intended.”

  ***

  Georgia was sweating like a bitch. She loved this game, and this was exactly what she needed. John was great, and incredibly good at it, and incredibly fit. She was leaning her arms on her legs, watching the sweat drip from her head onto the ground.

  “It’s far too hot to be playing this,” she said, downing half of her third beer, feeling the effects already.

  “This isn’t hot, rookie, wait until summer,” he said smirking.

  “I don’t think I can cope with summer,” she said, opening another beer. “I owe you some beers, I feel pissed,” she said.

  “You look it. You’ll love summer here. Come with me,” he said, stealing himself another beer and walking round back. Georgia was fit, and she loved exercising. And albeit the last few weeks had been somewhat non-existent, she was still fit. But John didn’t look like he had sweat one bit.

  Georgia followed him to the back garden, which was huge, even bigger than hers. The size of the properties over here was insane. The garden was perfectly done, filled with a number of palm trees and a giant pool situated in the middle of the garden. “Oh my God, you haven’t?” she said as she stopped, looking before her.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, looking proud of himself. “So, you can’t leave just yet,” he smirked.

  Georgia was walking around the pool looking at the basketball nets on either side of it. “So, in summer when it gets too hot, you play water basketball?” she asked, shaking her head, feeling her hair flopping around from the damp of her sweat.

  “Yup, sure do. Or water volleyball,” he said, holding up a net in his hands before returning it back to where it belonged.

  Georgia whistled impressed. “Wow, I should have just rented a room from you guys,” she said, smiling. “I’m not gonna lie, that’s amazing,” she said. “You mind?” she said, pointing to the pool.

  “Sure.”

  Georgia sat down on the side of the pool, dangling her feet into it, “It’s all very surreal for me; this. You know?” she said seriously.

  “I can’t begin to imagine,” he said, joining her on the edge of the pool.

  “It’s like a weird dream. It’s like bittersweet. I love my apartment and love being in the city centre and stuff, but… well, I guess I did, before I came out here. But this has just made me think differently. I lo
ve my new home, I love having a car, I love my pool and the heat, and you guys. But then the situation at work is awful. So today I thought I was helping the woman who thinks I’ve shafted her. I was being kind to her, and she went and told the CEO I made her cry and she had to leave. He was so pissed off with me John, and I literally didn’t do anything. She was crying before I got there, so I said go home and spend some time with her daughter, and that I didn’t need the work she was doing until tomorrow. Jesus, I even said to her I’d cover with our boss. And she did that? I am so upset that someone did something like that. They were all pretty mean in the meeting too. I don’t know how to deal with this. I’m not used to it. I’m likeable, I always have been. My friends, my staff they all like me, a lot; so, I don’t know how to deal with these people being so nasty to me. And it’s not even like I can win them over. They all do, and will only ever see me as the woman who has shafted their boss. Their friend, who they all love too,” she said, putting her head in her hands. “I just don’t know what to do. I genuinely am liking this place, and she was such a bitch when I arrived I was actually quite happy thinking it would make the decision so much easier. Ya know? If everyone was arseholes? But then Emily came over with dinner and cookies, as a welcome for me. And you guys were really kind. The policeman I met was nice and kind too. Jesus, even Anne, who is my lift this week, was lovely, the only one in the office that’s being nice to me as well. So I’m torn on what to do. Honestly, I don’t think I’m strong enough to stay and fight this battle, John. What am I going to do?” she said, laying down and looking up to the blue sky.

  John copied her, “Do you think you can deliver what they are asking?”

  “Well, if I wasn’t being terrorized, maybe so.”

  “Okay, forget about the people and what they are doing to you. Can you deliver it alone?”

  “Doubtful, we haven’t both been given separate projects to work on, because we really need to work collaboratively. Plus, I know nothing about the states, the laws, the business, work styles, and I have no relationships built up. So, in reality, I guess no,” she said sadly.

  “Right, what about what you can do without her? Can you be working on stuff without her? Let them all know you ain’t about to be pushed around? You’re a tough cookie I can see that, but equally, letting these bosses of yours know you are trying; you are getting on with it. You are essentially gonna be rising above it, right?”

  “Hmm, well maybe,” she said, watching and following the few clouds passing across the sky.

  “You said you came to open up an office or something, right? I mean, you could even go to him and say you wanna know where the office is, as you wanna go up there and acquaint yourself; learn more, arrange some meetings. They will soon realize, that this woman is digging her heels in and being problematic, and they will have no option but to deal with it ya know?”

  “I suppose, but what if they take her off the project or get rid of her? I will be screwed, because she has all the knowledge.” She turned her head to look at him. “Plus, he told me she is having problems with her husband and she has a small child. Additionally, when I caught her crying today she said, ‘ciao momma’, so what if she has problems with her parents? I don’t want her to lose her job.”

  “Well, that’s not really your problem. Plus, given the size and importance of the company, they ain’t ever gonna do that, they ain’t gonna put no global firm in jeopardy. They’ll get someone else with a high level of experience and knowledge, or maybe the CEO will transfer what he can to you. They’ll be someone, I can assure you of that.”

  “But she has a daughter. I’d feel terrible if they got rid of her.”

  “Once again, not your problem. She’s the one acting like a school ground bully here, right?” he said.

  Georgia sat quietly, digesting the information, which was certainly food for thought. He was right, she should just crack on, at least with what she knew. Ultimately, she could get the client details from Mike and start making contact. Like John said, even if she went up to Fort Worth and ‘wined and dined’ them. She had always been exceptional at networking and relationship building, so she could easily get them on her side. If she had a relationship with the key stakeholders, she would be well on the right track, she would be able to liaise, communicate and potentially get everything she needed.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Just considering what you said. I think, you just may have a point.”

  “Hey, there y’all are,” they heard, looking up to see Emily walking in. “What are you doing here?” she said, smiling and kissing her husband.

  “Sorry I hope you don’t mind…I...”

  “Hell no, of course I don’t. It’s great to see you. I see you have been leading my husband astray,” she said, taking a gulp of his beer. “So, I’m guessing basketball, from looking at you,” she said, moving her pointed finger the length of her body.

  “Bad day, again. John kinda forced me to ditch running in order to learn basketball as a way to de-stress. He was right, but I’ll be killing tomorrow.” She smiled.

  “Oh, no, sweetie. Are you okay?”

  “She’s good, we’ve been balling and chatting. I am not just a pretty face, and apparently, I can give some good ass advice too. Ain’t that right, rookie? Oh, and you owe me twenty bucks.”

  “That’s right, he’s been an amazing agony aun…sorry uncle. And yes, he’s right about that too. I’m gay, so you owe him twenty bucks,” she said smiling to her friends.

  “You told her we bet on her sexuality? Shit, John, like she isn’t having a rough enough time already out here,” she snapped at her husband.

  “Oh, seriously, that’s the least of my problems; but actually, I was kinda flattered. I’m honestly not bothered.” She smiled. “But, on that note, I should probably get going,” she said, making her way up.

  “Hey, rookie,” John grabbed her hand. “You ain’t going nowhere. When you were changing, I got some good ole Texan barbecue meat out. When Torrance gets home, we’ll light the barbecue and you are staying here for dinner. We’ll show you how y’all should really barbecue,” he said, smiling to her.

  “What’s with the rookie, honey?” Emily asked.

  “Because the day I met her she caught the basketball with one hand. Your dishes and wine were in the other. Then she took a shot, and for a ‘rookie’ it was pretty darn awesome. Hence where ‘rookie’ came from,” he said, taking more beer.

  “I actually kinda like it,” Georgia said, smiling to them both.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Erika and Dulcie were making cupcakes, which was actually the best thing she could have done. She was more relaxed than she had been for days. Being with her daughter, who was trying to put everything from the pantry into the unbaked cake mix, was amusing her immensely. “Mommy can we put choc chits in there?” she pointed.

  “Choc chips? Well I don’t know, sweetie. I don’t really think it will go.”

  “How so? I think it would be awesome,” she said, eating a choc chip. “Can we try? Puhleeeaaaasssseee?” she said, grinning and holding some over the mixture.

  “Baby, I don’t think it’s gonna work; I think it may just melt.”

  “Well we could try.”

  “Do it. Only in one mixture though, and that will be your cake. Okay?” she said, moving her daughter out of the way, so she could put them in the oven. She rarely gave in to Dulcie, but at the moment, she was overjoyed to be with her baby and forgetting about all the junk going on in her life.

  “You wanna watch a movie with me, Mommy?” Dulcie said, her big brown eyes wide. Erika’s heart melted. She was obviously biased, but damn she was a cutie, she thought.

  “Well, why don’t you go put something on in the second living room. Mommy needs to just do some work first and then I’ll come watch with you.”

  “Okay,” she said, running off with her new stuffed toy.

  ***

  Eri
ka had been staring at the screen for the last ten minutes. She had done more than she had managed at work, but she really was just struggling. Additionally, she was pissed at herself for considering purposely destroying it, in a bid to screw Georgia over. She needed to speak to her mom again, and she would soon put her in her place. This wasn’t her, she’d never done stuff like this before. If someone was treating her daughter like this, she’d kill them she thought. So, why was it acceptable for her to behave in such an atrocious way?

  Erika sighed out loud, and pushed on with the report. She would ensure she completed it tonight if it killed her, at least that way she wouldn’t owe Georgia anything. She was thinking about today again. Georgia had been nice to her; why couldn’t she just be a cow? She’d even said that she’d cover with Mike. Granted she didn’t need that, but Georgia wasn’t to know that.

  Erika heard her phone ring and saw it was Taylor. She picked it up, opting for an opportunity to procrastinate as oppose to working once more.

  “Hi, how are you?” Erika said into the phone.

  “Yes, fine what’s up? I called you at work and they said you went home as you were unwell. What’s up? You want me to come over and take Dulcie off you, so you can rest?”

  “I’m fine; and no were good, it’s the exact cure I need right about now. How’s things with you, how was the date last night?”

  “Seriously, I officially give up. You want a little more company? I could come over and see you,” she said.

  Erika was quiet for a moment.

  “Hey, don’t worry if not, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

  “I’m fine, seriously. If you wanna, yeah for sure. I guess I could use a friend right about now. However, I do have a report to do for Georgia. I was supposed to come home and do it, but we were baking instead. So, can you leave it a couple hours?”

  “Yes sure. I’ll tell you what, I’ll grab some takeout and come over when Dulcie’s gone to bed, give you two some alone time.”