by Iona Rose
I caught her arm and pulled her back to me, making sure to hold her gaze. “What about your proposal?” I asked. “You’re not going to present it?”
A somber smile spread across her face. “I have it with me. If I get the chance to, then I will, but if not, I’ll let it go. It’s probably not good anyway.”
“I disagree and as the CEO, my word should mean something to you.”
She faced me fully then, her thumb on the corner of my lips to most probably, wipe lipstick away. “It does,” she said. “But not while we’re at home.”
I was amused. “So my opinions about your work will only be considered when given in the office?”
“Unfortunately, and even then, I will always have the belief that there’s some element of bias involved, so even at work, everything positive from you will be taken with a grain of salt.”
“Wow!” Was all I could say.
She kissed me again. “It’s just one of the many evils of fucking where you eat. See you later sweetheart.” She grabbed her things, and was on her way.
I got ready too, and was soon out of the house after her. Throughout the morning however, I couldn’t help the concern that her work might not get the chance to see the light of day. She had worked so hard on it, and it truly was creative. It made me wonder just how many employees were being stifled in this way.
I didn’t however, want to overstep my bounds in any way that would make her uncomfortable, so I ignored the grievance, and began to make plans for ways to ensure that other employees didn't meet the same dilemma.
Just before lunch however, I received her text message.
‘Our prep for the meeting is complete. Just in time for lunch.’
‘That’s great,’ I replied, and continued on with the performance evaluation report I was looking through.
Soon, another text message arrived. ‘I’m thinking of trying, one last time. I’ll just head over to Henry’s office and give the proposal to him. If he thinks it’s good, then perhaps he can use it as a backup in case the client is still unsatisfied with our current proposal.’
With a sigh, I put the papers down, and leaned back into the chair, rereading the message over, and over again. I could tell this affected her, and it was making it harder for me to turn a blind eye towards it. My gaze went over to her smiling, paint smeared face on the frame before me, my hands encircling her shoulders, and her eyes shut tightly in excitement, as I pressed a kiss to her cheek.
She was my girl… but I was also her boss. I had the responsibility of caring and seeing to her welfare, but the scope of work that came with both responsibilities was blurred. Where could I draw the line, and was it even possible to do so?
I picked up my phone, and sent a message back to her, ‘When do you want to give it to him?’
‘Now, seems the best time, if ever,’ she texted back immediately, as if she had been waiting anxiously for my response. I could imagine her tapping her feet on the floor, her hands wringing with anxiety.
‘Give it to him,’ I texted back. ‘It’s better for him to ignore you, than for you to wish that you had at least given it a shot.’
‘Ok.’
‘Tell me when you have handed it over to him.’
Twenty minutes later, she replied, ‘I just did. He told me to leave it on his desk, and I went on my way.’
I rose to my feet.
‘You were right,’ she texted again. ‘I feel better, knowing that I've pushed the hardest I could, even if he looks at it, or not. Thank you sweetheart. I’m heading out for coffee now with Jeremy. Talk later. X.’
I slipped my arms into my suit jacket, and strolled out of the office.
When I arrived on her floor, I saw that it was quite emptied out for the lunch hour, but there were still a number of employees present. I quietly accepted the greetings as I walked towards Henry’s office.
When I knocked on his door, he seemed shocked to see me. He immediately rose to his feet. “Sir?”
“Please, sit down,” I replied. “I’m just here for a quick courtesy call. I got your recommendation for Raymond Allen as the new Ad Department Head?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, and took his seat.
My gaze moved and I spotted Leah’s report, seemingly untouched, and atop a messy rack of files on his desk. “You worked with him and McAllister?” I asked.
“Yes, sir,” he answered.
“Tell me about him,’’ I said, and we settled into the conversation.
* * *
Leah
The moment I returned from lunch, I had a message waiting for me.
“Henry wants to see you,” I was told.
During the lunch break, I had truly tried to put the report out of my mind, it was time to move on. I didn’t expect any responses whatsoever, but at the sudden request for me, my hands slightly trembled. I headed towards his door, and tried to peek through the glass of his walls, for any inkling into what the summons was about.
All I could see was him seated, focused on his computer screen.
I took a deep breath and knocked on his door.
“Come in,” he said, and the moment he noticed I was there, he straightened. “Leah, I was just thinking about you. You’re an extremely lucky person.”
I was confused. “Um…” I couldn’t find a response to his comment.
“The CEO was just here,” he told me. “He unexpectedly asked about your folder, and when I told him that it was a proposal, he asked to see it. And he was very impressed. He asked if we were going to show it to the client, and although that was definitely not the plan, I’m going to take this over to the VP right now. I think your idea is very interesting, but this is basically the VP’s account which is a problem in itself. I could sense how irritated even the CEO is about the personal ties to accounts that the heads sometimes have for bringing in certain clients. Anyway…” He rose. “I’ll head over now, so let’s hope he doesn't reject it. That’s going to make my life harder which automatically means I’ll make your life harder. Seems fair doesn't it?”
I was too startled to be alarmed. “Yes, sir,” I replied.
I returned to my office in a daze, my mind pondering on how exactly this had played out.
Carter had stepped in personally, and although I appreciated it, his interference brought along certain pressures I wasn't sure I wanted to deal with.
Like what if this caused a strain between my bosses, especially the VP who seemed to want to be unaware of my existence these days… and Henry. He was as straight as an arrow, but if he found out that Carter’s visit was influenced by my relationship with him, my job would definitely get harder to endure.
My head fell onto my hands as I pondered about in confusion. I didn’t know how to feel. Would this help the client’s account, or would it just bring me chaos?
An hour later, I found out.
Our client’s meeting was in twenty minutes, and we were all setting up in the conference room, the needed documents and reference materials arranged as needed around the long oval table. I looked through the glass then, and saw Henry and the VP approach.
My heart began to pound in my chest, but I focused my attention on the presentation slides that I was reviewing on the desktop.
The door opened, and the two bosses came into the room.
“How’s it going?” Henry asked.
Aarif, who was setting up the projector by my side, replied. “We’re ready.”
I tried to convince myself that I had done nothing wrong, but it became impossible for me to lift my gaze to look any of them in the eye. Until I sensed the VP’s approach. “Sir,” I greeted and his responding smile made my blood curdle.
“You finally got your boyfriend to help you,” he derided.
The room went utterly silent. From then onwards, a pin could have been heard dropping to the floor.
“Well done,” he went on, and slammed the folder I recognized, on the adjacent table. He went on with clenched teeth, and although he was
just speaking to me, I knew that at least Aarif could hear every word.
“The purpose of a team, Leah, is for all its members to work collectively towards a goal. One goal, not two. Did he help you out? Give you the idea during pillow talk so that you could come back here to flaunt your genius idea?”
My lips moved then, “That is very inappropriate… sir.”
He took a step back from me, his gaze condescending. “What you have done, is what’s inappropriate. Your idea was rejected during the last meeting wasn’t it? Then why keep pursuing it, and run over to your boyfriend to plead your case for you. What exactly is your intention by going this route? What exactly are you trying to say? That the rest of us are morons? That we don’t know how to do our jobs? That you’re the only one on this team with a brain?”
I couldn't believe his accusations. My chest seemed to be closing in on me, making it almost impossible to breath. “Sir, that wasn't what—”
“Get out!” he yelled. “You’re off this team. Go design some T-shirts or whatever you want to do.”
I trembled, the deep breath I inhaled, released in a shudder.
I couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze. I went over to my chair, and with as much dignity as I could muster, picked up my folder, and fought to keep my head high as I left the room.
Chapter 31
Carter
I was on a call with Mark from the Minnesota office, when the knock came to my door.
“Come in,” I said, and was surprised to see that it was my secretary, Joseph. I looked at the time on my watch. “It’s 2:30 ,” I said. “Is there a meeting I missed?”
“No, sir,” he replied.
I noticed then that he seemed uncomfortable.
At his fumbling hands, I briefly returned my attention back to Mark. I finished the call and faced Joseph. “What’s the matter?”
“Um… I’ve received some calls from some colleagues downstairs within the last hour, sir, and I thought that you’d want to know about them.”
“Why? What are they about?”
“Miss Peters,” he said.
My brows furrowed.
“It seems as though there was a tense exchange between her and the VP, and uh, it was insinuated that she used her relationship with you to her advantage with the Vita500 project.”
I felt my body go still.
“They’re calling to ask if you both are indeed in a romantic relationship.”
I moved my gaze from him, my mood instantly darkening.
Joseph understood he should make his exit accordingly and left without another word.
Calmly, I picked up the phone and began to dial Daniel Coghlan’s office.
Then I stopped myself.
I put the phone down, and got back to work.
* * *
Leah
It felt as though there were a thousand eyes on me.
I had since jailed myself to my cubicle, my gaze completely focused on the trip advisor’s comments I was replying to on behalf of one of our travel accounts. My cubicle neighbor had quickly passed it onto me upon my request of anything she needed help with, since I was now halfway to being unemployed.
At my sighs, her head would turn to mine to confirm that all was well, but I couldn’t help the gloom that had befallen me today. Every time I lifted my head, I caught someone’s gaze, and it was either filled with curiosity or abhorrence. I didn’t miss the ceaseless whispers sent my way, or perhaps it was all in my head. I wanted a cup of coffee, but the last thing I wanted to deal with in the breakroom were snide looks or comments or even questions from the other employees.
The same went for the bathroom. I wanted to speak to Carter, but couldn't, at least not now. I was too shaken and unsettled. I also had no idea what would come out of my mouth.
So I sat still, until Jeremy’s text came in. I picked up my phone and read.
‘The rumor is that you’ve been sleeping with the boss, and used that as leverage to get the VP to consider your personal pitch. Doesn't sound like you but if it is true, just know that the only offense I'm going to take is that you didn't let me in on the details about The Godfather beyond the suit we all see. See you later.’
I gazed at his message for a long time, not exactly knowing how to feel about it. He was on the other side of the floor, and couldn't be reached easily, especially since my plan was to rot in my chair so I never had to stand up or run into anyone.
The clock struck three, and at the ding of the elevator, I turned to see Henry and the VP walk in with the client. The rest of the team was already prepared, and waiting in the meeting room, so all three men walked in and it began.
Without me.
My head fell, as I continued with my mindless responses.
Half an hour passed by, and I kept sneaking looks through the glass wall of the meeting room, curious to see what I could. One thing was for sure, and that was the fact that no one looked happy as they conversed with the client.
I returned my gaze to my screen, and felt just a small twinge of satisfaction. I didn't want the project to completely crash and burn, especially since I had worked incredibly hard on it. Sooner or later however, someone was going to have to pay for the shitty way I felt at the moment when I had done absolutely nothing else besides doing my very possible best.
“Leah…” my cubicle neighbor suddenly called.
I took a deep breath before meeting her gaze.
Her eyes had widened with alarm. She nudged her head towards the entrance door.
I turned my head just in time to see Carter as he pushed the door open and strolled onto our floor.
I pushed my chair back and almost got out of my seat. Thankfully, I remembered the eyes that were on me, and caught myself just in time. But my mind had already gone haywire.
What is he doing here?
I understood that he owned the company and could technically go wherever the fuck he wanted, but I also knew there was no way he wouldn't have heard about what happened. This was the time for him to stay away, and to keep as much distance as he possibly could from this project.
I gathered courage and stared at him as he approached, hoping he would glance at me for even a moment. Hoping, I would somehow, be able to speak to him with my eyes, to tell him to back away, so my grave wouldn’t get dug any deeper.
He didn’t.
His sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbow, his collar, unbuttoned, and absent of a tie. He looked dangerous, and although there was no distinct emotion on his face, I had come to know enough about him to almost feel the heat of his annoyance.
He arrived at the door to the meeting and went in.
My team members present began to rise at his sudden appearance.
With a hand up, he waved away the acknowledgement, and took his seat.
I panicked.
I picked up my phone, and sent him a text. ‘Please don't do anything. Please. Just let this go. It wasn't a big deal at all.’
I watched him, praying to God that he had brought his phone along, so when I saw him pull it out from his pocket to place on the desk, I felt immense relief. His eyes pursued the screen, and I had my look of plea ready, for when he would turn to find my gaze.
To my surprise however, he ignored it… and me. He returned his attention to the presentation being given, and my heart began to sink.
I wondered then if he was also somewhat furious at me.
A few minutes later, I softened my tone and sent another text.
‘Your interference will make this worse. Please let this go Carter… please babe.’
Again, I watched as his eyes went to the phone...
I waited, and almost collapsed when his gaze lifted to find mine. My heart slammed into my chest.
His gaze however was dark, and extremely cold. For a moment, his stare was locked on me, but yet again, he returned his attention back to the presentation.
I couldn’t believe it.
Chapter 32
Carter
&nbs
p; By the end of the meeting, I hadn't said a word, but I was more than ready to throw the client out of our office.
I, however, held my peace until it was over, and rose to my feet along with the rest of the team. “Coghlan, see me in my office,” I said, and went on my way.
A few minutes later, I was seated across from him, and allowed a few moments for the restraint against punching his lights out to take effect on my nerves. When I was calmed, I asked him, “Do you truly not see the problems that this client is stirring up or are you choosing to ignore it?”
He went quiet, so I became more specific.
“You’ve been working on this brief for a month now, and there has been no significant progress. The client is not clear on a concept in mind, and yet he doesn’t have any faith in those we’ve submitted to him thus far. Does the morale of the team mean nothing to you?”
“Sir…” he began.
I leaned back into the chair. “Go ahead,”
He shut his mouth, and had nothing to say except, “We’ll do better to move things along.”
“I’m going to give you two options,” I told him. “Fire Vita500, or put out a competition. Today. Ask every employee that is interested, to send in their proposal for the campaign. The entries will be made available to every member of the agency, and they will be the ones to select the best three. They’ll present their strategies to the client, and if he still isn't impressed with any of them, then that will be the end of our collaboration. The two runner ups will get a bonus for their participation, while the winner will be promoted.”
Complete confusion came across his face as he tried to process all that I just said. Then he met my gaze. “Yes, sir,” he said, and left my office.
Later that evening, I returned to Leah’s, as was my norm. With my arrival in Indiana a month earlier, the plan had been to move out of the hotel where I’d been staying, into a place of my own if things went as well as I had hoped. Thus far, they had, but instead, Leah’s home had unofficially become mine.