by J. J. R.
I pause to let her speak. She is sitting so calmly under pressure that I’m not even entirely sure she is listening.
“Are you done?” she asks calmly.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“You are right. We were corporate bullies, bitches as you called us in your book. It wasn’t right how you handled it, but the way I’ve conducted my career isn’t exactly right either. And for that, I am sorry.”
If I’m not mistaken, I see a small tear daring to drip onto her cheek.
I stumble on my words, although I’ve rehearsed them hundreds of times. I never expected her to react in this way. I thought she would scream, kick me out, yell in my face again. But she apologized, and it has me stuck in my tracks.
“I’m not playing any tricks here, Melanie. In fact, I told Tom everything. He somehow found it in his soul to forgive me. I believe you may even be hearing from him with a job offer at his new company sometime soon. And you may be pleased to know that Puppet Master accepted a new role as well, one where they don’t know any of her old ways. Perhaps she will take my advice and get a clean start.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You, my darling, were a breath of fresh air. It got you fired, but at least you got people to sit up and pay attention. I dare say we need more Melanies in the world. Will you join me for a drink? Or do you have some more writing to do? Perhaps you will use this conversation in your sequel?” She laughs, the same throaty version of her real laugh that I heard just that one time.
“Sure,” I say.
We make a toast to forgiveness and lessons learned and after I finish my cocktail, I leave her to her quiet corner in her favorite restaurant.
* * * *
I choose to walk several blocks on this lovely summer’s day. It’s a time to reflect on the whirlwind of a year it’s been. I’m getting married next week to a treasure of a man. The roses will be blooming throughout the city in June and little pops of red and pink will adorn the streets. I’ll start my life with honesty, integrity and love; the greatest values of them all.
I know I have won. In my own way, I’ve managed to secure my own version of happiness, which for me, does not include the Corporate World. What is so ironic is that Puppet Master is walking down some street in the same city thinking she has won, as well. Life’s funny that way. What really matters is that we each find our own version of joy and hold onto it with vengeance.
Learn the tough lessons. Believe in yourself.
Live life with a breathless and audacious perversity.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.J.R leads a quiet life filled with memories of the cutthroat corporate life. Writing The Corporate Bitch was therapeutic and a way to remind the world of the simple truth long forgotten in the workplace.
You don’t have to like me or want to be my friend, but everyone deserves to be treated with professional kindness and respect in the workplace. And by the way, you wouldn’t have made the cut as my friend anyway.
How’s that for middle school? Happy reading…
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