Not fired — yet.
“Thank you, Mr. Green.” I give him a small smile, which he finally returns. With a nod to his fellow board members, Mr. Green announces it’s lunch time, and everyone immediately shuffles out for their paninis.
I take a moment to collect myself as soon as the door is shut.What the fuck is going on!I’vebeenlaying low, playing it safe, staying away from partying, nor anything fun, for the last year! And the one night, theonenight I’m finally free from it all,thishappens.
I’ve got to get out of here!
I grab my purse and head to my office. Maybe I can eat lunch there and just get my head on straight. I let the familiar sound of my heels against the floor calm me down.I’m not going anywhere yet.
As soon as the glass panes of my office come in view, I notice movement inside it.What the hell is that?The cleaning crew shouldn’t be there at this hour. I swing my door open and my look of confusion immediately turns to disgust.
Gabby Green — the conniving bitch — is standing in my office. She turns around like the villain in a soap opera, her squashed little face drooping with a frown of displeasure.
“Oh, it’s you,” she says and reels in her tape measure. Yes, you heard me correctly. A tape measure. This rabbity little bimbo has the audacity to bring one with her. I’m sure you can guess why.
“Get out of my office,” I say curtly before I set my purse down to unpack my binder. I’m not gonna take the bait if I can help it. Gabby Green is the associate editor, and I would have fired her ages ago if her Daddy Dearest isn’t the chairman of the board.
“What do you meanyouroffice?” Gabby pouts as she starts to poke at my desk supplies.Gross.Get your sticky little fingers off my things.I swallow the thought.
“I mean,myoffice. You’re standing in it, and as I recall, I did not ask you to be here. So, move.”
Gabby scoffs and clutches at her chest. I allow an eyeroll to slip past my filter and Gabby latches on immediately.
“I don’t think it’s wise to have such an attitude with me, Natalie. After all, this office will be mine soon,” she smiles sickly and taps her tape measure on my desk. “I’ve just been taking measurements for when my furniture is moved in —”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Green, but I am still a member ofChicand a ranking member at that, so for the last time, before I wrench those knock-off pearl earrings from your ears — Get. Out. Of. My. Office.”
She goes a horrible shade of purple trying to hold her tantrum at bay.
“You bitch!”
Well, that didn’t last long.
“You’re not fired?!” she asks me incredulously. With something of an upper hand, I allow myself to cool off.
“Afraid not —”
“But, Daddy promised!” she wails and points a finger at me. “Listen, Natalie, it’s only a matter of time. Daddy doesn’t want you here, he wants me to be head editor and I will have this office!” She grabs her coat from my chair, spilling my pens all over my desk.
With a‘hmph’, she strides out, slamming the door behind her. I stare after her for a moment. I’m so angry, I could vomit.
That vulture. That snake.
She’s trouble. The first thing she does after every incident is see whose charred body she can step on to climb a little higher.
She’s terrible at her job — lazy, late, and entirely incompetent. The fact that she has the audacity to think she can handle my position steams me up more than anything. I look over at the spilled pens and imagine flames shooting out of my eyes.
I hike up my skirt enough to bend down and furiously pick them up one by one, slamming then into the gilded vase they’re meant to sit in. The humiliation is really setting in.How did this happen?
My pens restocked; I stand up to brush myself off before flopping into the chair. I’ve sat there for all of two seconds before I realize Gabby’s musky perfume is lingering in the air.
“Nope!” I shout as I stand and smoothen my skirt. “Nope. Nope. Not doing it. No.”
I grab my purse and throw it over my shoulder. I have absolutely zero appetite, but I can’t stay here any longer.
I drop by my receptionist and my anger fades a little. I love her. She’s excellent at her job; quiet and efficient.
“I’m going out for lunch,” I say as I pass her desk. She looks up at me with big eyes and a tight little grimace.
“O-okay!” She calls after me. I know she wants to talk; to say sorry and ask what happened or if I need anything, but I can’t stay in this building for one more second. I can’t eat a thing, but maybe the fresh air will do me some good.
Get me out of this nightmare!