Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I was hoping I could have a word with you, Jeff,” I say. His hair is blond, and I’m pretty sure he dyes it to hide the silver coming through, but he doesn’t look bad for his age.
“You have the floor. What can I help you with, Mayve?” I look at Vanessa and chew on my bottom lip. Dammit! I was hoping to discuss this in private.
“The new position available,” I start.
“Oh, yes. Do you have any recommendations on who I should hire? Vanessa here is gunning for it.” My feet feel frozen on the spot. I look at Vanessa, dressed in her red pencil skirt, her blouse slightly undone, and a smile etched on her face.
“I was…” I take a deep breath.
“You were what?” he asks, confused at my words. I look over my shoulder and contemplate walking out.
“I was hoping to apply,” I tell him.
Both sets of eyes are boring into me.
“You?” Jeff says, surprised. He shakes his head. “You never request promotions. You’ve always been happy where you are.”
Maybe that’s my issue.
I nod. “I know, but I think I would be a good fit for the job,” I tell him as I step back. “I’ll update my resume and send it through.” I say nothing else and turn to walk out. And as I reach the door, his voice stops me.
“Mayve.”
I pause.
“Are you married?”
I turn back to face him.
“Sorry, what?” I ask, confused.
“The position would require someone who interacts with men, and a ring on the finger helps the men see the woman not as someone he can go after but as a business associate.”
What?
I’m so shocked by his words.
What dinosaur period are we living in for him to even say that?
I glance at Vanessa’s left hand and see a ring on her finger. As far as I’m aware, she isn’t married. But she has a ring?
“Vanessa here is engaged to be married,” he explains. “The men you will be dealing with are used to getting what they want, so we need someone competent to run their finances and stay out of trouble, and as you are all well aware with the NDA you signed when you first started you are not to discuss any of this with anyone.”
I want to throw up.
Let it explode all over the floor.
What does that even mean?
“I see.” I don’t see. I really, really don’t. But I pull the door open and walk out. As soon as I get to my desk, I manage to calm my erratic heart down and take a breath.
Married.
Men should know how to control themselves. I shouldn’t be responsible for their actions all because I don’t have a ring on my finger.
I sit there, even past lunch, his words flying around in my head.
I want that position.
I want that raise.
I deserve it.
I work harder than anyone.
How the hell is Vanessa going to handle a promotion when she can’t cope with what she does now? This is not fair.
“You aren’t really going for that position, are you?” I look up to see Vanessa at my stall, staring down at me.
“Sorry?” I reply, not sure I heard her correctly, but knowing in my heart I did.
I was the one who trained this bitch.
Everything she knows is because of me.
“Well, you never really move from here. And you seem happy doing what you do, so why would you want to change that?” She shrugs and saunters off.
I sit there, becoming angrier and angrier by the second. After simmering in my anger for a few moments, I get up and go to the lunch room , suddenly hungry due to skipping lunch. Just before I enter, I hear Vanessa talking, so I stop and stand behind the door, listening to what she says.
I don’t like to use this word often.
But again, what a bitch she is.
“Can you believe she has the audacity to think she can go for this job? I’m an engaged woman, and even then, I have to sweet talk Jeff. He only wants a man for the job or a married woman. Yes, it’s sexist, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to get the work done. And once he realizes how amazing I am at it, I can slide this fake diamond ring off, and he will have to keep me because of all my hard work.”
I turn and go back to my stall. Losing my appetite twice in one day.
Should I go and buy myself a fake ring?
They would know, though. Wouldn’t they?
Shit. What am I going to do?
Kenzo’s waiting for me at my door.
I cringe as I find him watching me walk up.
Today is not the day for this.
I’ve had the worst day at the office.
Maybe I shouldn’t want that job, but a part of me knows I would be the best person for it. And if I got the promotion and the raise that goes with it, I could leave this place. Not to mention I could stick it to Vanessa. Whenever I think of how condescending she was today, not to mention the fact that she’s outright lying, I want to take this job right from under her and watch that smug face of hers wither with embarrassment. Geez, talk about being hangry.