bChapter /bb21 /b

Valencia

My head was hurt by the time I was done with the seniors. I just felt like I was done with everything

I sat at my desk feeling tired and ced my head between my hands, massaging my temples.

A few minutester, I heard somebody walk up to me.

If there was another person who wanted to snap at me, I was going to bite his head off.

But when I looked up, I saw Thomas holding a cup of coffee for me.

“That was quite a speech you gave there”

He smiled at me.

I rubbed the back of my neck and responded tiredly.

“I just couldn’t stand them anymore”

Thomas nodded in understanding.

“Of course, Grace and team are what we call the office bullies ”

I raised an eyebrow at that.

“Theye at you too, then?”

He ced his cup on my table as well and nodded, “Of course they do. But I have never been able to talk back to them like that.”

I gestured at the coffee cup and muttered, “Thanks”

He smoothed his hair and began, “About what Grace earlier…”

He seemed to trail off and looked at me sheepishly. I had no idea what he was referring to because she had said a dozen things, so I kept waiting for him to expand on that.

He saw I didn’t realize what he was referring tob, /bso added, “uh…about you know, what Grace said about you and me.”

I shrugged that off. “Oh, don’t bother. She is just a nosy bitchb./b”

His smile faded when I said that.

“Uh, well if you say so,” He mumbled, and I reached for his hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

i“/iAre you okay?”

Thomas turned red again and nodded his head a bit too vigorously.

“Yes, of course. Just wanted to tell you that if you need help, I will be there for you.”

His cheeks turned pink, and he smiled at me.

b“/bIf anybody deserves this promotion, it is you. Not them.”

Thomas added.

b12:57 /bSat, 23 bAug /bVI ? C

That line would have made me feel ted because that had been my goal for the past five years climbing the corporatedder

But now, my mind recalled going home to have a nice dinner, warm hugs, and I shut that thought down before it wouldpletely take bhold /bbof /bme

That had been just a mirage. An illusion.

“Thanks,” I mumbled and thought of making myself a strong cup of coffee in the pantry when suddenly I heard my name being yelled.

“Valencia Graham!!”

Thomas‘ smile disappeared as I got up

I shook my head while mumbling.

“When the devil calls, we gotta answer”

He smiled, wished me luck and I almost dragged my feet wearily towards Mrs Briggs cabin.

Σ

I mentally prepared myself for another round of scolding as Lknocked on the miserable woman’s door and she answered sharply.

“Come in”

When I did, I saw her sitting with an exasperated look, her index finger and thumb pinching the bridge of her nose.

“I have juste to learn of a grave mistake, Valencia. And now I am not sure what it would cost this firm.”

Okay, so it was bad.

I looked up at her and put on my best inquisitive face.

“What happened, boss?”

“I believe we are soon going to have a departmental enquiry.”

“For what offence, boss?” I pressed on.

“The new Director has found several mistakes in a few of our reports that we send to the Bureau headquarters every month. And I believe you are the one

who sends it.”

????? ????

I tried not nch at her words.

“No boss, that is the job of our Senior associates.”

I was the proverbial donkey of the office. I took up more work than necessary and was never thanked or appreciated for my efforts.

People just threw stuff at me and magically expected the problems to disappear.

“Which one?”

“Grace,” I answered.

“Well, turns out, she is going to be on an emergency break for a week because her anxiety spiked.”

Anxiety, my foot!

She didn’t have the balls to face the wrath of the new director and face more humiliation after I exposed her.

“Then I am sure one of the other Senior Associates will be able to fill in.”

I suggestedb, /bbut Mrs Briggs shook her head.

12:57

“No, they can’t. I have recently joined this office, so even I am not aware of all the cases, but turns out you are”

Nice way to say I am a coward, so I am turning you into a scapegoat.

“But” I began, however, her eyes twinkled with malice as she lowered her voice and leaned forward.

“You should be happy that your chance to prove your worth came sooner than expected. If send a rmendation letter to the Director to make you a Senior Associate.”

you

are able to handle the situation well, bI /bwill personally

Senior Associate was the title I had been chasing for years now because I was just a junior associate.

But now, I wanted more.

“Head of Associates” I demanded and Mrs Briggs looked at me like I had asked her for her kidney.

“What?‘ she blurted out.

And I said assertively.

“A departmental enquiry that too directly facing the director is nothing short of a nightmare. It can cost me my job, my reputation and my career. I don’t want to risk it all for a mere one step up thedder.”

Mrs Briggs gave me a slow smile.

“You are really a clever girl” shemented and I shrugged.

“You can ask anybody else to take my ce. Maybe get Gracie to postpone her leaves.”

Mrs Briggs took a brief pause and then replied,

“If you dont screw it up, I will rmend that post for you.”

I shook my head.

“I don’t need just empty promises, boss.”

“Fine. The title and a sry raise, subject to approval.”

I felt giddy on the inside but kept a poker face on the outside.

At least, I had managed to get a good deal. Now, I only had to find out what these blunders were and hope that the Director wasn’t an asshole.

“When is the enquiry, and do we have the name of our new director yet?”

Mrs Briggs said.

“The Director is traveling to the town as we speak and I have already shared your details with him. You are expected to show up at Conference room D of our office today at 6 pm.”

Saying so, she wished me the best of luck and reminded me.

“You have now roughly 3 ihours /ito ensure you do your job well.”

I gave her a weary nod. “To prepare for the enquiry”

But she shook her head. “To take up your role as the Protocol officer.”

What the hell?

She expected me to now go around clearing desks and calendars when I had a bigger task to worry about?

I looked at her in disbelief, and she gave me an encouraging smile.

“Hope you manage to make our office look prim and proper in three hours.”

And that is when I realized she never wanted me to give me any promotion.

She wanted me thrown out of the office, humiliated, and to have no future in my career if the Director himself decided to sack me.

I had walked in this too easily and now it looked like my professional life was going to turn into a joke.