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The group waitingfor the elevators as I entered the lobby was larger than usual.
Ben sat at his normal station behind the desk. As I approached, he tilted his head toward the crowd. “One of the elevators is down for maintenance.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
I shuffled closer with each opening of the polished stainless doors, but I didn’t make it on until the third filling of the little car.
Sweat was already threatening to soak my blouse when the door closed and it instantly got warmer. Packed between marketing people complaining about not being chosen to go with the spin-off, I counted the floors as the doors opened and disgorged a person or two at each stop.
Getting off at the finance floor, I dropped my purse at my desk before making my way to the conference room.
Through the glass I saw the meeting had already begun. I smoothed down my skirt and opened the door.
Mark looked up. His forehead creased. “I’ll be with you in a minute, Jennifer.”
I stopped. It was as if he knew I wanted to talk to him about doing after-hours work back here.
“Outside,” he added.
I retreated to the hallway, but not before noticing the group had increased by one since yesterday.
Vanessa sat on the far side of the table, concentrating on the paper in front of her.
I silently rehearsed the lines I’d come up with in the car.
Mark came out and closed the door behind him. “Let’s talk in number three.”
I followed him into the adjoining empty conference room.
He didn’t sit, so neither did I.
“You didn’t sign your paperwork yesterday afternoon the way I asked you all to.”
My shoulders slumped. “I went back, but they’d closed the office early.” I backed up a bit. This wasn’t the conversation I’d envisioned. This was all wrong.
“Everyone else managed to, and Jay told me you had misgivings about joining us based on the commute.”
My throat went instantly dry.Those two have already talked this morning?“I can make the commute work.” I couldn’t start with my new boss thinking I didn’t appreciate the opportunity. How often would I get a chance like this?
He held up a hand to stop me. “Vanessa expressed an interest yesterday in joining Hydrocom.” He took a breath. “So she will be filling the general ledger supervisor role.”
“But—”
“I have a meeting to get back to. You can apply for a transfer in the future if you like, when you’re more certain of your situation.” He left, and the door closed behind him.
Tears threatened, and my knees wobbled. The room became cold, and I slumped into the closest chair. I’d totally screwed this up. I’d let Ramona and Billy down. Vanessa had aced me out of my chance at the raise we needed.
After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and sat up straight. My current job was being eliminated, and I needed to work. The only thing left to do was to put on my brave front and face the music. What alternative did I have? Short answer, none.
After a stop in the ladies room to check my eyes, I turned right toward Fisher’s office.
His assistant, Margie, appraised me with cold eyes as I walked up. She helped his productivity by protecting his time, as she saw it. Nobody got past her without an appointment.
I stopped and prepared to argue my case, but was cut off with a hand gesture. “He asked for you to join him in Mr. Benson’s office.” She checked her watch. “That was four minutes ago.”
“Thank you,” I said as I turned for the elevator.
“You should take your purse,” she said.
