Page 96 of Take It Offline
Disappointment is a look I’ve learned to weather well.
Get in line, gentlemen.
If anyone has earned the right to be frustrated, I can guarantee it’s me.
“Take a seat,” Roberts commands.
The last time I was in a room with Emmanuel Fletcher, Charlie was being lauded to the entire company for my work. At the time, I was a little distracted by the blood rushing in my ears to pay him any mind.
Not unlike how I feel now.
I sit as instructed, but when it becomes obvious that Roberts isn’t going to introduce me, I take matters into my own hands. “Good to meet you, Mr. Fletcher.”
“Emmanuel, please, and the pleasure is all mine, Emma. The digital signatures initiative you pioneered has saved me a lot of frustration.”
The recognition is a refreshing surprise. The project was presented as a growth opportunity, and I naively thought it would be an easy sell. Who would argue against increased efficiency?
As it turns out, a lot of people.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Emmanuel is here to get an update on the procedure,” Roberts intones in a way that sounds very similar to a threat.
“In that case, I think Charlie should be here.” I’m not letting Roberts push him out. It wasn’t that long ago that they were peas in a pod.
“That won’t be necessary,” he says, and yes, that’s definitely a threat.
Heart lurching, I straighten.
“Based on the document logs,” he says, “the only changes made to the Procedure in the last month have been from your account. In fact, I had to have the Tech Bar unlock the document for me, because I couldn’t access it. The best they could tell, that was because you changed the security on it.”
No shit. It was locked because he kept rewriting it. And the only changes are mine because I type faster than Charlie, andwe work better when I take the lead while he keeps Operations happy.
But as I open my mouth, Roberts continues, like he was waiting to cut me off. “When I presented this opportunity to you both, I asked if you’d be able to work together. You assured me you could. Then I asked if there was any tension between you, and you promised things were fine. I’m sure you can understand why I’m having trouble believing that now, given the evidence.”
Again, he pauses, and again, just as I open my mouth, he speaks.
He’s baiting me, but I keep my expression calm, digging my toes into the ground while I wait him out.
“Because based on what I’m seeing and the email Emmanuel and I received this morning from Legal, it’s become clear you aren’t ready for this promotion.”
Are you done?I want to scream. Instead, I pointedly let the silence extend.Go on, interrupt me again. Make it obvious.
But Roberts seems to be done. Or maybe having his boss in the room is enough to rein in his worst instincts.
I always suspected this was coming.
I dig deep, searching for the fierce energy Charlie inspires within me, the badass office assassin who’s capable of anything. But all I feel is white-hot blinding rage and the added sting of embarrassment. This is not how I wanted my first meeting with Emmanuel to go. This man will be the deciding factor on the lead team, and it’ll be difficult to impress him after this charade.
If I was a sensible person, I’d offer an apology and quietly accept defeat.
But Conways are not sensible people.
“Respectfully,” and it pains me to say the word, “I disagree. Charlie and I have been working well together. Rather than continue to cross our wires, we decided to pool our efforts into a single version of the document. Locking it down madethat easier, and,” I bite out, “you’ve been able to provide your feedback in every review, as requested.”
I chance a look at Emmanuel, and though it’s clear he’s paying very close attention, his expression is unreadable. Roberts, on the other hand, has turned red and blotchy, clearly livid.
“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made,” I say, struggling to keep my tone clear, “despite the issue I discussed with Legal this morning. In fact, Engineering and Operations have already signed off on the changes?—”
