Being in a similar state of post best orgasms of my life dreamlandyesterday as I was today, I had unknowingly lingered too long, causing the executives present to blink at me curiously.
“Sorry,” I apologized quickly and turned to take my leave, only to realize I still had the papers in my hands. I rushed them over, wincing at my scattered brain. When I set the papers down on the table, something there caught my attention. “Oh, I was sorry to hear you’re killing this product so soon. It’s a hard market to tap into though, so I get it.”
“Very hard,” they answered solemnly.
Flipping to the last page of my own report I pointed at a specific table I’d drawn up. “I added in my own findings on possible footholds in the market, if the campaign ever resurfaces. I have a client who does small business in these birthing technologies who actually does quite well. We've found that with delicate subjects like this, it’s always more popular to buy from people and places you already trust or who you value the opinion of. So I added a wholesale avenue or a separate direct to consumer platform outline that could help in the future.”
Mark hovered the closest to me. It happened to be his paper I flipped through while talking. But the way he was blinking at me looked like he wanted me to take my report and shove it, and I could take a hint.
Flipping the packet closed, I was at the door in no time. I gave another small duck and wave, adding, “That’s really all I embellished this time. The rest of the report is as normal. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
And I got the heck out of there. So what could he want with me now? Was I in trouble? Had I stepped over a line? It didn’t seem like it from the way he was talking.
Excitement ignited me as another possibility lit my veins. Maybe he had more questions about my report. Maybe he wanted me to do another one for their next campaign. It was still a support task, but I’d never been let in on a campaign in theplanning stages. If I was now, maybe I could slip in an idea or two for once.
Less confused and more excited, I shot out of my seat and rounded my desk in a hurry. Snatching up a notepad and my own tablet, I threw my eyes along the surface of my desk. I think I had everything.
Eek!
All but running, I made my way to the door of Melissa’s suite but was stopped by the voice of the girl herself.
“Al? Are you leaving already?” my sister asked.
“No, I’m just headed downstairs for a while,” I said, holding up my notepad. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah,” she frowned. “I wanted to ask you a few things, though. When you have time, I mean.”
I didn’t miss how her eyes speared to my calendar before finding their way back to me.
“Of course!” I said. “But when I get back, okay?”
Softly, she smiled too, her eyes looking tired but warm. It was weird. Usually she might oppose me and try to gain my attention now, or she’d at least question where I needed to go. But now that I thought of it, lately Lis had been getting quieter and quieter. The challenge she always used to pose with me—the two of us butting heads while trying to be the best in our own respective ways—had become less and less. And now she was just sort ofthere.
I felt my frown pull, my steps bringing me closer to her. I should ask her what’s wrong, right? I should stay with her and confront her about the way she was acting lately.
But…
But I really wanted to go to this meeting. And Harper had said that I needed to act like the person I wanted to be and the people around me would catch up. I wanted to be someone who got invited to marketing meetings. So… in honor of the new me, Melissa would have to wait, I guess.
Only a short raincheck though. Then I would come back to check on her. Promise.
Grasping onto her elbow, I said. “Just give me a few, Lis. I’ll be right back, okay?”
She nodded, and seconds later I was gone.
I swear I really did only plan to be away for a few minutes. But as it turned out, Mark and the other executivesdidhave questions for me. Lots of them.
Turns out Grace had been taking out my additions. From reports to data logs to just about anything I’d ever turned into her, nothing but the bare minimum ever made it to its destination while she threw the rest of my work out like trash. Everyone in marketing had been genuinely surprised to see my findings attached to the report I delivered myself, while I was genuinely confused because I attached them to every report. They peppered me with question after question on my thoughts and recommendations on the specialized platform ideas I had fornumerousdepartments at Fernandez, not just the one I’d commented on.
Genuinely, it may have been the most fun I’d ever had at work. Which could be why I let time get away from me and took way longer than the “few” moments I promised my sister it would.
By the time I did get back to her office, she was already gone.
“Ally cat! Ally cat!”
The cutest chanting greeted me as I entered the tattoo shop for the first time this week. I’d taken the beginning of the week off with clients to catch up on some things at work. Now, on my first day back, I was so happy thatInk and Marwas my first stop. So much so that I actually skipped lunch and camestraight here.
“Ally Cat?” Gerald grumbled. “If the girl gets any more nicknames, we’ll lose track of her.”
