Chapter 7
Valencia
I was in a very happy mood when I parked my car and reached the entrance of the office. But the moment I stepped inside, I felt something was not right.
The office was usually quiet, and I would be the first to reach it, but today, to my surprise, everybody was at the desk.
I blinked and took in the desks filled with employees buried in work as if they had never left for their homes last night.
“Look who decided to show up,” A high pitched and shrill voice spoke from somewhere to my left.
That was followed by the sound of pumps slapping against the floor as the 5.5′ tall figure of Mrs Briggs appeared.
She was wearing a lavender colored skirt and a matching tweed jacket. A similarly colored brooch sat on her chest.
I groaned, mentally preparing for the long day ahead.
“Good morning, Mrs Briggs,” I greeted her, but she gave me a look of pure disdain and snapped.
“It would have been a good morning if you also showed up on time like your colleagues.”
I glanced at the wall clock pointedly and then back at her.
“I am five minutes early,” I argued, and she folded her hands on her chest.
“So you are not only late but you also don’t check the official mails sent by the office head, do you now, Miss Alicia.”
“Valencia,” I corrected her.
“And you talk back to your superiors instead of owning up to your mistakes.” Her eyes narrowed on me.
I fought to keep the irritation out of my voice.
“Office starts at 9 and I am here at 8.55 am.”
She gave me an amused look and then shouted.
“Thomas! Can you read the last email I sent yesterday for our dear Alicia, please?”
A guy sitting at one of the tables at the far right hastily loosened his tie, cleared his throat and began reading out loud.
“Dear All, this is to inform you that from tomorrow onwards our office timings are being changed from 8 to 6 pm to 9-5 pm’ to better handle our pending work and speed up our progress. The yearly evaluation is just round.the corner, so I hope that we all work together to make this possible. Regards, Patricia Briggs.”
“Did you hear it now, Miss Elena?”
“Valencia”
She raised her voice. “You are walking a very thin line, girl and if I were you, I would be careful of how I behaved in front of the new office head.”
“I heard it, Ms. Briggs. I will ensure that I am here at 8 am sharp from tomorrow.”
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She narrowed her eyes and added, “In my office, now”
Why did she want me in her office when she had already humiliated me first thing in the morning already? What did this
woman want with me?
I looked around and saw a few of my colleagues throw helpless glances at me. I only sighed and followed her to her cabin as she walked, giving with her head held high and throwing smug looks at everyone.
She got into her seat and cracked her knuckles, apparently too pleased with herself about something.
“Look Lily, I am the new office head and as you are aware, I am the third in recent months. The Bureau is not pleased with the way things have been going here, so they put me in charge.”
I waited for her to elaborate on how that was my problem.
“This place has been a total mess and frankly, the Advisory Board suggested we also include Saturday as a working day, but I knew the rest of the office would just cry if that happened.”
The rest of the office? Not me?
The question must be evident on my face, for she clarified.
“I looked through your past performance. And I can see you have a bright future and climb up the ladder quite fast. But just work won’t get you there. You have to also win your supervisor’s favor.”
I continued to stare at her in confusion.
“I ignored your late arrivals and other mistakes because of your past record. But now, I want to take the Bureau in a new direction. And for that to happen, I need an able associate to be my eyes and ears.”
I realized I had not said a word ever since she started rambling, so I replied in an unsure voice.
“I am not sure if I follow you, Miss Briggs.”
She gave me an all too sweet smile, “If you vow to be my right hand and help me manage things efficiently, I will ensure that you get a promotion.”
Something was not right. She had humiliated me straight for two days and wanted me to be her sidekick? That didn’t make
sense.
“I am grateful for the offer, Miss Briggs, but I think Thomas might be the right fit for you. His promotion was given to someone else last year.”
Miss Briggs shrugged, “That means he didn’t deserve it. Either way, my offer is valid only for today. Now go and try to finish your pending work in the filing room today.”
Today. It was not possible. Plus, it was 10 am already.
“I will try my best, Miss Briggs, but I can’t finish it today.” I tried to explain, but she opened a file on her desk and replied in her sweet voice.
“Oh, I believe in your strengths, girl. What you lack is just a little amount of discipline.”
I lacked discipline?
I have been showing up before the office opening hours all my life.
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Mrs. Briggs appeared unfazed as I stared at her incredulously.
“Plus, as you already wasted two hours doing nothing today, you can work till late and try get it done.”
The way she emphasized the word ‘try’ told me she was challenging me. As If I was some idiot who would take the bait and work my ass off to just throw it at her face.
Maybe she was counting on that.
I stared at her in horror as she added sweetly.
“Don’t worry, I will add it to your overtime.”
Argh.
I wanted to kill this woman.
The telephone rang, and she almost jumped to receive it. Her dominating personality was soon replaced by a docile, exceedingly sweet voice as she answered the call.
“Oh, that is great news.”
She took another pause, listening to whatever the caller was saying intently, and replied.
She closed the file, and that is when I noticed what she had been reading. It was the same file she had snatched from me yesterday.
The file I was not supposed to read, according to her.
I recalled the contents of the file I had barely skimmed through. There was the mention of an Exiled heir and a grainy photo.
Why was she reading that first thing in the morning? I tried to lean forward to get another good look at the file, but then I heard her say.
“Of course, it will be my pleasure.”
She then placed the receiver back on the phone and looked up at me.
“What are you waiting for? Go, shoo. Though I can tell you that I have some very exciting news to share with you if you decide to say yes.”
There was no way in hell I was going to say yes to be her sidekick. I could already see my hard work going down the drain, as she would definitely take credit for all my work.
It was not
MIAN
not and s alread” fumine or I stamned mer FOTOEY
down the ius that led to tha hacaman
