situation entirely differently, but you chose to humiliate me.”
The look on Ryan’s face softens for a moment, but it is fleeting. “Yes, I could have, but I bet your ass you won’t make that mistake again.”
I gasp. I throw Ryan’s agenda down on the boardroom table. I can’t take this. I cannot fight with someone who doesn’t fight fair.
I turn sharply on my heel toward the boardroom exit. I need air. I have to get out of this room for a few minutes. I fling open the door, and it hits the opposing wall with a bang. Several of the other employees in the boardroom jump at the impact. As it sounds out, I have an immediate flashback of Annalise’s demise. I stalk back to my office.
I walk past a group of employees who are quickly scattering back to their desks after eavesdropping, no doubt. As I walk past the last row of cubicles, I witness two women exchange money over the top of their working spaces. Abruptly, I stop, then walk back to the women.
“What the hell was that for?”
“I…um…” a middle-aged woman stammers, surprised by my outburst. She shakes her head and looks down. “I’m sorry, but there was a bet in the office to see how long you would last,” she mutters apologetically.
“Oh really!” I say matter-of-factly. I am even madder now. “Well give her her money back because I’m far from done here!” I instruct the ladies, and they nod guiltily.
After that slight detour, I continue to my office in a huff. I cannot believe this. My own coworkers actually made a bet against me to see how long I would last. That is complete bullshit. Oh, I will show them. I wear out the carpet in my office, pacing and ranting to myself.
Lord
,
please forgive me, but that motherfucking son of a bitch!
I quickly remember myself. I’m not going to do this. He is not going to run me. I’m going to do my job, and by God, he is going to do his.
Jerri cautiously sticks her head into my office. “I’m so sorry, Whitney,” she offers, dejected.
“It’s OK, Jerri. It’s not your fault. I just need a few minutes to regroup and get my thoughts straight, is all.”
Jerri looks confused. “What do you mean? You’re not quitting?”
“Hell no!” I respond suddenly, without thought. Then remorsefully I add in my best southern drawl, “I’m sorry, Jerri, but no, I’m not. He ain’t running me outta of here.”
I make a few more laps around my office as I quickly devise a plan in my head.
“May I have your permission to speak to him freely?” I ask Jerri. “I believe I can handle this now.”
Jerri smirks. “By all means. I am out of options and open for suggestions.”
I look down at my desk for support for my plan. I spy Ryan’s employment contracts and sponsorship commitments, and instantly my plan is established.
I say with grand authority, “I’m ready, Jerri! Let’s do this!”
Chapter 8
I take a deep breath, grab the stack of bulky documents off my desk, and head back into the boardroom. With Jerri flanking me to the right, I feel strong, although my heart is about to burst out of my chest. She and I stride purposefully through the boardroom door.
I look Ryan squarely in the eye as I slam the contracts on the mahogany table in front of him.
Damn! That felt good!
Ryan tries to cover up his surprise that I have returned to the boardroom, but fails miserably. He gapes at me with a “deer caught in the headlights” expression, then quickly changes to his trademark smirk. I laugh to myself. Whitney 1. Ryan 0.
“What’s this?” Ryan says coolly.
I am now keenly aware that every eye in the boardroom is on me. I’ve made my scene. Now I had damn well follow through. I steal a quick glance at Jerri. She is my backbone. She gives me a slight nod as if giving me permission to proceed. I drag in a hasty breath and square my shoulders to him.
Here goes…
“Ryan.” I look him directly in his radiant blue eyes. The glow in them causes me to falter. “When…Jerri asked me to take
The look on Ryan’s face softens for a moment, but it is fleeting. “Yes, I could have, but I bet your ass you won’t make that mistake again.”
I gasp. I throw Ryan’s agenda down on the boardroom table. I can’t take this. I cannot fight with someone who doesn’t fight fair.
I turn sharply on my heel toward the boardroom exit. I need air. I have to get out of this room for a few minutes. I fling open the door, and it hits the opposing wall with a bang. Several of the other employees in the boardroom jump at the impact. As it sounds out, I have an immediate flashback of Annalise’s demise. I stalk back to my office.
I walk past a group of employees who are quickly scattering back to their desks after eavesdropping, no doubt. As I walk past the last row of cubicles, I witness two women exchange money over the top of their working spaces. Abruptly, I stop, then walk back to the women.
“What the hell was that for?”
“I…um…” a middle-aged woman stammers, surprised by my outburst. She shakes her head and looks down. “I’m sorry, but there was a bet in the office to see how long you would last,” she mutters apologetically.
“Oh really!” I say matter-of-factly. I am even madder now. “Well give her her money back because I’m far from done here!” I instruct the ladies, and they nod guiltily.
After that slight detour, I continue to my office in a huff. I cannot believe this. My own coworkers actually made a bet against me to see how long I would last. That is complete bullshit. Oh, I will show them. I wear out the carpet in my office, pacing and ranting to myself.
Lord
,
please forgive me, but that motherfucking son of a bitch!
I quickly remember myself. I’m not going to do this. He is not going to run me. I’m going to do my job, and by God, he is going to do his.
Jerri cautiously sticks her head into my office. “I’m so sorry, Whitney,” she offers, dejected.
“It’s OK, Jerri. It’s not your fault. I just need a few minutes to regroup and get my thoughts straight, is all.”
Jerri looks confused. “What do you mean? You’re not quitting?”
“Hell no!” I respond suddenly, without thought. Then remorsefully I add in my best southern drawl, “I’m sorry, Jerri, but no, I’m not. He ain’t running me outta of here.”
I make a few more laps around my office as I quickly devise a plan in my head.
“May I have your permission to speak to him freely?” I ask Jerri. “I believe I can handle this now.”
Jerri smirks. “By all means. I am out of options and open for suggestions.”
I look down at my desk for support for my plan. I spy Ryan’s employment contracts and sponsorship commitments, and instantly my plan is established.
I say with grand authority, “I’m ready, Jerri! Let’s do this!”
Chapter 8
I take a deep breath, grab the stack of bulky documents off my desk, and head back into the boardroom. With Jerri flanking me to the right, I feel strong, although my heart is about to burst out of my chest. She and I stride purposefully through the boardroom door.
I look Ryan squarely in the eye as I slam the contracts on the mahogany table in front of him.
Damn! That felt good!
Ryan tries to cover up his surprise that I have returned to the boardroom, but fails miserably. He gapes at me with a “deer caught in the headlights” expression, then quickly changes to his trademark smirk. I laugh to myself. Whitney 1. Ryan 0.
“What’s this?” Ryan says coolly.
I am now keenly aware that every eye in the boardroom is on me. I’ve made my scene. Now I had damn well follow through. I steal a quick glance at Jerri. She is my backbone. She gives me a slight nod as if giving me permission to proceed. I drag in a hasty breath and square my shoulders to him.
Here goes…
“Ryan.” I look him directly in his radiant blue eyes. The glow in them causes me to falter. “When…Jerri asked me to take
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