Page 28 of Dear Grumpy Boss

I clicked on her message.

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Dear Grumpy Boss,

Is that better? Anyone reading this would know I was addressing you.

I am extremely relieved for the trees. Still, the Post-its are unnecessary. Ages 10-13, I spent studying elephants and have retained everything I learned.

Expertly,

Elise

I bit my lip to hold back a laugh.Grumpy Boss. Only her. She told me once I was Elliot’s grumpiest friend. It hadn’t seemed like an insult, merely an observation.

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Dear Elise,

I’ll inform human resources of the change in my name. It may cause some confusion, but in the end, cutting to the chase will be much more efficient.

On a differentnote, what did you have to discuss with my brother in the stairwell?

Notably,

Weston

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Dear Grumpy Boss,

Can you also report to HR that my boss is prohibiting me from getting my work done? If you send your name change and my complaint in one email, your efficiency level will rise exponentially.

That is between Miles, the stairwell, and me.

Have a good day.

Conclusively,

Elise

Though Elise was done with this interaction, I still wanted an answer. I started to formulate a reply when Renata sent me a message through the internal system.

You have a call in five minutes. If you’re not up here to take it, I’m officially taking over your position. I’ll have you know, I’ve always thought Andes should start using more polyester. Like leisure suits. That will be my first decision as CEO. Disco wear.

I grimaced at her threat and shut down my laptop. I’d played around enough. I was responsible for too many livelihoods to loiter on the seventh floor, waiting for a glimpse of a smile from a girl who could barely deign to acknowledge me.

It was six on a Friday. Most of the staff had left for the weekend. I was sitting at my desk, catching up on work I’d neglected the past two weeks.

Distracted.

That didn’t happen often.

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