Page 71 of Beck and Call

She gave me a tour of the office and walked me through the current ad campaigns back in her office. We started to dig into the most pressing project when her father walked in unannounced with Chad.

"Chad would really like to work on our most important campaign. I'd really like him properly trained if he's going to take over the division."

"What division?" she asked. The way she clutched her fists at her side signaled that she already knew the answer.

"This one, sweetie. Don't you think it's time you settled down?"

"So I can't work, and can instead have a family?"

He checked his watch. "Just show your cousin the ropes. I'd like to announce his promotion at the end of the month."

"What am I supposed to do at the end of the month?" Jana asked.

"There'll always be a position here for you, as long as you want to work. I'm sure we can find something. Your little friend can continue working as Chad's assistant if everything works out."

Once Mr. Easton walked out of the room, Chad crossed the room and sat in Jana's chair. "You heard your father. You need to train me for my new role."

"Chad is it?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Jana and I were going to have lunch. We'll be with you later this afternoon."

"Fine," he rose from the chair and buttoned his suit jacket. "But don't think this kind of impertinence will be tolerated when you're working for me. I've heard you were really good to your last boss."

Jana snapped out of her fog of anger just as I was slipping into it. She dragged me out of the room and gently shoved me onto the elevator.

"So what are you going to do?" I asked once my head cleared.

She shrugged and stared straight forward. "What can I do? I'll train him to take over."

"That doesn't sound like you."

She glanced over at me. "What would you have me do?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe sabotage this campaign, pin it on your cousin, and move along to a different job even when your dad begs you to stay."

"That's great, but it isn't like I have another job lined up. Despite the fact I graduated from Stanford with my Bachelor’s, everyone assumes I was hired because it's my dad's company. Until today I assumed he hired me because I was the best. Maybe everyone else is right."

"I don't think that is what everyone believes, and if they do, fuck them," I seethed.

"Either way, what am I going to do?"

I grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. "You are going to snap out of this funk. You are a badass businesswoman, and no man, not even your father, is going to define you."

She straightened her spine and stood tall. "Yeah! But seriously, what are we going to do?"

"We're going to tank this campaign," I repeated.

"How? It's booze from a recognizable brand. It practically sells itself."

I smiled. "That part will be easy. We'll let your cousin plan the campaign. He doesn't strike me as particularly talented."

She put her arm around my shoulder. "You are devious. What are we going to do about jobs?"

I cringed. She wasn't going to like this part. "We are going to work for my father instead."

She dropped her arm and started walking away. "Nope. I'd rather eat glass."

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