Page 16 of The Photograph

James frowns. “How that’s even possible in this day and age I don’t even know.”

“Oh, believe me, it is. This is the first place I’ve worked where it wasn’t an underlying current in every interaction I had. Subtle isn’t exactly my middle name. I don’t play the game.”

“What game?”

“The pretending-to-be-straight-for-work game?”

“Is that a thing?”

“In the LGBTQ community, it is.”

“Has Jo said anything?”

“About me being gay?”

“No, about the problems in the office.”

“Yeah. She said there was gossip around the office that I was bad-tempered. That I didn’t listen or take account of concerns.”

His eyes widen. “You’re kidding me. Jesus, they’re a bunch of troublemakers.”

His phone rings again, and his face goes tight when he glances at it.

“Who’s that?” I say nosily.

“Jane,” he says. “Let me message her.”

I wait until he puts it down again.

“Jo suggested I get some formal training.”

“Oh God. That sounds like the kiss of death. I can’t believe she’s seriously worried about you.”

“Samsung is eighty per cent of our business, James. I’d be amazed if she wasn’t worried about how I’m managing the team.”

“What about Cath? She’s motivated and eager to take as much on as she can. She can weather at least some of the team bullshit.”

Unlike me.

“I feel like it’s my responsibility. Maybe I’m not cut out to be a manager. I’m terrible with whiney people.”

“You’re all over the Samsung account, Des, putting plans in place, making things happen. You’re great with people. It’s fine not to gel with everyone, that’s normal.”

“We’re way behind on the security update. A new set of people are starting in two days, and I don’t want to bring them into a mess like this.” I wave my arm over the desks tucked tightly against each other on the other side of the glass.

James stares up at the high Victorian windows that make up one wall of the room. “Hmmm.”

Is he appreciating the seriousness of what I’m saying? My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I take it out and place it on the table. James purses his lips at me.

“What elsecanwe do?” I say.

“Why don’t we see what this new lot are like? Perhaps we can mix them up with the old group, blend the personalities into something that will work. Maybe even smaller teams,” he says.

“I don’t think anyone is going to work well with Rodrigo.”

“True.”

“Sensible plan, though. And thanks.”

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