Page 11 of Be Your Anything
“I’m sure Ellison justlovesthat,” Paige replies with a sour expression.
I sigh, not wanting to drag our conversation into the mud but feeling that ever-present itch to rip my colleague to shreds.
Things between Ellison and me are…tense.
If tense means horrifyingly depressing and irredeemable for no reason other than Ellison’s unadulterated jealousy and hatred for me and my family.
Okay, that’s not fair. Ellison isn’t a hate-filled person…I don’t think. She’s just…easily frustrated when she doesn’t get her way.
Yes. That sounds much better.
As much as I trust this group of friends, I’m still fairly careful what I say in public settings, knowing anyone could be listening. Talking negatively about a colleague—especially one who works for my family’s foundation—is a definite no-no.
It’s an expectation my mother and grandmother practically hammered into me growing up.If you don’t want everyone to know about it, keep it to yourself.
That little gem of wisdom has definitely come in handy over the course of my life. Sure, I like being the go-to girl in Hermosa Beach when it comes to town gossip, but I’m incredibly careful about how I use the information I possess.
My three rules are simple: I never share anything I haven’t verified, I neveruse information to hurt people, and I never seek personal gain.
So, how I feel about Ellison Marie Tillman? Apart from talking to Paige about it within the confines of my home—because she’s my bestie and what are besties for other than to vent your rage—the angry coal of dislike I feel towards Ellison will stay burning in my chest until the day I die.
“I don’t think she was pleased to find out the event hadn’t been handed to her after her previous boss’s departure,” I say, my response careful and somewhat politically worded, “but it’s only logical that my position manage this event. The only reason she has planned it in the past is because my predecessor didn’t want the responsibility.”
“This is the chick who threw a fit when you were hired into the position she wanted, right?” Rebecka asks.
I’m a little startled by the question, as I didn’t even realize Rebecka was listening to us—a prime example of why I try to measure what I say.
But before I can even respond, Paige jumps in.
“She didn’t justthrow a fit. She scheduled a meeting with Bernard to complain about favoritism on Lennon’sfirst dayof work, then cornered her in the office and went allMean Girlbitchy and said some shit that was just absolu—”
“Paige.” My use of my best friend’s name cracks like a whip through the air, and she stops talking, slumping slightly in her chair with her lips pursed and an irritated expression on her face.
“She’s horrible,” she adds then puts her hands up. “But I won’t say anything else.”
I wish I felt comfortable sitting around talking shit about Ellison, because she really does make my life an absolute living hell at work.
Shedidthrow a fit when I was hired into the Director of Event Operations position at the beginning of this year, and shedidschedule a meeting with my grandfather on my first day, threatening to sue the foundation for discrimination. She was laughed out of his office.
She confronted me a few days later, when we were the only two in the office, calling me entitled and privileged and then accusing the company of favoritism because I’m part of the Roth family.
The little nasty part of my soul I keep caged up wanted to throw my hands out to my sides and shout,Duh, you stupid cow. My last name might be different, but I’m a Roth by blood. OfcourseI’m going to get treated with favoritism. That’s how life works!
I kept that to myself, though, mostly because the majority of me is incredibly embarrassed that the words even came to mind, but also because I know nothing would come of me saying anything like that to her.
It doesn’t matter that I didn’t even apply for the job. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t intentionally attempt to disrupt her plan to move up at The Roth Foundation. And it certainly doesn’t matter that I never wanted to work for my family’s legacy in the first place.
The fact of the matter is she sees the decision to hire me as an injustice.
Even though I’m qualified for the position, and even though I’ve been getting consistently positive feedback and praise since I took over the role in January, Ellison sees me as a threat. I don’t see her backing down from herMean Girlways, as Paige calls them, any time soon.
That said, whether I enjoy gossip or not, I have my family’s reputation to consider, and that will always influence how I approach things.
“Let’s talk about something else,” I say quietly, hoping to move us away from any more discussions about Ellison.
Paige gives me a slightly sympathetic look before turning to the table and announcing that she’s thinking about piercing her nipples.
I giggle, feeling thankful that she was able to steer the conversation away from its eventual direction. But, even though the whole table is laughing and carrying on about my friend’s declaration, I’m unable to fully rejoin the discussion.
