Page 24 of Beauty and the Grease
Not good. Not good.
“Kevin says you were yakking about your daughter’s softball games yesterday,” Cliff grounds out while the rest of the team files out to lunch. “Says you told him it’s tough to get to school activities. Do you want this job or not?”
Kevin sold me out? What a dirt bag. “Of course.”
Cliff crosses his arms. “Prove it.”
Like what, a dare? “I’ve been dedicated to this company for over ten years. I’ve brought in top clients—”
“Not the past. Now. Prove it now.”
Think fast.Why are you here?“My kids. My kids are everything to me. I’m here to provide for them.”
“Family? You let your wife walk off with all that money. Practically engaged to another man while you’re puttering around.”
Puttering aroundmaking money for the company.
Two coworkers walk right by us. They had to have heard Cliff. It’s embarrassing. “My personal life is none of your business.”
I can’t believe I said it. I never talk back to Cliff. But I’m so mad, I don’t even think about apologizing.
Cliff flinches. His eyes dart to the door where the last of the group trickles out. “This isn’t a company who hires anyone off the street. We excel through our reputation. I canruinyours.”
I see red. My fists ball on their own, but I can’t show weakness.
“You have one last shot.” I can tell Cliff loves holding this over me. “Tell me, how will you prove youdeservethis job?”
I came here to save my job, and I’m failing. A thought springs to mind. “I’ll bring in all of VanHousen this year. The whole account, not just the region.”
He snickers. “You don’t have the skills. Or the connections.”
Except I do. I am well past green and inexperienced. “I brought in the VanHousen account when everyone said it couldn’t be done. I turned one region in my first two years here. I maintain relationships with five of our top ten clients. I am an asset to this company.”
Cliff doesn’t exactly back off, but I’ve cracked him. “You have six months to do it or you’re out.”
Six months to bring in the full array of our toughest client? Maybe I’m off my rocker. Maybe I’m destined to fail. But what I know for now is, I just saved my job.
Lunch passes in a blur. I saved my job. I did it.
I want to tell Jenny.
I don’t have her number to text her. I check the yoga studio, but it’s empty.
Ben is my only safe outlet to share the news while we’re stuck in another team building activity. At least we’re outdoors on the retreat grounds, rotating between archery, horseshoes, a small putting green (very popular), and a station for bushcraft skills. Emma and Owen might like this. Knot tying maybe. Carving designs into leather. Definitely how to start a fire with flint. It’s like the reality show we watch together where contestants are dropped off in extreme wilderness and film themselves surviving. We like to pick which people will give up first because they’re sad they miss their kids.
Aw, dang.Imiss my kids. I grab the booklet about knot tying with sample pieces of string, then move on to the fire-starting station.
“Wish we were over there.” Ben nods beyond us.
A group crosses the grounds carrying rolled-up yoga mats. My chest thumps at the sight of her.Jenny.
“How long have you two been dating? You never mentioned her.”
I guess I’m that obvious. “We aren’t. I mean, we did, a long time ago. It didn’t work out.”
“Second chances, man. You’ve still got your job and now a shot at a firecracker who can change a tire.”
“Shut up.”
