Page 73 of Begin Again Again

She listened idly, opening work emails and scanning the news headlines. As always, her mind circled back to Byron. Where was he working today? Was he thinking about her? They’d exchanged a few texts since Friday, but they still didn’t have plans. She’d be happy to ask him out but seeing as he wanted to keep things casual, she’d thought it might be better if he made the next move…

The Chief of Staff left the meeting, probably to beg his kids not to bounce on the trampoline while he was at work, and Beth’s nemesis, Glenda, took over. She was a boxy blonde whose large eyes leant her an entirely undeserved friendliness. She wasn’t a manager, but her unofficial position as the CoS’s right-hand woman let her grab the wheel whenever she wanted. Despite the lockdown, she was already back in the office and took every opportunity to imply they should all be doing the same.

“Bethany,” she said. “How are things coming along with the Lippert correspondence?”

Beth started. “I’ve almost done it!”

People smirked and she realised she hadn’t unmuted her microphone. She clicked the mic button and leaned into the screen, as though that would help. “I was waiting on the original email from Ritchie, but he’s sent it to me. It’ll be in Maggie’s in-tray in ten minutes.”

“I see.” Glenda blinked. “Can you please turn on your camera?”

Beth’s blood turned to ice. She looked down at her dressing gown. Unsurprisingly, it was still there. “Uhh, I’m having technical issues. It freezes if I have the camera on. I’ve called IT about it.”

“I see.” Glenda blinked again, a small smile spreading across her face. Beth’s colleagues shifted about awkwardly. It was clear no one believed her. Which was fair. It was a bullshit lie.

“Do you have anything else for me?” she asked, because Glenda seemed ready to savour the awkwardness for the rest of time.

Her smile was sickly sweet. “No. Although for future reference, you should have your camera on at every full staff meeting.”

Beth gave her laptop the finger. “No worries.”

Glenda dropped her gaze to her notepad. “Helen, when is Mr Patterson due to call in?”

As Helen scrambled to answer, Beth muted her microphone and drew oxygen into her lungs. Glenda always made her feel like she was taking the piss. She’d bet she’d noticed her camera was off and pulled the Lippert question out of her ass—just to make sure everyone else knew it too. It sounded paranoid, but Glenda was the kind of deluded fuckstick that considered micromanaging and sticking the boot in to be the twin peaks of professionalism.

“… and to circle back to you, Bethany?”

Beth hit unmute. “Yes?”

“We had a complaint about not being able to get through on the phones yesterday.”

Beth’s colleagues shifted uncomfortably again. Caroline, the closest thing Beth had to a friend in the office, flicked her gaze to the top of her screen. Not an eye roll, but close.

Beth considered her response. There were many things she’dliketo say. She’d like to say‘Who complained, Glenda? What was their name? What time did they call? Did it really happen, or did you invent this out of thin fucking air because you love implying I can’t do my job?’

She cleared her throat. “We got three calls yesterday and I answered all of them.”

“Well, maybe the line is having trouble connecting remotely? We never had issues like this in the office.”

Aaaaand there it was. “I don’t think that’s the case, but I can check with IT.”

“While you’re getting your camera looked at?”

Beth forced a smile no one could see. “Exactly.”

Glenda plucked up her phone like a crane pecking at a water beetle. “Well, you do that, because we cannot keep missing calls.”

“Sure,” Beth said, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. “That’s cool.”

“No, it’s not cool, actually, Bethany, because we need every single call to the office answered. Every single one.”

Jesus H Christ.“No worries,” she said, mimicking Glenda’s upward lilt. “I’ll chase it up today.”

“That would be good. Thank yooooou.”

Glenda turned her attention to the TEAR reports and Beth yanked out her earbuds.

“Shitshow?” Lara asked.

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