By Nine you could feel the air tense up. The new CEO was in the building and boy did everyone feel it.
No amount of pep talking could prepare them for the feeling of his presence. It felt like he was already watching you, waiting for the slightest mistake to end you.
Thankfully they had finished looking through everything and before seven all employees were in the company getting to the last finishing touches.
The president and the major board members were at the reception to greet him.
Everyone was still working but the crushing feeling of a criticizing eye and threat of being fired weighed everyone into silence. The only sounds on her floor right now were the ticking of the clock, the clicking of computer keys, shuffling of paper, scribbling of pens and the silent whoosh of the Air Conditioner.
This was the most silence she had ever heard in her three years of working here. Even the coffee dispenser that bad been having somewhat of a panic attack two hours ago seemed to know what was at stake.
They were all in the same boat here. If they got fired, it got scrapped. Although it was still going anyway. It had sprayed Marlene with a shower of expresso. There was no going back after that. Especially since she smelled like she did take a bath in expresso.
Ten o’clock came and still nothing, they were all still tensed wondering what would happen next.
The whole day went by and nothing happened. Some were breathing out sighs of relief, others knew not to count their chickens before they hatched. This was just the calm before the storm.
That being said just because their department was spared today did not mean they were free. Their turn would come and the clear reminder were the people from other departments taking their things away, some in tears, angry, dragged out by security.
What had gone on in the hours before was nothing short of a massacre.
By lunch the next day you could tell that there were less employees, that and the line of job seekers waiting to be interviewed. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure or in this case, one man’s misfortune was another man’s lucky day.
Rumors spread about those that got fired. They said some stole, some overlooked things and the others were just not up to par.
It was hard and terrifying to hear. And unbelievable but expected as friends of those fired denied ever knowing them or what they did. It was easy to see who was rightfully punished and who was using who as a scapegoat.
Especially since her own experiences had thought her to distinguish a lie from truth and who was dishing out either.
Lucinda and the girls had come back, they had to be driven back by some guy because they all had mammoth sized hangovers from last night. The guy in question, a dreamy looking siren hybrid with brown hair, black eyes and a panty dropping smile, turned out to be Penny’s little brother, Terrance.
He had dropped off Sandra and Kelly already and was dropping off Lucinda when she got to her apartment.
He was such a gentleman too, if only he was older. Congrats to the younger generation. Hmmph.
He still had to drop off Jennifer and she hoped she was too hungover to try anything. Jennifer could be a little controversial with her choices.
Besides, from the way the kid turned bright red when he accidentally saw Lucinda’s lace thong collection, it was safe to say he was still swimming in non-shark infested waters and the little procreation lesson at school and raging hormones were still a touchy, no-talking-about-it-i-do-not-want-to-hear-it subject.
In other words, Penny would kill her if she got even a miniscule incling she was planning on doing that.
Maybe Penny planned this, seeing as Jennifer was covering her face in a hoodie, trying to keep all light and sound from reaching her head.
She had badly groaned when she had asked her how she was doing.
Yep, definitely pre–planned. In this state she could not sweet talk a bed bug to stay in her bed.
When Lucinda finally came out of it, Rita asked for all the juicy details while she brewed coffee. She regretted it. She should have been there.
She had been right and wrong. The bachelorette was wild but not that way. Penny changed a few things so it would not be like she missed something grand, bless her.
But from what she was hearing right now it was grand. They had gone to a beach house, they had gone skinny dipping, those poor fish. Drank cocktails while being massaged by hunky manservants.
Treasure hunting, the treasure being really gorgeous jewelry and nice specimens in briefs and ribbons.
There were drinks, one too many–looking at Lucinda–and chocolate, the nice expensive kind.
Although Lucinda said they had skipped out on flying the last day because of the hangover.
Thank goodness for that because she was practically on the verge of screaming. While they had had a good time, she was stuck with mount Everest sized paperwork and the tension of possibly getting fired within the week.
Lucinda must have noticed her face. No, she most definitely did because she stopped talking and took the plastic cup away from her.
She could be really dangerous with anything from rubber to squishy cubes and those were on the least dangerous list.
Lucinda was looking at her like she was bomb on a twelve second countdown. “Rita, what’s the matter?”
Her hands moved to the sides of her forehead gently massaging it.
“Where do I start?”
Lucinda put the cup away and sat beside her on the kitchen counter. Her strawberry blonde hair settling in its usual wavy perfection. “Try at the beginning.”
“Well, I told you that the former CEO died some three weeks ago right?”
“Yeah you did, Mr Deleze was it?”
Her voice started out calm “That’s the one. Marlene made me come in by six in the morning. Wanna know why? Because the new CEO is a total prick. That’s why.”
Didn’t stay calm for long though.
Lucinda’s eyes blazed purple.”Did he try anything?”
“If by something you mean giving orders three hours before he came in to look through every single account from the last ten years till now, then yes.”
“Thank heavens I didn’t go heavily into buisness, all those clauses and numbers, good grief.” She sighed in relief.
Rita narrowed her eyes at her and Lucinda raised her dainty arms in surrender.
“He’s also on a firing rampage. Yesterday twenty people got fired.”
“For a company that size that number is really small but thinking about them, poor things, interviews have already started haven’t they?”
Rita just nodded and continued.
“Another five were out today.”
“And you’re scared you might be next tomorrow.” Lucinda said in a calm voice.
Rita again just nodded.
“That won’t happen and even if it does you still have your buisness. It has grown a lot already hasn’t it?” She asked, trying to bring her out of the tensed, close to depressed slump she was in.
The buisness Lucinda was talking about was another proud decision Rita made in her life. It was a little confectionary buisness. Although it was small it had gotten her through in the first year after graduation. For herself and her sister.
It could hold her up till she found another job in the advent of that situation. She would start buying stocks again.
“You’re right. Not all is lost. I can still have something to fall back on.” She said quietly.
Lucinda smiled and got off the counter. She made her way to the fridge. “Want something to eat?” She asked, going through the collosal refrigerator.
Lucinda’s apartment was huge when compared to most living spaces in the city. She remembered asking how much the place was once over the phone while drinking tea. Others would call it a chocolate milk drink but to heck with that.
When Lucinda said half a million dollars, she nearly choked on the milky chocolatey goodness.
Guess if you are an upcoming actress you could afford something posh.
“No, I’m okay.” Rita replied.
Lucinda got out of the fridge and looked at her like she had grown seven heads. “You that could eat a large bowl of pasta with large meatballs with coleslaw on the side, whenever no problem. You really are bothered about this thing aren’t you?”
She just kept quiet. Lucinda was right. She was a foodie and that was why she first started with the confectionaries. More than once people had asked her where she put it all.
As if they all could not see she was fat. At twenty eight this was a nightmare. She sometimes wondered what any of her exes had seen in her.
Jennifer had told her she was not fat and when compared to her cousin, Lily. It was true, even she could see that.
She still felt fat. She would go dieting again.
Lucinda like the temptress she had been described as more than once brought out a generous slice of devil’s chocolate cake and set it in front of her with a fork.
Oh no, chocolate. Her weakness.
The temptress was smirking. “It’s from the bachelorette, we saved you some.”
At that her heart melted.
“Thank you.” She said, giving her a hug.
After which she proceeded to give the delicious confection wrapped attention.
The thought of dieting completely thrown out the window.
“By the way who fixed up your arm?” Lucinda asked.