Chapter 0031
The other candidates and I joined Logan in the middle of the room. I caught a glimpse of Elena at her desk. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her. I guess she still hadn’t gotten over being kicked out of the running so quickly.
I gave her a little wave. She flipped me off.
“As you all know, these candidates have been working very hard over the past couple weeks in an effort to secure the position as my chief secretary. You all should be proud of yourselves,” Logan said, looking at the candidates for the last part. I smiled at him and he, surprisingly, returned the smile.
“And so, without further ado, I would like to announce that I am appointing Ms. Hazel Whitaker as my chief secretary, effective immediately.” He began to clap, and the rest of the staff joined in. My mouth. broke out in a wide grin. Man, did I need that news after the past couple months. “Ms. Whitaker, congratulations.”
I looked over at Maria, who was clapping and cheering the loudest. I beamed at her.
“That is all. Everyone back to work,” Logan said.
The other candidates dispersed back to their desks, looking none too pleased with the announcement. Each one gave me a dirty look as they passed, but I just ignored them. I didn’t care. I had won. Finally, I had won something.
Logan walked up to me.
“Thank you sir,” I said. “I am so grateful for this opportunity.”
“It is well–deserved,” he replied. “Go ahead and gather your things, I’ll have you move to the desk right
outside my office straight away.”
“Yes, right away sir,” I said as he walked back to his office. I began to walk to our supply closet to grab a box, and Maria speed–walked over to catch up to me.
“Congratulations!” She said, throwing her arms around me, I hugged her back. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d felt so happy. “I got you something.”
She pulled a small box from her back pocket and handed it to me.
“Wha…how did you get me a gift for this so quickly?”
She shrugged. “Oh, come on, we all knew you were going to get the job. Open it!”
I opened the box. A pair of what appeared to be diamond stud earrings sat inside. “Oh, Maria, these are beautiful! Please tell me you didn’t spring for actual diamonds.”
She laughed. “Please, on our salary? You know better than that.”
I hugged her. “Thank you. You are an amazing friend.”
She smiled. “Come on, I’ll help you pack up your desk.”
We walked into the supply closet and searched for a small box. As we were looking. I felt someone walk up behind me. I turned and jumped.
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Chapter 0031
“Oh! Peter, you scared me,” I said, my hand flying up to my heart.
“I just wanted to say congratulations,” he said, smiling.
“Why?” Maria muttered under her breath. I elbowed her.
“Thank you,” I said warily. Peter had replaced Bob after he was fired, in more ways than one I had imagined. He was a new supervisor and on more than one occasion, I saw him sneaking off with Elena to this very closet we found ourselves in now.
In his very short time with us, we had already learned to not trust him. Another trait he shared with Bob. He was conniving and generally a crotchety old man, so hearing him actually say something nice was a bit unnerving.
He stood for a moment longer and finally said, “Would you mind coming to my office for a brief meeting?” He looked at Maria. “…alone.”
Maria and I glanced at each other. Something was definitely up.
“I’m sorry, I have to get my things moved…” I started.
“Don’t worry, this will only take a moment. It is quite urgent.” He said.
“Yes, sir, I’ll be there soon,” I forced a smile.
He gave a small nod and left the supply closet.
“Is it just me, or does that man…” Maria started to say
“Yes,” I answered.
Maria laughed. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“I think the whole office has the same opinion of that creep,” I whispered. “Whatever you were going to say, I feel the same.”
I spotted a box finally on the floor behind boxes of copy paper. We stepped out of the closet and I looked at Peter’s office door. It was open, and I could see him pacing inside.
“I guess I had better get this over with,” I said.
Maria took the box from my hand. “Good luck with that I’ll start packing up your desk for you.”
“First the earrings and now this?” I said, placing my hand on my heart. “You’re too good to me.”
“I am a pretty good friend, aren’t I?” Maria winked.
We laughed and parted ways. I headed to Peter’s office. He spotted me walking and ran out, waving at
me to hurry up. I quickened my step, already dreading whatever this meeting entailed.
He closed the door behind me once I entered. “Well, Ms. Whitaker, I’m sure you know what this meeting is about.”
really don’t,” I said, a little snarkier than intended.
He sat on the edge of his desk and pointed to the chair in front of it. “Please, sit.”
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Chapter 0031
I sat on the edge of the seat, ready to bolt the moment this meeting went awry. I felt in my gut that this was not going to be a nice, congratulatory meeting.
“Hazel, I need to ask for a personal favor. Would you mind doing something for me?” He started.
“Uh…It depends,” I said.
“On?”
“Well, what the favor is, firstly. If I’ll have time between the tasks Logan has given me. Things like that,” I answered.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll be more than happy to find time for this one,” he said, a sleazy smile spreading across his face.
“What is it?” I was tired of the run–around already.
“I need you to steal…ah, locate, I mean….some confidential information about Logan for me,” he said, moving around to sit in the chair behind his desk.
I jumped up out of mine. It took everything in me to not tell him off. “No, sir, I cannot betray his trust like that.”
“Oh, that is a shame. Because if you do, we both get a chance at promotions. But if you do not, you’ll be out of a job completely,” he fake frowned at me.
“You do not have that power, I’m not under you anymore,” I said, my work filter starting to disappear. Unless…” Unless he was going to try and screw me over like Bob did, I almost said out loud. Luckily the filter did manage to stop that one.
“Unless I had something on you? I knew you were a smart one,” Peter smiled. “Don’t you worry.” He leaned forward. “I do.”
“What could you possibly have on me? I haven’t done anything wrong here,” I scoffed.
“I know that you used sexual advances and bribes to get that latest promotion of yours.”
I
The color drained from my face. Had someone caught Logan and I in the locker room together the other night?
