Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I felt Frank bristle beside me, but he didn’t speak. Keegan must have noticed it too, because he stood up and faced Sean.
“The Design team did nothing wrong here. They were working with the data they were given,” he spoke calmly, his arms folded across his chest.
Sean laughed. “It’s pathetic! And it’s up to you to figure out who is responsible and get rid of them.”
“I won’t be getting rid of anyone. If anything, we are understaffed. You have rushed every aspect of this project, with no explanation for why. I won’t have it blamed on my people.”
“Your people! They were working with data that is two weeks out of date!” Sean exclaimed angrily.
“No,” I heard myself say, and the room spun a little.
“What?” Sean rounded on me, a warning look in his eyes.
Keegan looked at me again and cocked an eyebrow. He looked like he was trying to suppress a smile.
“The new pricing structure – it was only sent over Friday afternoon at four-thirty. It was attached to an email about something else. I only saw it because it was printed along with other attachments. There was no way the designers would have used that data. In fact, there is an unanswered email from Keegan to yourself asking for confirmation of the pricing structure. I saw it as I was searching on Friday,” I spoke quietly but firmly, and I looked Sean square in the eye.
I realized in a split second that I had one major advantage in this job – I didn’t really care if they fired me. I spent half the time on the verge of walking out anyway, and I had quickly realized that an intern in the Design department was never going to hear anything juicy or gain access to anything dodgy. So fuck it, they could fire me if they wanted. I was done with smiling and nodding. The three men stared at me. Sean looked like he might explode – he was glaring at me, never breaking eye contact. It was actually a nice change from where his eyes usually were.
“Frank,” said Keegan. “Thank you for the work you did on Friday to rectify the mistake; please reassure the team. That is all for now. Ms. Hancock, a moment more of your time.”
Frank quickly disappeared out through the door, and Keegan turned to Sean with one word. “Leave.”
Sean did not reply, but turned to me, suddenly all business-like again. “We will be reviewing your participation in the intern program, Ms. Hancock…”
“Ms. Hancock will no longer be taking part in your precious intern program.” Keegan spat the words at his brother, and I flushed with embarrassment at the obvious inference that the program was, as I suspected, simply a ready supply of women for Sean to lord it over.
“Well,” Sean said, clearly surprised at this and giving me a patronizing smile. “That’s something.”
Sean left, slamming the door as he went, and I found myself alone with Keegan. I stood looking out the window behind Keegan for long enough to ensure that Sean would be well out of the way, then I turned to the door.
“Effie?” he asked, and I paused.
“What?” I asked, no longer feeling the need to be particularly polite. I just wanted out of there, free of the drama, free of the double life, and I could almost sense the relief that awaited me. Keegan seemed to almost laugh, and it made me angry.
“Thank you, Effie. That wasn’t easy for you. I, however, very much enjoyed seeing my brother put in his place so succinctly,” he smiled. “But I’m afraid your position as an intern is no longer tenable.”
“Yes, I heard you,” I said, and made to leave.
“So, the only option for you is to take up a new position. I need an assistant…” He left the sentence hanging as I paused with my back to him, trying to process what he was saying. I couldn’t quite take it in, let alone find a tactful way to decline.
“I don’t think so,” I said, looking him in his blue eyes. “I don’t know what way this place is run, but I’m out.” Once more, I made for the door.
“I know,” he said. “It will be a big step up from an internship, with more responsibility, but you have just demonstrated integrity, and that counts for a lot here. Or at least it should,” he glanced at the door and then at the floor.
This was it. I felt it rather than thought it. This was the chance I had been hoping for. This was the ‘something’ that Beatrix and I kept saying would come along. I knew I had to take it, and the confidence – arrogance, even – that I had felt when I thought I was going to quit or be fired had quickly left me. I tried to compose myself, and it appeared that Keegan Callahan was doing the same.