Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 20:23:24 GMT
Two Weeks Ago
As I looked around the office, it was much quieter than I was used to. There were a lot of empty desks and a real sense of worry from those who were still around.
It turned out the numbers weren’t great, and that meant a lot of job losses. I guess they figured if people couldn’t get the job done then get rid of them and hire new people who would. Thankfully, my job seemed to be quite secure.
I was scanning through the mountain of notes on my desk when one of the original workers came up to me.
“Becky, right?”
“Yeah that me.”
I smiled, but it was obvious from the scowl on her face she wasn’t here to make friends.
“So what’s the deal? Are you sleeping with him? It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.”
She nodded towards Mr. Stevens and I swear I threw up a little bit.
“Ew no!”
“Seriously? Some of us have been here for years, you’ve been here two minutes, and you of all people get to stay?”
I’ll be honest; I was pretty sick and tired of the judgmental looks and comments at this point.
“Did you ever think maybe I’m just good at my job?”
Judging by the involuntary noise that came out of her, she didn’t like that.
“Oh please, there were others before you, and there will be others after you. I don’t know who you think you are but you should have been one of the first out on your ass. Last in, first out – that’s how it works. If nothing was happening you’d have been out that door like the rest of them, quicker than he can pull the zipper back up on his pants.”
Is that what people thought? And what did she mean ‘others’? Mr. Stevens has never acted like that towards me and I don’t believe he ever would have – with anyone!
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Forget it, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’ve taken matters into our own hands and he’s not going to be a problem anymore.”
Her smirk made me feel uneasy.
“What do you mean?”
She pointed discreetly at the security headed towards his office. They stormed in without so much as a knock; Mr. Stevens looked genuinely confused and concerned. I couldn’t hear what was happening but he grabbed his coat as they gestured for him to leave.
As he left his office I stood up from my chair – he spotted me. I rushed over to the security to find out what was going on.
“What’s happening, where are you taking him?”
“Mr. Stevens is under investigation for some serious sexual harassment allegations. We’ve been instructed to remove him from his post – effective immediately.”
“This is ridiculous! I’ve done nothing of the sort!”
“When will he be able to come back?”
“That we don’t know, Miss. His replacement will arrive later on this afternoon.”
“His replacement?!”
They walked him off towards the main door as he looked at me with concern. I looked back at his empty office and all I could hear was his previous words replaying over and over in my head.
‘So long as I’m in this chair, you’ll always have a job here.’
Did that mean I would be out of a job?
As I looked around the office, it was much quieter than I was used to. There were a lot of empty desks and a real sense of worry from those who were still around.
It turned out the numbers weren’t great, and that meant a lot of job losses. I guess they figured if people couldn’t get the job done then get rid of them and hire new people who would. Thankfully, my job seemed to be quite secure.
I was scanning through the mountain of notes on my desk when one of the original workers came up to me.
“Becky, right?”
“Yeah that me.”
I smiled, but it was obvious from the scowl on her face she wasn’t here to make friends.
“So what’s the deal? Are you sleeping with him? It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.”
She nodded towards Mr. Stevens and I swear I threw up a little bit.
“Ew no!”
“Seriously? Some of us have been here for years, you’ve been here two minutes, and you of all people get to stay?”
I’ll be honest; I was pretty sick and tired of the judgmental looks and comments at this point.
“Did you ever think maybe I’m just good at my job?”
Judging by the involuntary noise that came out of her, she didn’t like that.
“Oh please, there were others before you, and there will be others after you. I don’t know who you think you are but you should have been one of the first out on your ass. Last in, first out – that’s how it works. If nothing was happening you’d have been out that door like the rest of them, quicker than he can pull the zipper back up on his pants.”
Is that what people thought? And what did she mean ‘others’? Mr. Stevens has never acted like that towards me and I don’t believe he ever would have – with anyone!
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Forget it, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’ve taken matters into our own hands and he’s not going to be a problem anymore.”
Her smirk made me feel uneasy.
“What do you mean?”
She pointed discreetly at the security headed towards his office. They stormed in without so much as a knock; Mr. Stevens looked genuinely confused and concerned. I couldn’t hear what was happening but he grabbed his coat as they gestured for him to leave.
As he left his office I stood up from my chair – he spotted me. I rushed over to the security to find out what was going on.
“What’s happening, where are you taking him?”
“Mr. Stevens is under investigation for some serious sexual harassment allegations. We’ve been instructed to remove him from his post – effective immediately.”
“This is ridiculous! I’ve done nothing of the sort!”
“When will he be able to come back?”
“That we don’t know, Miss. His replacement will arrive later on this afternoon.”
“His replacement?!”
They walked him off towards the main door as he looked at me with concern. I looked back at his empty office and all I could hear was his previous words replaying over and over in my head.
‘So long as I’m in this chair, you’ll always have a job here.’
Did that mean I would be out of a job?
