Page 3 of The Layover
They’ve givenmypromotion to Kayleigh. The oneIsuggested because we were both taking on more than we ought to, the oneIfound money in the budget for, the oneIpresented on and petitioned to make happen.
I didn’t even know they were interviewing for it! They didn’t post a job advert anywhere. I’d made it clear in my pitch for the role how I’d be the best fit, and I thought they’d agreed. So for them to have hired Kayleigh instead …
She had to have gone behind my back andaskedthem about it.
The perfect job, and they’ve given it toher.
She’s taken everything else from me – and now this, too. The one thing that felt trulymine. I deserved that promotion. I fuckingearned it. And she’s taken it.
I wait for my stomach to drop, for tears to flood my eyes, but it never happens – probably because, deep down, I’ve known this was coming all along. The little side-chats between Kayleigh and our boss Janet, all, ‘Kayleigh, can I just grab a quick minute?’ and the two of them returning to the office with matching Starbucks cups looking all pally while I’ve been chained to my desk and flooded with workshe’dbegged me to help with. I should’ve known.
‘Does Kayleigh already know about this?’ I ask. She’s been off all week – already in Barcelona luxuriating in the sun before her wedding, but she must know.
There’s a beat before Janet says, ‘We discussed this with her last week. I’m sorry it’s taken us a little while to get back to you—’
‘I wasin the officeearlier,’ I snap – snarl – because God, I know things are hectic right now but it’s not like she couldn’t have found two minutes to call me on Teams. It’s not like we weren’t bothin the same meeting, in person, today.
Clearly, Janet was too much of a coward to tell me to my face, but thought Friday afternoon when I’m headed to the airport was just the right time. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d clean forgotten about me and had a last-minute panic because she knew I’d be seeing Kayleigh and should’ve heard the news by now.
I’mseething.
She’s still talking in a gentle, steady cadence, as if to a child. ‘We want you to know how much we appreciate all the workyou put into making the case for this role, Gemma. It really showcased your willingness to go above and beyond; maybe if you continue to apply yourself this way there will be future opportunities for progression, but we’ve made our decision …’
I roll my eyes at the buzzword-filled banality of Janet’s little speech, until she says –
‘And Kayleigh mentioned that you’ve been struggling a lot with your workload lately, which was obvious to us all in your pitch for creating the new position …’
Hang on. She didwhat?!
‘It just wouldn’t have been the right fit for you at this time. And of course, we’d encourage you to seek out our mental wellbeing services if you find you are a bit burnt out.’
I hiss, ‘I’mburnt outbecause you keep overloading us with work, which is exactly what I explained when I pitched the need for this new role. I’mmorethan capable of doing this job and you know it. It’s what I already do—’
I’m interrupted by a gentle, patronising sigh.
‘We appreciate how hard you work, Gemma, but you have a real follow-through problem. It’s been made very clear to us that you struggle to complete tasks and need additional support, which Kayleigh has already proved she provides …’
Now, I’m seeing red.
The airport around me has become a hazy, scarlet blur, and my whole body is vibrating with white-hot fury. My mind throws up a quick montage of all the times Kayleigh has asked me for help at work, only to take it back at the last minute when her schedule has miraculously cleared. The work she’s oh-so-kindly suggested helping me with because she has the contacts or the time, and I’m just glad to have something taken off my overflowing plate …
Fuck. She’s Vultured me. Exactly like that arsehole fromBrooklyn Nine-Nine.She’sThe Vulture.
How didn’t I see it before?
The worst part is that I’ve always known what she’s like, and Istilldidn’t see it happening. I thought we were just … being collaborative. Helping each other out. Doing what friends do. If I never noticed, how can I expect our boss to?
But I still snap, ‘This is way out of order and you know it. YouknowI deserve that promotion. YouknowI put the time in, the effort. So what, just because I’m not the smiley, bubbly one who doesn’t actually get shit done, then—’
The sigh this time isdefinitelyshort-tempered. Janet mutters, ‘This is exactly the sort of attitude problem we were concerned about, Gemma … Look, we’ve made our decision. That’s that. Now, enjoy the long weekend away, and we’ll see you back here bright and early Tuesday morning, yes?’
Attitude problem? She thinksI’vegot anattitude problem?
What the hell has Kayleigh been saying about me behind my back?
I think I say something at least halfway polite before hanging up.
I want to scream. I don’t, obviously, because I think that’s the kind of shit they’ll arrest you for in an airport, but my knuckles go white around the handle of my wheelie carry-on bag, and bile rises in my throat.
