Page 36 of The Last Dance

9

Almost A Promotion

Ambri

‘Ambri! Can I see you in my office?’ Jimmy’s voice bellows through the room, bouncing off every wall from here to there and drilling its way into my skull.

The vocal request of Jimmy to everyone in the office is enough to make every one of us cringe. Being called by him personally, and not through a demanding email, never leads to good things.

‘Sure,’ I croak out as I make my way across the room and into his office.

I’ve only ever been called into his office aloud in front of everyone once and it was to tell me that I couldn’t write a story on State Fair cotton candy flavors because apparently the only person who cares that much about spun sugar is me. Who knew?

‘I wanted to talk to you about your piece on Lyssa Coleman.’

I know it made the site because it was the first thing I checked when I got up this morning. For my first ever celebrity interview, it wasn’t terrible. In fact, it was really exciting last night to meet her and get to hang out for a few while we chatted.

Most of the nerves I had were about facing Henry again. I guess things could have gone worse. I caught him watching me a couple times, but not in a weird way. I’ve never seen the look on his face he had last night. Like he was lost. I really hope he’s not still lost. That’s something I never wanted for him. During our brief conversation it’s safe to say I was more than frazzled. I hope he didn’t notice how difficult a time I had even finding the words I did say.

‘Was something wrong?’ I ask nervously, fidgeting with the ring on my forefinger. He probably found some reason to hate it and is getting ready to tell me he pulled it after a second read because it was shit after all.

‘Actually, quite the opposite. You made me wonder why all I’ve got you writing about is food. Unlike Josh’s previous stories, yours had some depth. You made me interested in a girl I couldn’t care less about.’ He sits at his desk after pacing in front of the windows as he spoke. Is giving a compliment to one of his employees really that difficult for him? ‘How would you feel about doing both spots? Food and Celebrity?’

‘Really?’

He liked itthatmuch? He never says this stuff out loud. He once told a co-worker who asked if their story was good that if it ended up on the site it was good enough for him. That’s not exactly praise.

‘Absolutely. It’ll save me money hiring a completely new writer to replace Josh and I could even up your pay a little bit.’ He pinches together his thumb and forefinger. ‘Not a lot, alittle. You could be uh… Lead Correspondent.’ He waves his hand in the air as if pulling down a new title randomly.

A giddy feeling starts in my stomach and bubbles through my chest, threatening to exit with the most ridiculous of giggles. I got promoted with a raiseanda title. Even a tiny bit of a raise counts, I’m sure of it. I’m not sure anyone has talked about getting a raise here. Granted the office is small with only about fifteen of us but still… I am the one to finally break through that very low glass ceiling.

‘I would love that. I’m really excite—’

‘Good. Hold onto that excitement 'cause you’re gonna need it. I need stories like this every time you turn one in or we won’t last another year. I’m counting on you to bring this site back, Ambri.’

And… just like that my brief promotion high comes crashing down onto Jimmy’s floor around me.

‘The site is failing?’

How can it be failing? We all work so hard. I mean, I know we’re noUs Weeklybut still. We have great local content and everyone I know reads our site and did before I even worked here. Then again there are millions of sites online all competing for the same readers so driving them to us has to be difficult.

‘Not quite yet, but we’ve been headed downhill. Your interview put us back on the map. It’s been shared thousands of times. I have a feeling that, despite my past hesitation with you, I need to put you in the driver’s seat here. You might have what it takes to be a real journalist.’

Why is it that a statement like that always seems to come with something that keeps it from being as positive as it could be? A backhanded compliment, you might say. You’re so pretty, but you could lose a few pounds. Your article was amazing, but the site is going under. You mean everything to me, but I need a new life without you in it.See what I mean?

‘I don’t know how comfortable I am being the person you’re counting on to save the entire site. What if I fail? Everyone here will lose their jobs partly because you put me in the lead. What if the Lyssa article is the only good thing I write all year? I dunno. That’s too much pressure.’ I babble on and on as he watches me.

‘You’re already giving up?’ he asks, suddenly standing from his chair. ‘That’s fine. I figured it would be too much for you. I can give it to someone else.’ He walks to his doorway, staring into the office. ‘TREVOR!’ he screams through the room. Trevor popping up from his cubicle and racing his way across the room, eager to do anything Jimmy asks. The office kiss-ass.

I can’t let Trevor take my promotion. I hate that guy. He’s such an arrogant tool. He uses every opportunity he has to make any of us look like fools, all so he can continue to stay Jimmy’s class pet.

‘Wait!’ I jump from the chair I’m sitting in. ‘I’ll do it.’

I force a deep breath, shoving away the doubt that’s slowly creeping up on me, back down where it belongs with the rest of my feelings.

‘What can I do for you?’ Trevor asks Jimmy, an all too eager grin on his face.

Jimmy stares me down, slowly nodding his head as if he’s not sure he’s done the right thing here. He has.

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