Page 8 of The Butterfly Effect
I held up my coffee cup, the beverage itself cold. My team lifted their cups and clanked them against mine, and I laughed. If William wanted to test me and Sandra was going to doubt me, I was going to prove them both wrong. I grinned and sat back in my chair, turning towards the closed door of the corner office.
On Tuesday morning,I took the elevator to DMI’s office on the fourth floor. It was slow and made a small, strained sound when it moved. I couldn’t find the sticker with the date it was last checked anywhere on the elevator wall. If I still believed in god, I’d have probably said a prayer that I would make it to the fourth floor in one piece without getting stuck in this metal box. I took a deep breath and rubbed my temple.
The elevator doors creaked open at the fourth floor, and I stepped into a poorly lit hallway with ugly, orange-patterned carpet. A sign by the only door in the hallway readDigital Marketing International, and below that,Room 403. It was the only room on the floor, and I was irritated by it being given an odd number when it didn’t need a number to begin with.
When I opened the door and stepped into the office, I recognized again how much I hated the open-concept layout. They called the format a “collaborative arrangement,” and it was ridiculous. A few steps into the room and the murmur of voices came to a halt. Everyone in the room turned and looked at me, and I scanned the room before speaking.
“Good morning.” There was never going to be a day I could sneak into the office. When I passed her desk, Julianna didn’t look up from her computer. I looked down at her and then at the rest of her group. Her dark-haired friend lifted her eyes to follow my gaze.
I opened the hollow door of my small office and slipped inside. The windows on both exterior walls let in a good amount of light, and a small crowd of people wandered the streets below me. Compared to the streets below my office in Chicago, the sidewalks here were quiet. Fewer cars honked, and I zoned in on the stillness around me. The rumble of voices beyond my door was audible, so the room was definitely not soundproof.
A knock on the door behind me echoed on the empty walls. It was only 8:15. Whoever was knocking at my door had been watching for me to step into my office. Annoyance rumbled through me, and I took my time getting settled at my desk before another knock came at the door.
“What?” My demand was sharper than would generally be considered professional, but I wasn’t trying to be the morning welcome committee.
The door clicked open, and the mousy woman named Sandra entered my office. “Good morning, sir!” she greeted with an overly excited infliction. “It looks like you’re getting settled.” She gestured around my still-empty office, and I raised my eyebrow. I didn’t like small talk.
“Does it?” I didn’t invite her to sit and she squirmed by the door, adjusting her weight from one foot to the other. Seeing anyone so uncomfortable was like a game for me, especially when they exuded false confidence like she did.
“What do you need, Sandra?”
“Sorry.” She stepped into my office and sat down in one of the chairs across from me. The look on my face clearly showed my distaste as she stumbled over her words. “Oh… is it okay if I sit?”
“Looks like you already have.” I sat back in my chair and crossed my leg. “It’s too early for small talk. Either tell me why you’re in my office or leave.”
Sandra looked taken aback by my frustration. I imagined her last boss loved socializing, but I had no desire to do so. Especially not first thing in the morning. She stuttered slightly before clearing her throat and starting again. “I wanted to follow up on the Great Lakes Brewing account from yesterday.” When I just looked at her and crossed my arms, she continued. “I really think that account would be better handled by Jared. He is forceful, creative, and doesn’t back down from anyone or anything that challenges him on a new account. I think he’d be most likely to bring success.”
I stared at her until she shifted her weight in her seat a second time. “And you don’t think Julianna will be able to handle the account in the same manner?”
“She just doesn’t have the same strengths as a man does. You know what I mean?” She put her hand out in a gesture as if I should understand.
“Yet you are also a woman.” I didn’t get what she was trying to tell me, aside from the fact she disliked Julianna. When she opened her mouth to speak again, I put up a single finger to stop her. “It is very clear you have your doubts, but last I checked, I’m now running this company. So, I’m going to make this decision. Accounts stay the way I assigned them.” I intended to test just how good Julianna was by giving her the most difficult, but potentially most profitable, account.
She gaped at me. “Sir…” The way she whined reminded me of the women who begged in my bedroom. All except for one; the way she’d begged was different. I imagined it wouldn’t be long before Sandra daydreamed about being there, if she hadn’t already. They all did.
“If that’s all you wanted to discuss, please go ahead and continue on with your day.” I pointed to the door and turned back to my computer. She stood up, and when I didn’t pass another glance her direction, she showed herself out of my small office. Through the small window that looked out onto the office, I caught her looking back before entering her own office across the way. It looked like she was glaring at me until Julianna glanced up and made eye contact with her. Her desk sat between ours; Sandra was glaring at her. What had caused the tension between the two women?
I spent the morning reading emails and reviewing the account history of DMI. When an invite for a preliminary meeting came through, I forwarded it to Julianna. Her acceptance came through almost instantly, and I took that to mean she was focused on her computer screen enough for me to grab her attention. I pulled up the team instant messaging system and clicked on her name.
Me:Good morning, Julianna.
Julianna:Good morning, Mr. Carlisle
Me:Are you really going to do this?
Julianna:Do what?
Me:The formal thing.
Julianna:I’m just being professional.
Me:My office.
Julianna:No “please?”
Me:Now.
Me:Please.
