On Monday evening, the second floor of Meridian Capital building was empty except for the hum of servers and air-conditioners, and the glow from Helen Croft's computer screen.
Dandy Pratts came back for his phone charger but paused, staring at Helen's second screen while his brain was calculating his next move.
The Head of Port Folio Strategy position would be announced on Friday and everyone on the second floor knew the senior partners would choose him or Helen. But he had been dreaming about the position for months.
Helen had the better results but he had the better charm. He wondered which one their bosses would remember.
He squinted at her screen. She was working on a report about the city's road fund, the one she had shown the bosses a month ago. He had read it before and the numbers looked great but a footnote at the bottom said she had moved two weak projects into a different group which made the total look better. It wasn't against the rules exactly but it could look bad to the wrong person.
Helen saw him in the reflection of her screen and did not flinch. “Working late, Dandy?”
He straightened himself and cleared his throat. “Just picking up my charger.” He held it up like an alibi and because ambition sometimes makes people reckless, he added, “Interesting note on the road fund report.”
The silence was stifling. Helen turned her swivel chair around slowly, her eyes narrowed. “You've been reading my files.”
“They’re office files.” He smiled, almost adding a duh but managing to restrain himself. “I just think it would be a shame if someone read the footnote the wrong way before Friday. Some people step back at times like this, citing family matters or burnout.” Then he shrugged.
Helen hated shrugs, a show of indifference and lack of care. She gave a small laugh. “Dandy, is this blackmail?”
“Just two colleagues chatting.”
“Of course.” She stood and went to the window. The city lights sparkled below. “You know, I found your forecast about the Chang bonds. The one that said eight percent.”
His stomach dropped. “That was a forecast.”
“A forecast with the wrong date on it. Metadata is a terrible friend, Dandy.” She turned back. “I noticed it this afternoon right when I got the alert that you had been opening my files.”
Dandy felt his legs go weak. “You were waiting for me.”
“I was hoping you'd be better than using the footnote against me.” She picked up a folder. “Here's what I suggest. On Friday, we both show our honest work and the senior partners decide. Whoever loses helps the winner, no bad feelings, no tricks.”
Dandy shifted on his feet, his nostrils flaring. “And if I say no?”
“Then we both have some explaining to do. And the senior partners may look outside the company for someone else.”
He looked at the charger in his hand and sighed. He thought of his mother's proud face and all the late nights that had brought him this far. “Alright. Honest work only.”
On Friday, the bosses chose Helen. Dandy clapped first and loudest.
Later in the hallway, she handed him a cup of coffee. “Your Chang forecast was the best thing in the room,” she said. “I need someone to run the Atlas team.” It was a new office in Atlas city.
Dandy paused, stared at her for a moment then laughed. “Is this blackmail?”
“No,” said Helen with a smile. “This is a promotion.”
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "is this blackmail?”.
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