“What do you mean you have no idea what happened?!” The CEO thundered furiously at Gemma.
“Sir, I'm being honest with you,” Gemma replied with tears in her eyes and confusion written all over her face. She'd come to work this morning as usual, clocked in, and headed directly to her desk just outside the office of the chief operating officer of the company, only to be summoned almost immediately to an emergency meeting.
“Gemma, those files contained sensitive information about our new deal, and according to the COO, she handed them over to you and asked you to drop them on my desk!!” The CEO shouted back angrily.
Now Gemma was really bewildered; she knew about the file, and yes, the COO had handed it to her, but with very specific instructions to take it to her car and not the CEO's desk.
“Yes, sir…” Gemma replied, “I think there must have been a mistake somewhere. Actually, Miss Ann asked me to…”
“Oh, shut up and accept how incompetent you are!” Miss Ann, the chief operating officer, finally spoke. She had been quiet all through the meeting, looking at Gemma with hooded eyes and gloriously long lashes. Not only was Ann young, smart, and ambitious, she was also a beauty to behold.
“Clarence, dear,” Miss Ann addressed the CEO, “I take full responsibility for this; it's my fault. I should have personally handled the documents myself, but alas, I thought I'd finally found a worthy assistant. Gemma, you're fired immediately. Leave the office premises,” Miss Ann said, looking at Gemma with sharp, piercing eyes.
Gemma was in shock; she couldn't believe what had just happened. She opened her mouth to speak, but the CEO wouldn't let her. Shakily she moved towards her desk, picked up her bags, and left the building with tears in her eyes and pitying stares from the other staff members.
Mr. Clarence walked into his office wearily. He sighed, sat down on his chair, rolled his head back, and closed his eyes. As the CEO of one of the top three advertising agencies, he'd expected to have obstacles, but he didn't expect the obstacles to be his staff. Over the years he had personally acquired the very best and most qualified people, but lately things seemed to be going wrong in all directions.
He was losing deals, business partners, and good staff faster than he could say Jack Robinson, whoever the poor man was. Mr. Clarence knew something had to be done immediately; he was getting tired of all the excuses and stories from his staff, including Miss Ann, who was supposed to be his chief operating officer. He pressed the intercom on his table and asked his secretary to ask Miss Ann to come into his office.
“Hi Clarence, I'm sorry once more. I promise to get a much better assistant soon or none,” Miss Ann said, and immediately she stepped into his office.
“It's okay, Ann; you need to stop apologizing. We might have lost that deal, but I have something big coming up,” Mr. Clarence replied.
“Oh, really?… What could it be? The deal we lost was massive, and for you to say something bigger is coming up… How many figures are we talking about, Clarence?” Ann asked, her eyes lighting up like the cat that got the cream.
“Hold your horses, tiger,” Mr. Clarence replied, smiling coyly. “I think I'll hold on to this one until I get my staff under control and figure out what is going on.”
“Oh, ehh…” Ann replied, clearing her throat. “I guess you could say the staff has been possessed by some kind of spirit.”
“Really? You don't say… Let's see. First, my senior accountant messes up the figures for a presentation you both prepared for; my creative director suddenly starts selling our ideas to our rival company; my project manager doesn't meet deadlines when crucial, and I had to cut my commission for that deal; oh, and then you… Going missing during important meetings and…”
“I'm truly sorry about that, sir; my assistants always forgot about the meetings,” Ann said hurriedly. “The senior accountant did exactly the opposite of what I told him, the creative director… Well… He's just bad because most of the ideas are mine anyway, and the project manager…”
“It's okay, Ann, I get it; none of it is your fault; everyone else is to blame,” Clarence said, raising a hand to stop her from speaking further. “You may go, my dear, and don't you worry about hiring another assistant for yourself. I'll be doing the hirings and firings from now on,” he said, watching her closely as she left.
He had an inkling that something was wrong, and he would definitely figure it out.
Two weeks later…
It was the weekend, and Mr. Clarence was resting in the sauna at his house when his phone rang. He took the call, and his face lit up with shock, then disappointment, then tiredness. He smiled into the phone and thanked the person at the other end of the call. Mr. Clarence had his suspicions for some time, but he was happy to have confirmation.
He called Ann and asked her out to lunch; she willingly accepted, and three hours later, they were discussing the company and having dessert.
“Remind me again, Ann, when did you start working for me?” Clarence asked.
“Well, three years ago. Why do you ask?” Anna replied uneasily.
“Someone has been trying to sabotage my company. God knows why or for what purpose,” Clarence replied, shrugging.
Anna looked shocked and then quickly laughed nervously. “Don't be silly, Clarence dear, you're a good boss and a good man. Why would anyone try to do that?!” Ann asked, shifting slightly in her chair.
“Is that sweat I see on your upper lip, Ann? This restaurant is icy, dear. Why are you sweaty?” Clarence asked, offering her a handkerchief.
“I don't know…” Ann replied, waving the handkerchief away, “Is something going on that I should know?”
“I should be the one asking you that question. We've had enough small talk, don't you think? And don't try to deny it; I've got all the evidence I need from your new assistant, who happens to be my spy, by the way. And also remember Gemma, your former assistant? She also reached out to me.” Clarence replied quietly with rage burning behind his eyes.
Anna sat there dumbfounded; she thought she'd been smart and covered up all her tracks. She'd been secretly working for their rival company for about a year. Giving them secret information and stealing deals for them.
“You're a smart woman, but a bad strategist. Always laying the blame around instead of covering your tracks properly. My driver will drop off your personal things from the company at your house on Monday. Do. Not. Ever. Come. Into. My. Company.” Clarence said through gritted teeth.
He stood up, looked at her disgustingly, and shook his head, and as he turned to leave, he said with a big smile, “I've also filed a lawsuit against those fools you were working for. Believe me, they'll deny knowing you, so you're basically on your own, and I've also made sure that no agency in this state will be stupid enough to hire a two-timing beauty like you. Have a pleasant day, Miss Ann.”
“Noooo, wait, please, Clarence, I'm sorry,” Ann said, trying to run after him.
“I'm sorry, madam, but you can't leave. Mr. Clarence said you would settle the bill,” a waiter said, stopping her.
“Seriously!! Move aside, young man!” Ann screamed.
“I can't, ma'am, or I'll have to call security. It's either you settle the bill or, perhaps, are you good at washing dishes?” The waiter asked, winking at her and grinning.
Ann sank into her chair, tears streaming down her face. She overheard the manager asking the waiter what was going on, and he replied that she'd just broken up with Mr. Lawrence. If only you knew how she'd ruined her career and life, if only I'd made better decisions, she thought to herself.
“I'm sorry, ma'am, but cash or a bank transfer?” The waiter asked, appearing at her side again.
Ann looked at him and let out a big, fat wail that startled everyone in the restaurant and had the manager comforting her with scented candles and tissue papers…
