12. Boss of Me
Boss of Me
T uesday morning. It was early still. Kellan hummed as they poured creamer into a fresh cup of coffee. Walking into the kitchen, Cassie yanked open the fridge, the force causing the items in the door to clank together violently. Their solitude broken, Kellan turned toward the sound.
Coffee in hand, Kellan leaned against the counter. “Um… everything, okay?”
”Okaaaay…?” Kellan dragged out the word, their tone turning it into a question.
Her free hand tensing into a fist, Cassie practically growled. “Alex!”
“Oh… um… anything specific?” Kellen asked.
“They’re here!” Cassie’s white-knuckled grip on the refrigerator door, shaking; the bottles rattling together again.
A look of pure confusion crossed Kellan’s face. “Did they do something? ”
“Breathed. Existed.” Grabbing a yogurt, Cassie slammed the fridge shut. “Took my job and now I get to train them how to do it.” Ripping off the foil lid, she stabbed at the yogurt with her spoon.
Kellan exhaled, taking a sip of coffee. “Cass, I get it. You’re mad. You have every right to be mad. But—”
Cassie shot them a glare. “Don’t ‘but’ me right now, Kell.”
Kellan took a small step backward, holding up their hands in surrender. “Okay, no buts. Just…” They hesitated. “I’m just not sure Alex is the big bad in this situation.”
Cassie scoffed. “Oh, poor Alex. Must be so hard getting everything handed to you on a silver platter.”
Kellan tilted their head, shaking it with a sigh. “That’s not fair. They had no way of knowing you were interested in the job.”
Cassie didn’t reply, shoveling a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth instead.
Kellan took a small step closer to Cassie. “Look, I know you want to hate them, but Alex is angry, too. They were blindsided… and now they have to deal with you looking like you want to check them into the boards every time they walk into a room.”
“Oh, how I wish I could do that at the office,” Cassie replied, a pointed look on her face.
Kellan snorted. “HR would love that.”
“Well, I’m meeting with them in ten minutes. I can ask.” A ghost of a smile flashed across Cassie’s face before she shook her head; a grimace replacing it. “I just…I needed that promotion, Kell. I deserved it.”
“I know,” Kellan said softly. “But, maybe, Alex needed to move back to LA.”
Cassie’s anger flared. “Seriously?” Throwing her yogurt cup in the trash, Cassie marched out of the break room. “I’m going to HR.”
** *
Storming into Kellan’s office, Cassie slammed the door with such force the rest of her team looked up from their workstations. The second she crossed the threshold, she dropped into the chair across from Kellan’s desk and let out an angry grunt.
“This is complete bullshit.” Cassie scowled, shaking her head, her hands clenching into fists before folding her arms tightly over her chest. “Complete fucking bullshit!”
In the middle of typing out an email, Kellan sighed, turning their attention to Cassie. They leaned back in their chair, already anticipating the tirade heading their way. “I take it your meeting with HR didn’t go well?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Oh, the meeting was great. Fantastic even. Totally professional. If you ignore the fact that I could barely look at Ellen without wanting to launch my coffee cup at her face.”
Kellan’s eyebrows shot up under their bangs. “That’s usually frowned upon in most workplaces.”
“I’m fully aware. Thanks, Kell.” Cassie threw her head back and groaned.
“I love Ellen. I do. She’s always been fair.
But all she kept saying was that it was done and there wasn’t anything she could do.
And no, I couldn’t take it up with anyone else.
Fuck, I don’t get it, Kellan. I’ve been here for years.
I’ve worked my ass off. And now I’m stuck training Alex on how things run in my office?
Do you have any idea how humiliating that is? ”
Kellan exhaled slowly, rubbing their temple as they leaned on their hand.
They wanted to be there for Cassie, she was their best friend, after all, but at the same time, they couldn’t completely ignore the fact that Alex had walked into a mess they hadn’t created.
“Look, I get why you’re upset. I do. The decision came from higher up.
I don’t think Ellen knew anything about it until it happened. And we know Leah didn’t.”
Cassie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That doesn’t make it better.
It just means the whole system is rigged.
” She leaned forward, her voice tight. “I really needed that promotion, Kellan. Especially after Kris moved out. I wasn’t expecting to have to replace the roof this soon.
And the water damage in the attic means I have to redo the insulation, as well.
Fuck, I’m going to have to eat ramen three nights a week AND use most of my emergency fund just so I can afford all the repairs. ”
Kellan sighed. “I know. And I’m not saying your anger isn’t valid. But maybe directing all of it at Alex isn’t entirely fair.”
Cassie stared at them for a long moment, multiple emotions running across her face. Pushing up from the chair, a stoic mask dropped over her face. “I should get back to work.”
Kellan nodded, watching Cassie stride out of the office with the same determined energy she’d entered with. They had a sinking feeling this situation was only going to get worse before it got better.
***
Cassie stomped into the conference room with Kellan trailing behind. Alex was already there, laptop and notebook open, pen in hand, looking… apologetic.
Setting her laptop down with more force than necessary, Cassie sat in the chair furthest from Alex. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”
Clearing their throat, Kellan offered Alex a small smile. “I’ll, uh, be taking notes.” They slid into a chair between Cassie and Alex. I wonder if this is how Switzerland feels .
Cassie faced the large screen on the wall, bringing up the PowerPoint presentation. Without preamble, she began, her tone clipped. “This is how we handle client onboarding. LA is different from New York. We build relationships first. We don’t bulldoze our way in just to meet quarterly numbers.”
Alex nodded, scribbling something down. “Um… r-right. Relationship-first approach. Got it.” Their eyes darted from the back of Cassie’s head to Kellan and back. “D-do you have a list of our current clients?” Alex paused. “And who is on retainer?”
Gritting her teeth, Cassie leaned back into her chair, refusing to look at Alex. “Check your inbox.”
Alex paused for half a second before nodding. “Sorry. Let me just pull it up.” They opened the file on their laptop and continued. “T-that’s not a lot of clients on retainer. We had nearly three times as many in New York.”
Cassie jerked her head around, disdain dripping from her lips. “Maybe because corporate has purposely kept us understaffed and unable to compete?”
Shifting uncomfortably, Kellan shot Cassie a look, silently pleading for a modicum of professionalism.
“I’ll t-talk to Leah about that.” Visibly swallowing, Alex glanced at their laptop. “I had to put together a business plan for the New York office for… similar reasons.”
I’ll bet you did. Cassie desperately wanted to let the accusation fly, but even she had her limits. Alex was her boss. And dammit if they didn’t look more than a little chagrined. Instead, she clenched her jaw and refocused on the presentation.
Cassie spent the next hour meticulously going through each client, the status of all current projects, and an overview of projects due to start in the next few weeks.
Initially, Alex’s questions centered on connecting the client and their projects to the team member that had provided a status in yesterday’s meeting.
After the first couple, Kellan took it upon themselves to provide that information as Cassie went through the slides.
Much to her relief, Alex kept any additional questions to the bare minimum.
The second the “Thank You” slide appeared on the screen, Cassie slammed her laptop closed, standing abruptly. Without a single word, she gathered her things and strode out of the conference room.
“Cass—” Alex started, but she was gone before they could even finish her name. Silence settled in the room. Rubbing their temple, Alex exhaled through their nose, jaw tight. They glanced up when Kellan sat in the chair directly across from them.
Kellan hesitated, glancing at the open doorway a few times. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” Alex clicked their pen repeatedly, their knee bouncing to its own rhythm. “I’ve had warmer meetings at the ice rink. Sitting on the ice.”
Kellan let out a low whistle. “Yeah. That was… intense.”
Dropping the pen on their notebook, Alex leaned back in their chair. “This is exactly what I wanted to avoid happening.”
“What do you mean?”
Alex took a deep breath in and out. “I made it very clear to my dad that I wouldn’t move back to LA unless there was an open position and no internal candidates.”
“He didn’t like you working at the New York office?” Kellan asked.
Alex shook their head slightly with a self-deprecating chuckle. “He didn’t like me living so far away. He was pissed when I decided to go to college in New York. My mom, she um… she did her best to support my decision. But I think both of them assumed I’d return when I graduated. ”
“And that wasn’t your plan?” Kellan asked.
Alex continued with a shrug of their shoulders. “I didn’t really have a plan at first. I just knew I needed to get out from under their… his control, I guess. My dad tried to cut off my college fund… Fuck. I haven’t thought about that in years.”
“Holy shit!” Kellan couldn’t keep the look of shock off their face. “Really?”
Alex’s eyes lost their focus, their mind returning to that time momentarily. “Yeah. Thank God for my mom. I was already in New York… already moved into the dorms. My dad called a few days later. No apology. Just said he misspoke—”
Kellan looked on, eyes wide. “Misspoke?”
“Yeah. I know, right? He said he misspoke and of course, I would have access to it as long as I was attending an accredited college.” Alex shifted uncomfortably in their chair, running their hand through their hair.
“Apparently, my mom had to remind him that the fund was set up by my grandparents and it wasn’t his place to mess with it.
I kind of doubt that was all my mom said though, to be honest.”
“Wow. So I’m guessing you don’t have the best relationship with your dad?” Kellan asked.
Sitting back in their chair, Alex crossed their arms and continued. “I thought it was getting better, but now I’m not so sure. Like I said, I didn’t really have a plan to stay in New York after school. But then I got a job. And a girlfriend. Life happened.”
“I get that,” Kellan nodded. “So why now?”
“Honestly?” Alex quirked an eyebrow. “This job. I broke up with my ex in January and other than my job, there wasn’t much keeping me in New York.
I missed my sister. I missed my mom. And then this job opened up…
a chance to move back home, keep doing the work I love…
supposedly no internal candidates to fill it.
It seemed like the perf ect opportunity.
Apparently too perfect.” Alex paused, shaking their head, their knee bouncing again.
” Is there anything I can do to fix this? ”
Kellan hesitated. They wanted to reassure Alex, but Cassie was their best friend. It was a fine line.
“She’s just… going through a lot,” Kellan said finally.
Alex let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah…” Sitting forward, hands clasped together, Alex’s eyes bore into Kellan’s. “Be honest, do I even have a shot at fixing this?”
“Cassie’s…” Kellan sighed, drumming their fingers on the table. “She’s stubborn as hell. She holds grudges like a pro.”
Alex groaned, their head thunking on the table. “So… piece of cake.”
“But,” Kellan added, “she’s also one of the most loyal and fair people I know. I think she just needs more time.”
Alex lifted their head, eyes focusing. “So… there’s hope?”
“I don’t know.” Kellan shrugged. “I’d like to think so. But I think you are going to have to prove that you can do the job.”
Holding Kellan’s gaze, Alex responded confidently. “I know I can do the job.”
Kellan gave them a sympathetic look. “I know this isn’t your fault, Alex. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re the bad guy here. But from Cassie’s perspective? You took something she’s been working toward for years, and now she has to sit here and watch you do it.”
Alex closed their eyes, sighing audibly. “I know.”
“So, if you really want to fix this?” Kellan gave them a pointed look. “Prove you earned this job. That you worked just as hard to get here.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. That makes sense. ”
Kellan paused, clearing their throat. “Um… Cassie has pitched expanding our services. Multiple times. It never went anywhere. Do you really think… you will have better luck?”
“Honestly?” Sitting forward, Alex nodded, their confidence back. “Yeah. I do.”
Kellan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “If you need any help —”
A genuine smile tugged on Alex’s lips. “Thank you, Kellan. I just might take you up on that offer.”
Kellan stood, tucking their notebook under their arm. “One other thing…” Kellan hesitated, their voice cracking. “She really, REALLY liked you.”
The wave of emotions that Alex had been holding at bay for over 24 hours welled up behind their eyes. “I REALLY, REALLY liked her, too.” Alex swallowed hard. “I s-still like her."