Chapter 5
‘Please take a seat.’
As I did as Rory instructed and made myself comfortable, my promotion acceptance speech ran through my head. Nothing rambling; it wasn’t the Oscars. I planned to thank him for the opportunity and tell him he’d made the right choice.
Sitting down too, Rory leaned forward slightly and rested his clasped hands on the desk between us. He took a deep breath as if gathering his thoughts, and while the seconds mounted, I discreetly checked my watch, wishing he’d get on with it.
I took in Rory’s receding hairline and deep-set forehead wrinkles, wondering if Callum had told him that property was a young man’s game. I silently scoffed. Of course he hadn’t. Callum wouldn’t dare.
Rory’s continued silence tested my patience but having waited years for this moment already, I told myself a couple more minutes wouldn’t hurt; Rory could have his little power trip if that’s what he needed. I gave him a pinched smile. And Callum thinks I’m the one who needs to get a life!
‘Obviously we’re here to talk about the restructure,’ Rory at last said. ‘And what that means moving forward.’
‘We are, indeed.’ Despite maintaining my decorum, party poppers went off in my head.
‘And naturally, it goes without saying what a valuable asset you’ve been to this office.’
My smile continued, but while outwardly I accepted the compliment, inside, I’d never heard such rubbish.
While in a perfect world an annual Christmas bonus to reward my efforts wouldn’t have gone amiss, in my less than perfect existence I’d have accepted a cheap bottle of wine or a tin of Quality Street by way of recognition.
Even an occasional job well done would have sufficed if that’s what I’d deserved.
Unfortunately, I’d received nothing of the sort, which, as far as I was concerned, was bad management.
I made a mental note. Once in position, I’d make sure to give credit where credit was due.
‘However, that doesn’t change the fact I’ve received a complaint,’ Rory said.
My brow furrowed as, blindsided, my brain struggled with the redirection. ‘Sorry? What are you…’
Rory put a hand up to silence me. ‘Don’t worry, it’s not an external issue.’
My frown deepened. Of course, it wasn’t.
As far as clients were concerned, professional was my middle name.
As for my colleagues, I knew better than to use Kelly’s special mug or help myself to Tricia’s not-so-secret chocolate stash; woe betide anyone who did.
And even though I didn’t see the point, I’d taken part in Melissa’s precious Secret Santa, which surprise, surprise only left Callum.
I rolled my eyes. ‘What have I done now?’
Rory’s cheeks flushed pink. ‘Maybe complaint is too strong a word.’
In my view, there was no maybe about it.
‘Concern might be better.’
I wondered if Rory was testing me? Callum and I had always had a strained relationship and in offering me a promotion, it stood to reason Rory would want to know how I’d manage that from a position of power. I nodded for him to continue. ‘Go on.’
‘How do I put this? The other day you put the milk in cupboard.’
I let out a laugh. If Rory really wanted to rate my abilities he was going to have to do better than that. ‘Shoot me!’
Rory looked at me direct, his face lacking even a hint of a smile and as his stare continued, I shifted in my seat realising his remarks weren’t part of an assessment; the man was being serious.
‘And you put the coffee in the fridge.’
Callum had made it clear he’d do whatever it took to get ahead.
From trying to poach my clients to undermining me in the staffroom, his ambition seemed to know no bounds.
But even I hadn’t anticipated him stooping so low as to suggest I might be losing my marbles.
So that’s the game we’re playing, is it?
Aware he’d be watching events unfold from the other side of the office window, I softened my expression. No way was I giving Callum the reaction he hoped for. Especially over a carton of milk. ‘Am I behind in my work?’ I asked.
‘Last week you ended a call to Tommy in finance with love you.’
That I couldn’t excuse. As soon as those words were out, I’d flushed red and apologised. I swallowed my lingering embarrassment. ‘Have I missed any of my targets?’
‘Now I understand it’s an age thing.’
‘Excuse me?’ I cocked my head. As my line manager Rory had to know he was stepping into dangerous territory. That when it came to my employment, alongside issues of marital status and family planning, age was off limits.
‘I mean, how can I not? Every other TV ad, newspaper article and podcast is perimenopause this, perimenopause that. Your time of life has spawned its own industry.’
A tic pulsated in my neck and struggling to even look at the man for fear of saying something I’d regret, my gaze fell on the gilt-framed photo of Rory’s wife that sat on his desk.
Taking in her bright smile, I pitied the woman.
One because she was married to an idiot and two because at some point in the future, she would be me.
She’d be molten one minute, shivering in the next.
Rubbing her back against a wall to tackle an unexplained itch that she can’t quite reach.
Tormented by a lack of sleep, she’d question her mental ability when the simplest of words wouldn’t form and yes, she’d end a call to a colleague with words of affection.
‘What happened to just getting on with it?’
I stared at Rory, wondering how anyone could wear that degree of ignorance with such pride. ‘I feel the same when I see a Viagra ad,’ I said, giving him an exaggerated eye roll. ‘You’re impotent. Who cares? Stop your whining.’
Rory cleared his throat and loosened his collar. ‘That’s hardly the same thing, Erin.’
Stopping myself from doing both me and his wife a favour, I sat on my twitching hands. But even as my fingers grew numb, it took everything I had not to grab her photo and lob it at Rory’s forehead.
‘Then there’s your other issue.’
‘Other issue?’
‘Well, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that you’re having a few family problems, Erin.’
My back stiffened. It was one thing bitching about perimenopause marketing campaigns, which was probably the extent of Rory’s knowledge, but to talk about my mother…
‘And before you say anything, we’ve all got parents.’
I might have expected such a low blow from Callum, but I hadn’t expected it from Rory. One, because as my boss, I’d assumed he wouldn’t dare cross a line like that. And two, after years of working for him, I deserved more respect.
‘We just don’t let them interfere with our jobs.’
I recalled the aftermath of Dad’s death and how Rory had watched me bury myself in work, when most people would’ve taken personal leave.
The extra hours I’d put in, the chains I’d kept on track, the record number of Foredale and Frogmore sold signs that had gone up…
There were no rumblings about my elderly parents impacting my work back then.
My perimenopausal body had developed its own warning system; a way of telling me when I’d had enough of people’s crap.
But as I jiggled my foot, trying to ease the now familiar tingling in my toes, the sensation intensified as it worked its way up through my legs and into my torso.
By the time it reached my skull, it hit fever pitch and rage coursed through my whole being.
In danger of saying something I most definitely shouldn’t, I clamped down on my jaw and while Rory held my gaze, I held my breath.
‘Which brings me to the restructure.’
Fuck the restructure.
Rory tilted his head. ‘As much as I appreciate you’re experiencing one or two distractions…’ His patronising tone screamed faux compassion. ‘…you must understand it’s my job to think of the team.’
Fuck the team.
‘Which is why I’d like you to go home, and enjoy your festivities,’ Rory continued.
Fuck the festivities.
‘And come back in the new year with a more positive attitude…’
Positive attitude, my arse.
‘…along with a presentation on what makes you a great team member.’
My brain suddenly fell silent and clamping down on my jaw, I glared at the man.
Even he had to know how ridiculous that sounded.
Team members supported each other through trying times.
They didn’t act like Callum and go running to the boss to backstab.
Line managers like Rory didn’t penalise.
As team leaders, they at least tried to accommodate.
More expletives bounded around my cranium as it seemed to me he’d picked the wrong person to present on that subject.
‘Obviously I’ll be talking to the others too. The housing market isn’t exactly booming at present.’
Rory was right on that score. Callum, Kelly, Tricia and Melissa had all felt the impact.
But while they’d commiserated in the pub, I’d spent time strengthening my relationships with conveyancers and mortgage advisers, while going the extra mile on behalf of vendors and purchasers.
Naturally, that meant my sales record had gone relatively unscathed.
I scoffed. It was no wonder Callum wanted rid of me.
‘Which means reinterviewing and making hard decisions,’ Rory continued. ‘Head office has made it clear that cuts are inevitable.’
I wasn’t like Callum who’d do and say anything to ingratiate himself and neither did I care about special mugs, chocolate stashes and secret Santas.
Dotting i’s, crossing t’s and getting the job done were more my thing and while Rory wittered on, I considered all the extra hours I consistently put in.
Not just in the run-up to the restructure like some.
Having dedicated myself to my career, Rory’s words weren’t just insulting, they rendered me invisible.
‘And like I said, it’s my job to think about what’s best for everyone.’
I stared at the man, incredulous. Who did he think had been propping up his branch those last months? Because it certainly wasn’t the team.
Realising I couldn’t argue with stupid, a calmness descended on me.
No matter the complaints, I was still Rory’s best agent; something he seemed to have forgot.
I knew he’d soon realise his mistake, and when he did, that panic would set in.
However, as Rory had been happy to ruin my Christmas, I thought it only fair I returned the favour and give him time to consider the consequences of his actions.
His words needed to run around his head as much as they were mine and like me, he needed to ponder over his bestselling agent’s next move. Would she stay or would she go?
I rose to my feet, an action that appeared to confuse Rory.
‘Erin, where are you going?’ he asked.
Holding my head high, I ignored the question.
‘But I haven’t finished,’ Rory called out as I exited his office.
Refusing to make eye contact with either of them, I sensed both Rory and Callum watching my every step as I silently gathered up my things and headed straight for the exit. ‘Merry Christmas,’ I said as I stepped out onto the street.