Chandler
CHANDLER
W hat’s going on with her today? Sam looks like she’s a deer caught in the headlights, and, of course, I have to save this meeting. Shocker. If I’d known she had stage fright, I wouldn’t have told her to start the damn presentation in the first place. It’s a simple presentation about how we should expand our business. It would open so many opportunities for us, and it’s our job to show how this will benefit the business. When we first got the project, it took us a while to work everything out, and since it was Sam’s first presentation, I thought she’d make a good impression on the executives. It would have been worth it for her to mention to me that she has trouble with public speaking, but I guess we’re just winging it. Sam stands off to the side, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot, and I watch her for a moment before I turn my attention to the rest of the room.
“So, as you know, we’ve been talking about expanding our CPA services to other companies in other states," I start and point to the graph. “Here are the expected earnings if we’re able to obtain smaller companies in the select regions that Ken will go over.”
I changed slides, and a photo of the app I had the tech department design appeared on the screen.
“This is our CPA app. It will be convenient for our clients in these regions so we don’t have to travel to specific parts of the country to meet with everyone. It offers so many benefits, like a calculator, storage for client data based on their business, and a chat feature so they can chat with their assigned accountant. They can also choose a specific accountant based on the services they need. Overall, it would be good for everyone.”
Ken looks pleased with my presentation, and Sam and I take our seats. Ken goes over more details of the app with the executives, the processes, and any payments that might be required for clients. It’s hard to tell if they’ll go for it or not, but I’m hoping they will.
“Right now, we do have a few potential clients in the works, and we may be sending our top accountants to meet with them in a few weeks,” Ken says, then glances at me and Sam.
“ and Sam would handle the business we are looking at in North Carolina.”
I frown. North Carolina? Fuck that! I left North Carolina 3 years ago and haven’t wanted to go back for any longer than two days at a time since. Ken must sense that I'm uneasy because he says, “Nothing is set in stone yet, but we will keep everyone posted when we have more details." Hopefully, the details don't include me traveling back home for work. “Now that all of that is out of the way,” Ken continues. "I wanted to discuss the summer party that we will be throwing in Miami this year. I have a hotel in mind and a caterer in that area that can serve dinner. We’re also looking into a full bar, but that’s still undecided. ”
Ken gives Sam a side glance and looks back at the executives. My mouth ticks up. Last year at the New Year’s party, Sam got so drunk she asked Ken if our receptionist was a robot that was hired to greet everyone. I had to anonymously call her an Uber.
“Any questions?” Ken looks around at everyone at the table.
If there isn’t a full bar, I’ll have to bring my own alcohol. God knows I’ll need it to get through the night. I’d skip it altogether if I had a choice, but we’re all required to be there.
Sam seems distracted like she's only been half-listening the entire time. And she looked extremely uncomfortable throughout the presentation. It’s unlike her to be quiet throughout a meeting. Normally, you can't get her to stop asking questions. She’s not the type of girl who's afraid to speak up, but considering she lost her ability to speak at the most inconvenient time, I guess it’s not surprising. Ken dismisses us, and I shake hands with the executives. I glance at Sam, and she's smiling awkwardly at Ken in the corner. I can't hear what they're saying, but by the look on Ken's face, it's not great.
“Great meeting you and your partner,” Eric, one of the executives, says. "She's a quiet one, isn't she?"
Today apparently.
“Definitely not the norm,” I say, and I watch her out of the corner of my eye. She grabs her bag and makes a straight shot to the door.
“Well, I should get back to the office. Thank you for meeting with us.” I say and head for the door.
“Great job today, ,” Ken says and claps a hand on my shoulder before I can make it to the door.
"Thanks," I say and smile. I've been with the company for a few years, much longer than I expected to be, but it pays well enough. At least until I can get my own business off the ground. It’s a very slow process, and so far, nothing has panned out here.
I had it all in North Carolina, and it was a risk when I left and joined this company, but it had to be done. I had clients, and I made a good living, but I had to step away. Besides, this company seems to treat everyone well. I never thought I’d like to work for someone else again. I hadn’t done it since high school when I worked at a grocery store, but for the last three years, I’ve made enough to be able to support myself. Just not enough to be able to get my old business started here in Florida.
Ken gives me a proud smile. "Seems like they might go for it."
I nod in response, wanting to get to the elevator so I can talk to Sam about the meeting.
“Hopefully,” I say and make my way to the door.
“Also,” Ken says, stopping me in my tracks.
"You and Sam looked like you were worried about traveling to North Carolina, but nothing is concrete yet. I'll keep you posted. As soon as I know anything, you two will be the first to know.”
“Thanks, Ken,” I say and walk out of the conference room and into the hallway.
“One more thing!”
I look up at the ceiling, praying for this to be quick, and turn to the doorway.
“Is Sam all right? She was quiet today.” I blink. Why does he think I’d know? Sure, we share an office together and work next to each other in a small space. All. Fucking. Day. But the thing is, we don’t talk. Well, we talk, but not about our feelings unless it involves how much we dislike each other.
“I don’t know,” I say .
“Well, whatever it is, make sure she’s good. I don’t want you guys getting burnt out.”
“Got it.” I nod and make my escape before he can say anything else. I see Sam standing near the elevator and place my hand up to ask her to hold it. I know she sees me because she looks right at me, giving me a devious smirk, and walks into the elevator without waiting.
“Damnit.”
I run to the elevator, push open the sliding door before it can fully close, and watch the smile on her face turn into a scowl.
Neither of us speaks as the elevator doors close. It’s completely silent. I get a good look at her, and she looks like she does every day, completely normal. She also looks pissed. Really pissed, but that's also not unusual when it comes to me and Sam. What is unusual is that she hasn't said one thing to me since I got into the elevator. I’m pretty sure she’ll bite my head off if I say anything to her right now, but there's only one way to find out.
“So,” I say, dragging out the word. "You have a tough morning?"
She turns to me, her green eyes piercing right through me. I swear I can feel the anger radiating off of her from here.
The elevator doors open to the ground floor, and we walk to the office that we share together. It’s not very big, just enough for both our desks and a few filing cabinets with a kitchenette off to the side. My desk is facing away from the window, something we argued about when we found out we were going to share an office. She wanted her desk sitting in front of the window so she could sing to the birds or whatever goes on in her head. But since I’ve been here longer, I got the first pick. Her desk sits in front of mine, so her back is to me all day. I go to my desk and sit back in the chair, watching Sam grab the coffee that she keeps here. She likes to put flavored syrup and honey in it.
“Making your weird flower coffee again?” I ask. I know I'm pissing her off even more, but she's never this quiet. That might be a very bad sign. Quiet Sam means plotting Sam. I'm sure she's trying to figure out what she can do to make things hard for me today.
Without looking up, she responds, “Sure am.” She stirs in some honey and holds the cup out to me. “You should have some. It might make you more likable.” Then she gasps, dramatically, too dramatically if you ask me, and places her hand over her chest with fake concern. "Oh wait, It's only for human consumption."
She laughs at her own joke, and I raise an eyebrow.
"Then why are you drinking it?"
Her laughter dies down. She rolls her eyes and sits at her desk, turning her back to me, and I start logging in for the day.
“I have a lot to get done today.”
“Guess you shouldn’t have been late then, I say, and when I look up from my computer screen, Sam has turned her chair around and is facing me.
Her nostrils are flaring, her mouth in a straight line, and there are creases between her brows. Bingo.