Chapter 68

Half of me wants to storm right over to that table and ask Erica to back all the way off, but two things stop me.

One, Miles is not my boyfriend. I have no claim on him at all, and certainly no reason to be mad.

And two, Miles is attempting to win favor with one of the most influential groups in the city. If I rush over there to cause a scene, it would blow everything for him. I’d never ruin his chances like that, especially not for something as selfish as jealousy.

But that doesn’t mean I want to watch.

“I think I’m going to head home,” I tell Cynthia.

Her face falls a little, but she doesn’t ask any questions. A good friend, she already knows the reason why.

“Sorry,” I tell her. Normally I do enjoy my time spent with her but right now…

“Don’t worry,” Cynthia says. “Let me go pay the tab and we can bail.”

I really am lucky to have such a good friend.

The next work day, I arrive just in time to see Lila cleaning out her desk. Everyone in the cubicle pit is pretending not to notice, but they aren’t at all convincing. More people than usual get up to use the coffee pot. Some don’t even refill; they just use it as an excuse to peek into the office.

Amber seems to be the only one not paying overt attention, though I suspect that too is an act. Out of everyone, she seemed to be Lila’s staunchest supporter. Now that Lila is getting her comeuppance, we’re supposed to believe Amber is indifferent?

Doubtful.

“I’ve given my life to this company,” Lila grumbles as she threw her stapler into a box. “Years of dutiful service, and they throw it all away for a handful of rumors.”

She’s talking to herself, must be. There’s no one else in the office with her.

Eventually, Hugo arrives with a security guard and walks into Lila’s office.

“That’s not necessary!” Lila shouts. “I’m going, I’m going!”

“He’s only here to help carrying the boxes,” Hugo replies calmly. “You aren’t fired, Lila. I’ve told you this before. We are just moving you to sales.”

In sales, she wouldn’t be able to steal her coworkers’ work and pass it off as her own, not without immediate pushback. I’ve heard the sales department can be very cutthroat.

I’m a bit relieved. I didn’t want Lila to lose her livelihood because of me. Hugo must have realized that from my behavior at the bar. I appreciated him not going for the easiest, but most brutal, punishment of just firing her.

In a new department, she would have to work her way back up from the bottom. Maybe she would be a better person this time.

Hugo moves outside of the office and stands there as Lila finishes packing. Eventually the security guard takes Lila’s box and they step out into the hall. Lila keeps her head high, her eyes forward, as she walks to the elevator. The security guard follows her.

Hugo waits patiently until Lila disappears, the elevator doors shutting, before he turns to the cubicle pit.

Everyone has entirely given up the pretense of working now. We’re all watching, peeking out from over our cubicle walls. The whispers sound.

“What’s going to happen next?”

“We need an editor?”

“He wouldn’t let Lila go without having someone else in mind.”

Hugo clears his throat and the room quiets. “We have an opening for a new editor. We need this role filled by the end of the day. Any who are interested, please email me your resume within the next hour. That is all.”

We look at each other as Hugo simply turns and heads into his office.

Personally, I have no lack of ambition, but I can admit, having been here such a short time, that I’m not yet qualified for the role of editor. I’ve only just reentered the work-force. Besides, at this budding point of my career, I want to write articles, not assign them.

Casting my glance over the cubicle pit, I spot many qualified, considering faces. Kimberly, I can tell, is giving it serious consideration. She’s usually typing away, even during meetings, but right now she’s staring off into space like she’s thinking things through.

Unfortunately, so is Amber.

I try to imagine Amber as my editor and visibly shudder. Honestly, I think I’d rather have Lila. Lila would steal my work, but she wouldn’t try to get me fired.

There’s really no telling what Amber’s hatred for me would mean if she becomes my boss.

Fortunately, I hope, Hugo is too smart for that. He knows Amber is impulsive and hot-headed. Maybe in time she’ll learn patient, but right now, she’s not ready to lead.

Trusting Hugo, I’m sure he’ll see that, so I don’t worry overmuch.

The day goes on. Without an editor, our work is scattered and no one is sure what to do, least of all me, who’s been at Lila’s beck and call since I started. The freedom I now have is slightly daunting.

However, my uncertainty doesn’t last long. Just before lunchtime, Hugo returns to the spot in front of the cubicle pit and clears his throat, claiming everyone’s attention once more.

“We thank those who have applied,” he says. “We’ve now made our decision.”

The room seems to hold its breath. This decision affects everyone, not just the candidates. Whoever is selected will be our new direct supervisor.

“Kimberly,” Hugo says. “Congratulations.”

Relief surges through me at once. Kimberly stands, and most people clap. Amber glowers.

At the GooseBelly Deli, Miles orders his usual sandwich and sits down to eat. He’s only two bites in when Amber bursts through the door, spots him, and storms over.

He braces himself for whatever topic she’s worked herself up about this time. She’s always been like this since they were children, never truly happy unless she had all number of things to be upset about. If everything was perfect, she would imagine troubles just to have reason to be mad.

“Miles, I have to talk to you.”

Miles waves to the empty chair on the other side of his small table. Amber ignores the gesture and continues standing.

Shrugging, Miles takes another bite of his sandwich.

“It’s about Esther,” Amber says.

Miles slowly chews and swallows. Then he lowers his sandwich down.

“What about Esther?”

“For whatever reason, Mr. Harbinger likes her, and she’s abusing that power. She got Lila transferred to sales, Miles. She’s abusing Hugo’s soft spot for her, and manipulating everyone’s opinion –”

“Enough,” Miles says firmly.

He’s well aware of the fact that Amber doesn’t like Esther, something he has spoken to her about in the past. It seems another conversation is in order.

Amber respected Miles word for a moment, but in the linger quiet, she goes bold again. “You are friends with her. Tell her to back off.”

“Your editor Lila has been stealing Esther’s work since she arrived. Esther was hesitant to say anything, not wanting Lila to lose her job,” Miles says.

“She’s lying to you, she –”

“Esther is the only reason Lila was not fired outright,” Miles says, sharper. “I don’t know why you hate her, Amber, when she didn’t do a thing to you. But if you do not get over this imagined rivalry and move on, then our friendship is in question. Do you understand?”

“You’d chose her over me?”

Yes, Miles answers in his mind. Amber is Miles’s childhood friend, but she has no idea the depths of his feelings for Esther, or how or why those feelings came to be.

No one did. Except him. And Esther herself, if she would remember.

“Don’t test me,” Miles says and returns to his sandwich.

Amber gapes at him for a long moment, before spinning on her heel and running out the door.