Ambition: A Short Story (Part II)

Continued from Part I....Last week, we were introduced to Danielle, a young woman working for a demanding boss, Eva. In part II, we hear Eva's perspective....

We wasted nearly ten minutes getting through building security. Danielle of course wasted even more time getting the elevator door to work.

“First time pushing a button?” I snapped. Danielle’s slowness wasn’t helping my nerves.

“I’m trying Eva.” Danielle complained as the doors finally slid open. The quiet in the elevator bothered me, my mind going back to the last time I had seen Ms. Jessica Collins. It’d been my birthday. She brought me a present and I tried not to cry. I played with the clasp on my bag, letting it open and snap shut. The sharp sound kept me focused. There was nothing Jessica Collins could criticize about the presentation, and anything she found fault with I could pin on Danielle. That’s what assistants are for. I had disliked Danielle as soon as she walked into my office. The girl was a fresh graduate, a too-cheerful face and bouncing walk betraying her enthusiasm and naiveté. Her resume was good though, too good. Her portfolio even better. But Danielle wasn’t right for this industry. Planning exclusive events in this city took boldness that this girl, with daisies embroidered into her blouse, couldn’t stomach. So I hired her on the spot. She’d do the work, I’d get the recognition.

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The elevator opened directly into the office. Glass walls and metal sculptures gave the space a stark, modern look. The minimal surroundings only heightened Jessica’s presence. She rose to greet us, her form-fitting white dress made her look like one of the sculptures. 

Danielle stuck out her hand. “Jessica Collins? Hi, I’m Danielle. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Jessica raised a single, elegant eyebrow. The wrinkles around her eyes made her look distinguished. “Only good things, I hope?”

“Oh yes, of course. You were a financial analyst that helped transform three different businesses into Fortune 500 companies. Now you’re an executive here at-----“

“Congratulations, you googled her.” I glared at Danielle. She shut up. Jessica said nothing, though I could feel her watching the interaction closely. I took a deep breath and spoke directly to her. “Jessica.” I shook her hand lightly, not wanting to linger. “Let’s talk about the event. I have some samples to show you----“

“You skin looks clear Eva. What are you using now?” Jessica interrupted. I blinked and tried not to think too deeply into the backhanded compliment. Jessica motioned for us to sit in the chairs across from her desk.

Danielle pulled out the portfolio. “So, this is a party for the CEO of your company, right Ms. Collins? And we---Eva---was thinking about incorporating some photographs of him into the design for the event. Here’s an example---“

“You must be doing well at the company?” Jessica asked. “The party you planned at Riverfront was spectacular, I heard.” Her voiced dripped with sarcasm when she said spectacular. As if she ever thought I could create something that warranted the term.

 

“It was.” I was determined not to play her game. I kept my eyes on Jessica’s nails. Clear polish, the edges trimmed into a perfectly oval.

“You’re up for a promotion I understand.”

“How did you hear about that?” I asked. What a stupid question. Of course she knew.

Jessica pretended to look at the samples in the portfolio. “Just because you refuse to speak to me doesn’t mean that I’m not informed about your life. Why do you think I requested you for this event?”

“I got that job on my own, mother. I don’t owe you anything. Not anymore.” I hated that my voice cracked. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Danielle looking between Jessica and myself. I hadn’t told her Jessica was my mother.

“You’re getting very excited Eva.” Jessica—I refused to call her mother anymore, said calmly. That calm voice drove me crazy. “Your assistant wants to continue the presentation.”

“Forget the presentation. Why did you call me down here? You wanted to remind me of all the ways I’ve wasted my talent, my beauty? You want to tell me again how much of a drag it was to raise your own daughter?” I was shouting now. My careful self-control lost. It was always the same with her. I got my purse and went to the elevator.

“Eva. You’re being unreasonable right now----“

“Don’t pretend you care about my career mother.” I said tearfully as the elevator opened and I stepped inside. I let the door shut on Danielle’s face and collapsed against the wall, tears already ruining my mascara. 

To be continued.....

Ambition: A Short Story (Part I)

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“I asked for an iced caramel latte. This is just latte!” Eva threw the drink against the pavement, splattering coffee everywhere. I sighed deeply and threw the discarded cup into a nearby trashcan. Spots of coffee stained my dress. It wasn't the greatest dress, but my boss, Eva, had the fewest complaints about this one.

“You want me to get another one?” I asked patiently. “I’ll make sure they put the caramel in.” Eva had been in a mood all day; I was used to her high-handed comments by now, but something was different about today.

“Don’t bother.” Eva snapped. She adjusted her white leather purse, making sure the designer label faced outward. “Move faster with the coffee next time Danielle, or I may reconsider your position. We’re late for our meeting with the client.” Eva snapped her fingers and I trotted after her. Eva quickened her pace and I hurried to catch up, how she managed to walk that fast in heels was inhuman. We finally stopped at a sleek building in the middle of downtown, a sign beside the glass-front doors told us to check in before heading upstairs.

“Door.” Eva paused, waiting impatiently for me to open the door. I expected this job to be hard; I anticipated the long hours, the frantic energy of an event, the drudgery of administrative work. But I wasn’t ready for the humiliation, the feeling that someone held my career in their hand. That’s what work felt like. Or maybe that was just what it felt like to work for Eva. I finally got the door open and Eva waltzed in, approaching the front desk as if she were the queen demanding her entourage. 

To be continued.....

Fifteen

I was listening to that very old Taylor Swift song, Fifteen (released 2009) on Youtube today, don’t know why, don’t ask. 

She's just too cool for school, isn't she?
Image copyrighted by T. Swivel, please don't sue me Taylor.

Anyways, someone in the comments said that being fifteen is nothing like the song, it’s mostly school problems. I have to agree, most heartily. It got me thinking, what if songs actually sang about the real problems people faced, instead of heartbreak, romance, and wistful romantic longing? If there was a Fifteen soundtrack that was more realistic, it’d look something like this:

Fifteen Album featuring the hit singles “Geometry” and “Drive Me to the Mall, Please”

Learner’s License

This School Stinks

I Can’t Open my Locker

Geometry

Sexy Sex Ed (How to Spell Sex)

Why does School Start So Early

Drive Me to the Mall, Please

Extracurricular, Extra Problems

School Peas

Pop Quiz

Stop Laughing at Me (No, You’re Stupid)

Bus Smell

Check before you Cheat

Calculate the Radius

Mom Can I Have Some Money?

I Can’t Open my Locker, after-school remix

And then about ten years later, I'd release an anniversary album called Career, detailing the fun of finding a job as an adult:

Courtesy of the paint application on my computer

Career Album featuring hit singles “My Resume” and “Kill the Cover Letter”

Hunting for Jobs

My Resume

Format that s*** (explicit)

Who’s the Hiring Manager?

Application Boxes be too Small

Linkedin, Linkedout

Kill the Cover Letter

Rejection Hurts in the Brain

Relevant Experience

Unemployment Blues

To Whom It May Concern

Part-time Pain

Where’s my Writing Sample?

Kill the Cover Letter, professional remix

Interview (Stress to Impress)

Th edgy realism in my songs would blow everyone away and my songs' artistry and relevant social commentary would keep the world talking. I'd dominate the music charts and usher in a new age of music that speaks to the mundane realities of listeners. But for now, I'll get back to work. And here's that Taylor Swift song, Fifteen, all jokes aside, it's a good song.