al.jones:
Have you ever considered working harder?
I have to stifle a laugh. I should be listening, but this little moment of unity against Erica gives me a rush of serotonin.
ruby.ocampo:
Crazy idea. Total game-changer.
The corner of Al’s mouth turns up slightly, even as his eyes stay fixed on Erica while she clicks through her presentation, moving on to a section about using moredynamic verbs.
al.jones:
I mean, we’re not the ones making the ad placements.
Maybe she should lecture the person deciding the strategy.
Across the room, Morgan snickers, and Erica shoots her a glare. She must be DM-ing, too.
ruby.ocampo:
Like does she want my copy to tap dance?
al.jones:
Paint your house and shine your shoes, while we’re at it.
Erica switches to a slide aboutcreating a consistent vibe.To my left, Sarah’s sliding down deeper into her chair, looking like she has indigestion. So I take a chance and message her:
ruby.ocampo:
Her vibe is consistently rancid
For a weightless second, my stomach clenches, because what if it turns out Sarah actually really likes Erica?
But then I hear something. It’s subtle—I would miss it if I weren’t sitting right next to her—but I’m pretty sure Sarah snorts.
A skull-emoji reaction appears under my message, and Slack tells mesarah.ng is typing.
sarah.ng:
so consistent
Her phone buzzes a few times, sitting on the table between us. Out of the corner of my eye, I seeMessage from Greg De Leonappear on her screen a few times.
Interesting.
A message from Mom pops up on my computer, and my scalp prickles with dread.
sampaguita72:
Don’t talk about your boss like that in here! What if they read it?
Then they’ll see I’ve been carrying on a lengthy correspondence with my dead mother, too. But okay, sure.
ruby.ocampo:
Sorry, Mom.
