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Maureen was eying me doubtfully, her mouth downturned like a cat. “Lily, that’s so sweet. But Con needs a professional. You just don’t have enough experience, and two weeks isn’t nearly enough time.”
I’d thought she might say this. I had a backup plan. “Okay, then what if I’m the assistant to the temp EA,” I said gamely. “I don’t have certifications and experience, but I know Con and the company better than an outsider.”
“It does seem like a two-person job sometimes,” Maureen murmured. Her doubt was becoming speculation. She was wondering if it might just work.
“I worked the front desk at the campus library for two years,” I said encouragingly. “It was part of my work-study program.”
Maureen smiled kindly, but I could tell it hadn’t added much weight to my argument.
“And I was the receptionist at a law firm for the last two summers,” I added. “And—”
“Okay,” Maureen held her hands up with a laugh. “I think you’ve convinced me. I want to see about moving you up from Brand Development immediately though. I go out on maternity leave in four weeks, and we’ll need every day.”
My heart leapt. Not only was she agreeing, but I was going to get away from Brand Development early? This was better than I’d hoped.
“Do you mind leaving Brand Development early?” she asked, knowing full well I didn’t.
I shook my head so vehemently that she put a hand on her stomach and laughed. “I didn’t think you would. Are there any loose ends you need to tie up? Projects to finish?”
I thought of the endless alphabetizing they’d been having me doing and the hours I’d just spent sitting behind various team members while they worked without bothering to explain what they were doing. “No projects.”
Maureen looked unsurprised. “Not a very welcoming group, are they?”
I shook my head and shrugged. “No big deal. I was temporary.”
“Well, I’ll be glad to have you.” Maureen glanced around. “I’ll get another desk brought up. I need to talk to Con, and HR, but I’m hoping to have you in here by tomorrow.”
“I could just stay,” I said. “I’ll pull up a chair and shadow you. I won’t be in the way.”
Maureen patted my arm. “I know you want out of Brand, but we have to go through Con and HR first.”
My heart squeezed. This was the most delicate part of my plan, but I was counting on Maureen’s influence to make it work. “What if he says no?”
He would absolutely say no. Hell no. I was taking a risk by trying to outmaneuver him. He might even follow through on his threat to try to drive me back to Ohio. But Maureen got a stubborn look on her face at the question. “He won’t,” she said determinedly. “This is the first plan that makes sense. If you’re here and we get a good temp EA, I’ll actually be able to relax on maternity leave. Or as much as newborns let you relax. I wouldn’t know. They can’t be more work than CEOs anyway”
I went back down to Brand Development, cautious optimism surging through me. If Maureen had her way, this would be the last time I walked through the chilly Brand offices.
And if Maureen had her way, I’d have mine, too, soon enough.
