I was not looking forward to work, on that particular day. For about a year, Michelle had headed up our office. It had been a good year. Before her, Big Joe had been our boss. That year sucked. Who would move into the position was anyone's guess, but history would suggest that it would be someone terrible - unqualified and arrogant. Corporate seemed to like that in a boss. Michelle had been an exception. We would soon be back in the realm of the rule.
Michelle, as I said, was a good boss. She pushed us just as hard as Big Joe had, harder in fact. Our numbers proved that Michelle was more than just competent. She had excelled in almost every way. Sadly, it came as no surprise that when Michelle received a job offer from one of our big competitors, corporate made absolutely no effort to keep her. The reward for doing good work, in our company, is being chased away. Politics was more important than profit to corporate. By being excellent, Michelle wasn't being a team player, from their twisted point of view.
In that, they were wrong. Michelle was an excellent team player.
The day progressed in the usual fashion, as though nothing special was underway, as though losing Michelle was just business as usual. After lunch, corporate supplied us with a big white pan cake with the words "Good Luck" splayed out in thick green frosting. Michelle, holding a plate of cake, explained for the hundredth time the wonderful opportunity she was pursuing. I sat with the rest of the guys who actually worked for her, picking at the cake with a plastic fork and feeling slightly sick.
"This sucks," said Dave. The rest of us shook our heads and nodded in negative agreement.
"She should take us with her," said Paul.
"As if," said Tom, his mouth full of cake.
"You know they're going to give her job to Randy."
"Shit."
"I'm not working for Randy."
"Yeah, you are. We're all stuck here."
"Shit."
"She's not only a great boss, but also the finest looking woman who has ever worked here."