I was home contemplating calling in for work. It's been a rough and stressful week, and I've had enough. Ten to twelve hours per day, six days per week. It's nuts. I have one customer to get set up and have their account going, but I'm so tired. Hopefully they won't be too pissed they have to wait one more day before they can order our shit? I'm stressed out so bad my weight is over 300, and my hair is turning gray. I'm only five foot one. I should be about a hundred pounds. I haven't been that since I got pregnant with my firstborn years ago, but this stress isn't helping me any.
I pick up the phone and let my boss down easy, "I don't think I can make it in tonight. Sorry, but I need a me day."
"I fully understand. See you tomorrow, and get better." She says.
I sit back and relax the night letting my husband wait on me the whole night through. I'm in bed by nine sleeping soundly getting a good night's rest for a change. Before I know it the morning has arrived, and I'm seeing the hubby and kids off like usual. I kick back watching TV and surfing the web when around nine thirty my work calls me leaving a message.
"Hey this is Gina, I have a question about that LA account, call me back please."
Great. They must be wondering why they can't access the website yet. They can wait. The pompous asses kept changing what they wanted access to anyway. I'll call her back in a while. Five minutes later it rings again.
"Michele, this is Gina again. It's very important you call me back ASAP. The natives are getting restless."
That out little code for the customer is complaining up the chain to VP's. I grab my phone calling her back.
"Hey boss lady what's the prob?" I ask.
"Are you feeling less stressed?"
"I'm feeling a LOT better."
"Good because you need to come into the office right away. KT is on the warpath. LA was sending some nasty emails."
"Fine. Let me get dressed, and I'll be in in about an hour."
"Better skip the beautification and get here in ten minutes before world war three starts."
"They'll be happy to see me in sweats."
"Toss on something quick, and get over here. I'll try to keep things quelled until then."
I just threw on a bra and underwear grabbing the first dress on in the closet. When I get in my car I finally notice that I'm wearing the black dress with the missing buttons on the blouse. I don't have time to run back so I'll have to deal with the small opening left between my boobs when I get there. Maybe I can find a pin at my desk? I'm sure they don't want to see my pale white gut, or my ratty old white lace bra while I'm smoothing things over.
I walk in with no make up, my hair undone, and my dress in need of repair heading straight to my desk. I get there and search all over to try to find a pin or something. I find nothing.
"You better get into my office. KT knows you're here, and he's not happy."
"I have to fix my blouse first. I just grabbed, and this is one that needs a button."
"Staple it. Let's go."
I do as she says, and I staple the opening closed. It looks like hell, but with a little black marker it disappears against the dress. I follow Gina into her office bringing up the LA account. We go over what I have done, and what I have yet to do. That's when KT came walking in. He's a tall back man that's very intimidating. He's bald, muscular, and usually in a good mood when I see him. I'm hoping that gives me some leverage today.
"What's going on with LA? I've gotten ten emails, and even more phone calls telling me they're going to go elsewhere if they can't sign on. This was supposed to have been done yesterday. Explain!"
"Michele was off yesterday." Gina says to him. "There's really not a lot to get done so she'll have it good to go in about two hours."
"Get it done!" He says walking out. "I thought you were more on top of things Michele."
"Well girl, you got two hours."
"Great." I say going to my cubicle and diving in.
I get everything done in a little less than two hours even with KT asking if it's going to be done every five minutes. I send the email confirming to the account, Gina, and copy KT in on it. Almost immediately I get a reply.
"This isn't what we were promised. We should have individual accounts for all our participants under one umbrella. This is one account. It'll never work. I start to respond when I get an IM from KT.
"Michele- Gina- my office, NOW!"
Gina is already there when I get up to his office. He closes the door behind me and sits in his chair tapping his fingertips together just looking at Gina and then me before taking a deep breath.
"How could you let this happen?" He asks Gina.
"It's the way we always set things up. I'm sure Michele didn't know they wanted something special."
"I actually..." I say being hushed by him.
"Gina, you're the supervisor. You're the one in charge of the shit show. Did you fail, or was it Michele? Who's taking the heat on this one?"
"I did it. I'll take the heat." I say before she can answer. "And if you let me explain..."
He tells me to be quiet again silencing me.
"Gina, out."
"Good luck." She whispers walking out."
He tells me to sit as she closes the door behind herself, and right as I sit I feel my makeshift repair pop open. I cross my arms in front of me to hide it as he sits back in his chair.
"We lost that account." He says looking at the wall. "That was a ten million dollar account. Gone."
He turns and looks at me angrily, "And here you are sitting looking so fucking smug! Tell me why I shouldn't fire you right now?"
"Can I explain, or are you going to keep cutting me off?"
"I don't need excuses! I need a ten million dollar account! You should be begging me to keep your job. I don't understand you. You were the most recommended and the best performing, and now this. The least you can do is sit up and uncross your arms. look like you care."
