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."
I feel my blouse open without the button as I sit up. When I use the arms on the oversized chair to boost myself another button pops off really opening my blouse. I grab it holding it closed as he looks on.
"I don't think that's very business appropriate attire Michele. What if we had a Zoom with the customer?" He asks in a less angry tone.
"It just grabbed a dress. I was in a hurry trying to get here." I says defending myself.
"Stand up." He tells me.
I stand as he stands in front of me looking down at me.
"I think you've lost it, and I also think that we should part ways as an employer and employee. You've had way too many screw ups just today for me to keep you on."
I start to cry hearing it, and I notice he stops talking. When I look up his eyes are fixated at my blouse. When he catches himself turns away quick.
"But, you've been an asset to this company for over ten years. Longer than most anyone else has been here. You can do most every job, and you're easy to get along with. Your complaints are minimal, and your ethic is strong. Consider this your final warning."
"Thank you." I say as he hands me a tissue.
"Take a few minutes to compose yourself before going back to work."
I blow my nose, and two more buttons pop off rolling across the floor. My boobs pop out showing off my tattered old lace bra.
"Unless you want something more to happen I'd suggest you get control over your wardrobe and put your tits away."
Hearing him say the word tits doesn't sound right coming from him, and what does he mean something more to happen?
"Sorry. It's an old dress." I say bending down to pick up the buttons.
As soon as I bend more go rolling across the floor. There's none left on my dress, and the blouse is wide open. I try to pull it closed quick but I end up hooking my wedding ring on my bra ripping the side open letting my left boob spill out in the open. I use my hand to cover my nipple and see him staring.
"You're fighting a losing battle." He jokes with glee in his voice.
He walks up to me again as I stand there holding my left hand over my boob, and my blouse closed with my right.
"I think it's time to retire this outfit." He says grabbing my left hand in his so ever gently and pulling it away. "You scratched yourself. Let me clean it for you."
He looks me right in the eyes mesmerizing me with his brown eyes. When he looks down I realize he's looking right at my naked breast, and there's a scratch from my ring along the side. I just stand there as he pulls an alcohol wipe from his desk and wipes the scratch making me flinch from the sting.
"Mmm." I moaned.
"That hurt?"
"It stings." I say feeling my nipples getting hard and sensitive.
"It will sting for a bit, but without a little sting there's no good payouts."
