Back at the home office, things weren't going any better for Michelle. Her immediate supervisor Archie was on vacation, so she was meeting with Archie's superior, Albert. Albert was at least as unhappy as Kelly had been.
"I hope you understand that you blew the Blonde Concepts account, Michelle," said Albert, in a dreadfully casual tone. "That was a blue chip client, and your personal actions cost us the money we would have made as well as damaging our reputation. Now, make no mistake...I'm about to fire you. But I find myself saying, 'Well, perhaps there's a good reason Michelle completely disregarded procedure and decided her personal entertainment was more important than her job. Perhaps our blue chip client just over-reacted.' So, why don't you tell me what you said to that girl that got the management over there in such a tizzy?"
This was it. Michelle had this one chance to save her job. She looked at Albert, took a deep mental breath and opened her mouth to describe the conversation. Unfortunately, what came out was a girlish giggle.
Albert blinked as Michelle clapped a hand over her mouth. Veins began to stand out on Albert's forehead. "Do you think this is funny, Michelle?" asked Albert. He watched Michelle shake her head. "Then try it one more time. And this really better be good."
Michelle's heart was racing. Where the hell had that giggle come from? She gave herself a moment to calm down before looking at Albert again. She tried again to speak, but found herself pressing her knees together, ankles splaying apart, her hands in her lap as she again giggled helplessly. The more she tried to explain, the more she giggled.
Albert stood up, his face thunderclouds. "You're done here, Michelle. Clean out your desk. Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future." He then turned and walked out the door.
*****
Michelle put the box in the trunk of her car. It had been really strange seeing her desk so empty.
The drive home was unpleasant, and now she had to find new employment. She hadn't planned on staying at MarketTech forever anyway, so maybe this was a chance for a new opportunity. Remembering that Power Plus Marketing had once offered her a position- she had turned it down because MarketTech had fortunately offered her a position at the same time- she decided to start there.
She tried not to be nervous as she dialed the number. Too soon someone answered, "Power Plus Marketing."
"I'd like to speak with Tom Chalmers, please," said Michelle. She waited as the call was transferred.
"Tom Chalmers."
Michelle took a breath. "Hello, Mr. Chalmers. I don't know if you remember me, but I..."
Tom interrupted her. "Michelle! Of course I remember you. So does every other man here, no doubt. You made quite the impression."
It was nice to know her flirting had paid off for once. "Thank you, Mr. Chalmers. I just wanted to let you know that I'm in the market once again, and if you have any opportunities available, I'd love to explore them."
Chalmers brayed laughter. "Yeah, I already heard you got bounced by the MarketTech boys, although nobody said why. Did you steal from a client?"
"No."
"Did you sleep with any of your clients?"
"No!"
"Too bad. That would have scored points in your favor. Alright, as long as you didn't steal or kill, whatever happened is between you and MarketTech, alright? Come by tomorrow, we'll get you started."
"Oh!" said Michelle. "Thank you, Mr. Chalmers! You won't regret this."
"I hope not," said Chalmers. "We'll see you tomorrow."
A rush of excitement surged through Michelle as she hung up the phone. A new job already, on the first call, no less! Yes, Chalmers could be a bit inappropriate at times and Power Plus wasn't in the same league as MarketTech, but she was willing to put up with it for now.
Result!
*****
Michelle woke up the next morning and knew immediately that something was different.
She sat up, blinking. Then she got out of bed and made her way towards the bathroom. And finally she realized what was bothering her.
Her hair was much fuller and longer than it had any right to be.
Michelle turned on the bathroom light and looked in the mirror. What she saw made her eyes widen and her heart race.
Her hair was a thick mass of poofy blonde curls flowing all the way down her back. It was a teenager's first perm, embarrassingly adorable, and far more appropriate on a beach bunny than in a marketing office.
Michelle tried to calm her racing thoughts. Chalmers probably wouldn't care...in fact, he'd probably like it...but it was still going to be embarrassing as hell. And why the hell did this have to happen today? It had to be some reaction to her shampoo, or the chemicals that Kelly had been pumping into her.