Joyce needed to go so bad. All three in the ladies’ section were occupied. She listened, watched out for any signs that someone was inside, then tiptoed into the gents’ side. The urinals came first, then three doors followed. She picked the first one, the one closest to the door, so that she could leave quickly.
As she was about to leave, a group of gents got it. She could hear the splashes in the urinal, the loud banter and laughter, and someone was at the sink. “They can’t know I’m in here alone,” she thought. “Maybe they could hurt me, and people will ask why I was even in the gents’ washroom. Or maybe I’ll walk in on one of them going about their business, and they’ll think I’m a perv. But, no, I’ve worked with these people, so maybe they’ll just understand. But how do I know these are people from our office? We share washrooms with three other businesses in this building.” So Joyce stayed inside the toilet.
“Have you heard there’s a huge project coming up?” One voice said.
“My review is in a few weeks, it would really help if I were part of such a project,” said another.
“Victor, what’s the big boss saying? We’re not all servicing the boss lady,” said the first voice.
They all burst out laughing.
“No, seriously, Victor, please si you put in a good word for me,” one of them told him.
“It’s a really competitive one. Lucy couldn’t tell me the details but I looked through her work computer and even the seniors are fighting to get into it,” Victor told them.
They headed out of the washrooms as they teased Victor, who bragged about dating Lucy.
Joyce quickly came out of the toilet cubicle before anybody else came in. She passed by Lucy’s office, and when Lucy saw her, she called her.
“Hey Joyce, I’m glad I’ve seen you passing by,” Lucy said. Lucy was one of the managers. “So I’m sure you’ve heard rumours that we have a huge project coming up and I want you to be part of it. I know how hard it can be for women to get ahead in this field so I like to pass down the ladder to some of the women with great potential that I cross paths with whenever I can,” she told Joyce.
The day was turning out to be more eventful for Joyce than she had expected. She had always liked Lucy, though she didn’t think she even noticed her that much, and she’d felt bad about what the gents had said about her, but now, with the opportunity Lucy had offered, she wondered what to do about it. She wished she had recorded it.
The office was busy, and the project details were shared with the rest of the team. The team chosen for the project was made public. The two gents with Victor earlier waited with bated breath, hoping they’d been picked. Victor assumed Lucy would have included him in the project because of their relationship. None of the three was part of the project.
“Why would you do that to me?” Victor texted Lucy.
“What are you talking about?” Lucy asked him.
“The project,” Victor replied.
Lucy did not respond. They were to meet up for dinner at Lucy’s place later in the evening. Victor arrived angry. Lucy was confused. She’d ordered takeout, so she took out plates.
“I don’t understand what you’re angry about,” Lucy told him.
“It’s embarrassing that I am dating you and you didn’t include me in such a huge project,” Victor said.
“Embarrassing? I told you this is a huge deal for the company and I have very little influence in this one. Wait, and even if I had influence, I told you when we started hooking up that at the office I am still your boss and I can’t favour you because of our personal interactions,” Lucy told him.
“I thought you wanted me to succeed. Or maybe you like feeling in charge,” said Victor.
“I’m sorry, what? Did you think you would get the opportunity because we’re hooking up? You know what that’s called? Sleeping your way to the top,” Lucy told him.
“Wouldn’t you expect the same if I were your boss?” Victor said.
“Oh, is that what this has been about?” Lucy asked.
“No. But…”
“Victor, leave my house,” Lucy told him.
She finally got him to leave after minutes of him trying to redeem himself. Lucy was disappointed. Her career success had made it difficult for her to date. With Victor, it had felt different for a while. He was two years younger, but he had sounded like he understood her and her needs. She’d even started entertaining the idea of taking the relationship more seriously until the discussion they had just had. It was clear to her why he had dated her.
Check out more stories
False Accusations Of Sleeping With The Boss To Get Ahead
Office Drama – I’m Falling In Love With My Coworker But I Have A Wife And Kids Part 1
Office Drama – I’m Falling In Love With My Coworker But I Have A Wife And Kids Part 2
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