Some changes at the office, lesson 3 essentials of fiction writing
This week at the West office was at hand, some forthcoming changes as the autumn were getting on. Imogine has heard in the afternoon break time that Hazel will move soon at another section of the company in connection with her retirement. At that moment Imogine realized that she wants to become the next branch manager and she started to wonder if Guendoline wants this promotion for herself. On Thursday, after Guendoline arrived Imogine obviously agitated had asked her till she arranged some files at the beginning of the day:
‘’Have you heard that Hazel is changing the job, she is moving in another branch?’’
‘’No, I haven’t. How you know about it’’ Guendoline answered to Imogine question with a question.
‘’Noelle from the second room told me yesterday after you left for your appointment.’’ revealed Imogine.
‘’Why she is going for to change?’’ asked Guendoline a little interested.
‘’Maybe she will tell us,’’ assumed Imogine.
‘Guendoline commented: ‘’Interesting news, isn’t it?’’
‘’I am wondering who the new branch manager will be?’’ Imogine continued the theme.
Guendoline simply answered:
‘’I don’t know’’ and continued to arrange the files on her table.
‘’Are you interested in this position’’ questioned Imogine. She stood at the center of the space with staring tensely at Guendoline face.
‘’What you want to know?’’ Guendoline felt interfered in her work
Imogine had already fixed on Guendoline her penetrating eyes than she insisted:
‘’If the boss proposes you the position, will you accept it?’’
This straightforward irritated Guendoline and she did not answer. Then, she said:
‘’What about you? Are you interested in this position?’’
‘’Oh, yes. I really like this idea. I think that I can do the job properly,’’ admitted Imogine.
Guendoline stated in response to Imogine previous intervening to her:
‘’But you are not enough experienced for the higher position steel yet. It is required work length within the company at least five years,’’
‘’I know that, but I don’t think that it will be appointed someone new in this branch. The colleagues from the other spaces here are also with shorter than five years work length in this company,’’ exposed the way of her thoughts Imogine.
Seeming smart in her elegant skirt and fine blouse Guendoline assumed:
‘’It could arrive someone from the other branches,’’
Imogine announced as an explanation to her insolent questions previously:
‘’I will apply for the position when is advertised,’’
Guendoline encouraged Imogine:
‘’You can try,’’ and started to work out a task.
Imogine gave a call in the central office and contacted Blanchet, the secretary of the head manager:
‘’If you heard that the position is wanted can you let me know, please,’’
‘’Sure,’’ agreed with the secretary.
They knew each other from before the time working for the company. In the afternoon, when Hazel was on coffee pause, Imogine checked the company website, but the position was not listed on the career page yet. The next day Imogine gave a ring again to the secretary of the boss and she arranged an appointment for herself.’’ Ballina, the secretary warned Imogine:
‘’I don’t think that is a good idea to ask the boss for your promotion,’’
‘’Why not?’’ protested the young woman.
‘’Because you have not five years neither in the company nor in the entire your career.’’ Emphasised the secretary. She knew the parents of Imogine and felt the young woman closer than just a colleague.
The news that Hazel moving forward and leave her position vacant spread among the staff and the associated with the company people in further.
The next day Imogine stood on the aisle speaking on the phone as she tried to persuade Herbert Koldwell from the South branch to do not apply for the position of Hazel, as he was one of the persons, selected by the management, with a real chance to be appointed for the position. Sitting in front of her computer Hazel commenced a conversation with Guendoline:
‘’Have you heard already that I will move soon in another office of the company,’’ she watched at Guendoline inquiring and seemed like someone who is keeping a secret. She wore polo blouse, striped trousers, jacket relevant to the season and black boots.
‘’Only a little. Yesterday,’’ shortly replied Guendoline as she was intrigued.
Hazel confessed:
‘’This job is too intensive for me and I want to work with people closer to my generation. The position in the other office is calm and suit me in a few aspects. The boss asked me who I should suggest to replaces me, and I told him only your name and nobody else.’’ She paused for a while and revealed: ‘’The boss asked me for Imogine, but I told him that she is too young and that her private life predominates in the work timeframe. He told me that he will previous and reconsider again but that he is willing to appoint you.’’ Hazel glanced at Guendoline smiling inscrutably
Guendoline listened carefully and responded watching at her documents arranged on her work-table:
‘’Thank you, a lot. All this is quite surprising for myself.’’
Hazel added in further:
‘’That is not everything. The boss said as well that he is considering Herbert Koldwell from the South office for my position but is not yet formed his final choice.’’
‘’That is very interesting,’’ concluded animated Guendoline thoughtfully expecting what will follow next.
The next day Blanchet telephoned to Guendoline and invited her for an interview with the head manager after one week at the central office of the company. Guendoline have not said the news to Imogine, but her colleagues already knew as she said to her:
‘’Congratulations, Guendoline. Blanchet told me that you are selected for the interview and because I am not, you are probably the next branch manager here,’’ Imogine stared at her jealously and seemed confused.
Guendoline nodded trying to avoid escalation:
‘’It is not confirmed yet, Imogine,’’
Imogine hesitated but steel prompted curiously inquired Guendoline:
‘’Guen, do you plan to accept the offer,’’
Guendoline felt irritated from the insolence of her colleague. Her face flushed and she exclaimed:
‘’Why you are asking me again for it?’’ emphasized her question Guendoline and showed her condemning attitude.
‘’Because I already applied for the position,’’ Imogine leaned on her chair.
Hazel was returned before a few minutes at their office space and as she has heard the conversation she said:
‘’ Imogine, it is not right to insist like that. I am steel the chief here.’’
Seeming affected Imogine went out of the space and start speaking on the phone.
In Saturday Guendoline bought some new clothes, as she wanted to seem perfect for her appointment. She hesitated between elegant trousers in grey combined with a printed blouse, blazer in responding color and a set including a suit with a skirt in green blue, a graphite blouse and a stylish long coat. Finally, she has paid all of the chosen apparels and additionally she bought from one another store a handbag. Guendoline hesitated as well if to renew her hairstyle at stylist salon in town after the shopping but withhold.
The week passed as her colleague tried to speak with her, Guendoline tried to avoid her and the atmosphere in the office was stressful. Some of the other colleagues from the branch told to Guendoline that they prefer a man for the position rather than so young woman and warned her that the job is connected with a lot of responsibilities.
Herbert Koldwell telephoned to tell her that the position was already proposed to him, but he is afraid to become superior to mostly female working staff and that he refused the position and wished to her success. He warned Guendoline that Imogine asked him to refuse the promotion as she wanted the position for herself.
At the day of the interview, Thursday Guendoline awoke early and got dressed neat and smart. Finally, she selected grey trousers, fashionable blouse combined with a tailored coat, shoes on high heels and beautiful handbag She refreshed her hairstyle but had not applied any cosmetic, even some lipstick. That helped Guendoline to seem more natural and emphasized on her the intellectual aspect of her personality.
For the interview, Guendoline arrived with public transport twenty minutes before the fixed time. She bought from the stand situated opposite the site a cup of fresh coffee and once again asked herself some questions related to her work. The cloudy weather had not promised a successful day for anyone. The sunshine began to forsake the space, it was almost ten o’clock and the beclouded atmosphere was tending to reduce the twilight. A little nervous, Guendoline entered into the office of Ballina, the secretary of the head manager of the company. Guendoline steel has spoken with the secretary, as Ballina has offered to her coffee, which she refused when she heard the voice of the Mr, Handersman the head manager of the company:
‘’Hello, Guendoline, you can come inside for the interview,’’
The office was large and well arranged with obvious neatness and comfort. On the table blossomed some fresh flowers in a vase. The manager was around his fifties, not too tall, but slim, with brown hair. He seemed well presented in his new suit. From his intelligent face watched lively blue eyes, glancing at her with friendliness.
He Invited Guendoline to sit on the chair and explained to her:
‘’In my view, you are not perfectly suitable for the position of branch manager, but I think that you are a progressive person and would suggest to appoint you on a trial for three months. If you fill the requirement of the administrative management, you will be given this position permanently.’’
Guendoline expected an outcome similar to this and felt a little pleasant, surprised and answered quickly:
‘’Thank you for the honor. I will do my best in this work,’’
They have spoken several minutes further and she returned to her office. Hazel immediately asked her for the interview and Guedoline told her for the trial. Till to the end of the time-frame, she received greetings and opinions by her colleagues. At first, Imogine congratulated Guendoline again, but the bitter in her eyes and the sarcasm on her lips revealed her jealousy and that Imogine obviously was not happy from the outcome in the changes. It was a walkover as it appeared to be in their office.
Author: Louise Grammatico