Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
I smile along with everyone else then look over to my side when my shoulder is nudged by Samantha, who is now proudly wearing her new tracking device.
“Aren’t you going to put yours on?” she asks, nodding to my box.
I don’t want to. I really don’t want to, because I have a feeling Braxton has manipulated this entire scenario. He knows I haven’t worn the watch since he forced it on me, and by doing this, I no longer have a choice when it comes to wearing it.
“Yeah.” I shake my head like I just had a moment of ditsy forgetfulness. “I just got caught up in what Kathy was saying.” I pick up my box and take out the watch, the blinking light taunting me as I wrap it around my wrist. Once I have it secure, I pull the sleeve of my blouse down over it. I might be forced to wear it all the time, but that doesn’t mean I have to take the time to charge it. If it dies, it dies; there is nothing he can do about that.
“You might have noticed there is no charging cable in your box,” Kathy says, and I look at her, feeling my heart plummet. “This watch is charged by the sun, unlike some of our competitors’, which allows you to never have to worry about plugging it in.”
“Great,” I groan, and everyone looks at me. “Sorry.” I hold up my wrist. “I’m just so relieved I don’t need to charge this beauty.”
Kathy clears her throat, and everyone turns to focus on her once more. “I look forward to hearing from each of you, and as you know, my door is always open. Now.” She motions toward the door. “Let’s get back to work and sell, sell, sell.”
I stand with everyone else, the weight on my wrist feeling heavier than ever before. I swear I’m going to kill Braxton for once again using his position to get his way.
“Are you okay?” Samantha asks as we wait for the elevator.
“Yeah, totally. Are you?” I ask automatically, glancing over when she laughs.
“You’re a horrible liar. Has anyone ever told you that?” She grasps my wrist to pull my hand away from my mouth. Damn, I didn’t even notice I was biting my nails. “My friend Mary back home always bites her nails when something is wrong or when she’s worried. What’s wrong?”
Knowing I should give her something, I sigh then lower my voice as we step out of the elevator and walk across the office toward our desks. “I’m a little nervous about what Kathy is going to say about the talk points I sent her this morning. She hasn’t exactly been very open to anything I’ve given her so far.”
“Every time I’ve seen you on air so far, you’ve been amazing, and like Mat said, Kathy doesn’t have the final say, so I don’t think you should worry too much about her opinion. Just do your best; that’s all any of us can really do.”
“You’re right, thanks.”
“Anytime. Also, I’m here if you ever need someone to bounce ideas off of. I know for me it helps my process.”
“I’d really like that. We should exchange numbers and get together sometime,” I say then shake my head. “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound so desperate, but I could use a friend here.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I’m in the market for a friend.” She laughs then asks, “Do you want to get lunch this afternoon? I was thinking of trying out that new chowder place a couple blocks over. I read a review that said they have the best sourdough bread bowls in the US. Something I doubt, since I grew up in San Francisco. Still, I want to try them out.”
“I’m not sure what a sourdough bread bowl is, but I’d love to join you.”
“If this place is any good, your mind is going to be blown.” She says then looks at her new watch. “Wow, so cool. It just reminded me that I’m due on air in an hour.” Her eyes widen. “Shit, I have to get to makeup.” She starts to take off then turns back toward me, walking backward. “I should be done around one, but I’ll let you know if I get done before then.”
“Sounds good. And good luck.”
“Thanks.” She turns and calls over her shoulder, heading for hair and makeup on the opposite side of the room from me.
I go back to my desk and check over the list of the reports that were e-mailed to me this morning. After going through each one, I notice my numbers are right on point with some of the other people who have been on air here for years but vary depending on the state. I check to see if Kathy has e-mailed me back, and when I see she has, I open the e-mail and my heart sinks. Once more, she’s dismissed the ideas I had on ways to promote the products on my schedule.