Fighting Life

Chapter Ten

Resting over Sunday, Tana spent her time alone, working on her writing and doing a bit of online studies as well. She had music playing in the background and she hummed along to it as she worked. She had not listened to music for a while and it had a way of putting her into a good mood as well. So much so, that on the train on the Monday morning she decided to use her phone and headphones and play some music, listening to it on the way to work, as she walked and even as she first got into the office. She greeted some of the early bird officers who were walking through the main doors as well, before she caught the elevator up to the third floor and to the office. It was here she took the headphones off and proceeded to her desk.

Files were piled there yet again and with a heavy sigh Tana started working over the first one on the pile, wanting to get a good head start for the morning, hoping that after a bit of an up and down weekend of emotions, the week ahead would be so much better. Like every day recently though, she tried all she could to avoid Jenny, not wanting to give that woman another chance to give her any trouble. Yet, she was able to spend a little time in the kitchen at lunch and have a decent chat with Allyson and Shane, having a little laugh.

In fact, everything seemed to be going well with work, no issues for a while and the pile of files on her desk decreasing like she was finally making a good impact on them. During the two weeks since Steph's birthday, Tana's mood had been a lot better. She continued to stop in to see her grandfather on the Tuesdays, and on the Sundays, she started to take up some running, getting back into a healthier living work life balance. She had once been a fit person, but due to depression, she had not treated her body well and that was why she had put on weight that she did not want. Tana wanted to turn that around, make a difference again. She even recoloured her hair, turning it back into a vibrant green colour like it had been a couple of months back. All of this was making her mood so much better and she was enjoying it.

Tana found herself worried though like while so much good was happening, something would bring it down. It was on Tuesday the twenty first of May, when towards the end of her workday, there was a ring on her desk phone, from an internal line. She looked around, wondering who was calling her, and then picked up, placing the handset to her ear and clearing her throat and mind from the confusion.

"Tana speaking." She told the line.
"My Office. Now." The voice of Clark Smith spoke coldly.

The line went dead almost right away, and Tana could feel her good mood sinking very fast indeed. She had no idea what she had done wrong this time and in the past two weeks, Jenny had kept away from her and not caused any issues, or at least not many, towards Tana. She still caused trouble for some other staff, and Tana started to wonder how nobody else was seeing it, that Jenny was also the one causing the issues, and yet, not the one getting in trouble.

Knowing what the boos was like, Tana took in a steadying breath, grabbed herself a pad of paper and pen and started making her way to the office of Clark Smith. She could see a few staff glance her way, and even the Maggie, the reception personal assistant, looked up at her as she approached the door. She gave Tana a nod, to say to knock and go in. So she did, raised a firm fist, gave a swift knock and on a quick reply, she opened the office door, walked in, closed it again and then turned.

Unlike the other times she had come into the room, where the boss was sitting in his chair, the back of it to her and he not once turning around to look at her directly, she was surprised to see the boss was standing. He still had his back to the door, looking out of the floor to ceiling windows, hands in his suit pockets. Tana stood, not sure what she was meant to do now and so to let him know she was ready and waiting, she gave a little clearing of her throat.

"It is Tana Sir, you requested me to come in." she stated.
"Obviously, or are you a bit silly to think I would expect another to walk in." he voice cut at her.
"No... I am not silly." She stated, defensively.
"Good, because I do not want to regret this." He commented harshly, Tana was very scared. "I have been going through all the staff files, and Miss Nill I find yours is the most interesting."
"H... how?" she asked, confused and worried now.
"I am a man who likes to get things right the first time, every time. I am a fighter and I do not like people to mess me around." He claimed, she was no fool to this. "So, I have been looking through the staff, to find somebody who would be able to handle more pressure, to be able to step up and take over from Maggie as she will be leaving us soon."
"Oh..." Tana said softly, haven not known.
"I do not like people who lie and cheat, and I do not like people who take time off for no reason."
"Sir, as I have tried to explain before, the result of my days off were due....."
"To your heart. I am aware. Do not interrupt me again."
"Sorry Sir."
"Of all staff, of all the time each of you have been working here, I have charted out days available and days away and out of all, you Miss Nill I find has taken the least time off. I am impressed that you put the extra effort in, that you do not mess around when it comes to work. I have personally selected you to step up and be the personal assistant of mine."
"Me?"
"Are you blind as well as silly?"
"No. I am just, surprised."
"Why is my generosity and good will always a shock to people."