Behind Blue Eyes

Chapter 9 Amina

It's Friday. It's been a week since I last saw Jace. One moment he is helping me and the next he is stealing all of my work and taking the credit. He did do most of the work, but if he didn't take it from me, I would have my name written on everything.

We have been in this meeting for what feels like forever. I open my laptop to go over everything one last time to see if by any chance I can fit my name in anywhere.

"Amber, you will be teaming with Joseph for the new assignments." Jason tells her.

"Wait, I can do it by myself!" She shouts. I guess I'm not the only one who wants my name and only my name on the assignments. That's refreshing.

And she is being partnered with Joseph, that's a little unfortunate. I let out a small giggle that is quickly extinguished.

"Mia," Jason calls out. "Jace should be returning today, and you will be partnered with him."

I want to tell him no and explain why, but no words form. Things are just the way there are ever since Jace came along. I roll my eyes making it painfully obvious that I don't want to be partnered with him.

Focusing my attention back onto my laptop, I notice something that makes me blink rapidity. My name is written on everything, all of the work Jace did, is in my name.

I feel my entire body shaking, I don't think Jace realized how important this assignment was. If he did, his name would be all over the place.

Ten minutes pass by as I take my eyes off the screen and hear Jason talking to me. How long has he been talking to me?

Shit.

"I'm sorry sir. Can you repeat that?"

He snaps his fingers at me. "I need you here, Mia."

"I know, I apologize."

He passes me a sheet of paper. "I need you to sign this contract."

I try to focus on it, but I can't when he is talking to me at the same time. It doesn't take much focusing to see the number on the paper jump up more than I am used to. "Jason?" I ask.

"You are reading that correctly. You are receiving one hell of a raise," He hands me a pen. "The company was very impressed with your work over the past week."

What work? The work that was basically deleted and replaced with Jace's?

"While I appreciate this more that I can form words for, I can't accept this."

"How do you mean?" He asks.

Here comes the truth. "That wasn't my work, exactly." A stretch on the word because Jace did leave some of my original content there. "It was Jace."

"Yes, I am aware, but your name is written on the work."

Nothing about this situation sits right with me. Jace willingly put my name on everything, and even told Jason to clear the air, giving me the credit?

"It is a promotion, Mia. Are you willing to take on more work?" He asks.

"How different is the work compared to what I am taking on currently?"

"Very different. You will be working under the grandsons of Cyrus directly."

My jaw drops and I can feel the heat of the sun burning in my face. "I-"

I clear my thoat. "May I have a couple of days to think about it? I can give you my answer by the end of next week if that isn't too much time to ask for."

This is a huge jump in my career. I think I might go to hell for saying this, but I think Cyrus passing may have been the best thing that has ever happened to me.

"I can make that work." He says.

"How am I qualified? I don't think I quite understand how I am receiving this position if Jace is the one who did majority of the work?"

"Ah. Yes, Jace mentioned that you had a timeline of everything that needed to be completed, and he offered to do some of the needed work. You are qualified because of your teamwork, and organization." He takes a seat next to me. "Speaking another language is also another plus, the LeBlanc company plans on expanding to European countries."

"I only know German, so that only leaves me valuable in one country." I say.

"Lucky for you, that's where they plan on expanding."

"How are they going to shut down half of the buildings here, and open them up elsewhere? That doesn't sound correct. All of the company's business is here, in the United States."

"I have answered all I am able as of right now. You will have to get in contact with Mr. LeBlanc for further information."

Standing up I reach my hand over towards him. "Thank you so much for this opportunity, sir."

"Don't thank me, thank Ja-"

He stutters more than I ever seen him stutter. "Jason. Thank me, you're right."

I laugh and shake my head at him as I walk towards my desk. I cannot believe everything that just happened. I thought that was the most brooding meeting ever until the last turn of events.