For Better or Worse | Choni

Elite Employee

After a few hours of work, Archie and I took a cab through the city.

He marvelled at the upscale restaurant, eyes widening at the fancy décor and exclusively.

"Whoa, being engaged to a billionaire has its perks."

"So does being friends with a billionaire's fiancée." I poked.

The waiter came around and I placed my order then gazed out the window as Archie placed his. I sighed as the waiter left,

"Y'know, I thought life was complicated the last time I came here."

"Were you on a clandestine date with Cheryl or something?" Archie teased.

"If only. I had brunch with Veronica after Cheryl left her. Our publicist thought it'd save face before we went public."

"Yikes. I don't envy past Toni."

"Yeah, the company's a lot better this time around." I shook my head at the memory, "Anyway, spill. Why was everyone acting so weird around me this morning?"

"Cutting right to the chase, huh?" Archie grinned, "Who was acting weird?"

"Well for starters, Kai and Charles couldn't get away from me fast enough. I thought we were all a team?"

"We are, it's just.. as much as Kai and Charles like you, after the holiday party they felt like they never really knew you."

"Even after all the work we've done together?"

Archie shrugged, "I think they felt blindsided by everything going on in your personal life. You knew about the competition and didn't tell us, you're engaged to the woman whose name is on our building, everything with Veronica and Jason, and now Cheryl's first wife.."

He took a breath,

"They're worried you don't really belong with the rest of us. Like you're out of their league, life-wise."

"That's ridiculous." I dismissed, "Just because my private life has some..."

"Drama?"

My eyes rolled at Archie's comment, but he was right, "Yeah. I know it's been a lot, but I'm still me!"

"They'll come around eventually. Don't worry."

I rubbed my temples, "What about Forsythe?"

"Well, when Veronica was named CEO, Forsythe was sure he'd be promoted from head of the environmental lab to head of the department."

"But he wasn't."

"And he's been pouting ever since. Veronica's already had to reprimand him twice in front of everyone. And who knows how many times she tried to talk to him in private."

My eyes rolled at Forsythe's actions, "You'd think he'd try harder to get the promotion, not less."

Archie nodded, having a sip of his water, "What's worse is he's making it everyone else's problem."

"Great, now it'll be impossible to get things approved." I groaned, remembering his brusque nature this morning, "Do you think he'll snap out of it?"

"Maybe. Or he'll get fired. I wouldn't wanna go head-to-head against Veronica Lodge."

"Yeah, I have some personal experience with that."

The waiter returned with our food and I happily dug in.

"Enough work stuff. How're things with you?"

Archie sighed heavily, "Well, my wife's family was in town for a bit, which was stressful."