25 to Life-On Hold

Memory Lane

-----Michelle-----

I am so pissed! How could he think I would do such a thing? I could feel my ears getting hot from my anger. I was boiling.

"VAL! CAN YOU COME HERE PLEASE?"

"Michelle, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Send these flowers back to Michael and tell him brunch, lunch, dinner, everything is off!"

Valerie scurried quickly out of my office. I could tell I scared her a little bit. I'll give her a long lunch tomorrow. I need her to help calm me down today.

I paced my office for a while, surely creating a whole in my super soft carpet. Get a grip Michelle! You don't have time to freak out! You need to find a way out of this. I'll go talk to my dad. He'll know what to do!

"VAL! I'm leaving for a couple hours. I will be back by 1 to prepare for the Connor meeting," I said.

-----Valerie-----

I have never seen her this upset. I wonder what is going on. She is like a big sister to me. I wish it was something I could do to help. I'll go ask Terrence, the Executive Assistant for the CFO on the 20th floor. He loves to gossip. He is so nosy!

After I sent back the flowers with the message, keeping one white one for myself, I went to the 20th floor to talk to Terrence.

"Hey boo! What's tea?" He blew me a kiss, and sent a wink.

"Boi! Why do you assume I came to see you to gossip. Maybe I just wanted to say hello?"

He straight-faced me. "Fine," I said with a chuckle. "I need to know what's going on with Michelle Jordan. Has anyone mentioned her in anything lately?"

"Not that I can recall. I might better be able to remember with a coffee, FREE coffee in hand."

"Come on man, let's go."  This dude.

After I bought us both drinks from Tim Horton's, we found a table near the back so we could spill without being heard. "Soooooo......"

"Soooooo, what?"

"Boy, if you don't!"

"Fiiiine"

"Uhn, hun. You better had," I gave him a fake glare."

"So, I heard that she was crushed over the weekend, cuz apparently the promotion she's been working for since the beginning of time is going to someone else. According to James from the 19th floor, you know the one, EA to the COO," I nodded. "Well, he heard from Stephanie, EA to those lawyers on the 15th floor, that she wasn't even on the shortlist for candidates for the position. Isn't that sad. It's her family's company!"

"Damn. What else? What about Michael? Wasn't he a janitor on Friday? Now he's her 'boyfriend?' What are they up to?"

"Girl, I can't tell you about that. This is news to me, too. I'll scour the entire building and see what I can find out. If you get me another donut, you'll be the first to know what I find out."

This time, I straight-faced him. "Little boy, you're pushing your luck."

"Who are you calling a little boy? I am 21 years old."

"I am 24 years old, so as your elder. Shut the hell up, and find out for me. Please and thank you." I grabbed my stuff and walked away before he could try to schmooze more things from me.

"Gurl, you know I didn't mean anything by it. I'm tryna get all I can. I am a broke college student! This is a minimum-wage-paying internship!" I turned back to smirk at him as I gave him the finger. I could hear him chuckling behind me. He caught up with me.