3:00 A.M.

XVI

If I counted how many times I'd wish for days to pass by like seconds I would have had hundreds, maybe even thousands. Today is one of those.

I did present my suggestion to Dave, just me and him because he said that he wanted to have a full understanding of it and it still need his approval.

I know it was hard to crack Dave, especially when this is the very opposite of his style, but I was hoping for that little glint that he saw in my paper to ever consider this presentation again.

I must have been dreaming because of course, it wouldn't go as I wish.

A few days after the presentation, he called for me. Despite knowing that I impressed him, I still found my palms sweaty in nervousness and that should have been a premonition already.

Now, I am facing my boss with a fuming storm boiling inside me.

"I'm the Executive Manager!" He shouted.

That's it!

I folded my arms over my chest and posed the same confidence like him.

"And I'm the Assistant Executive Manager which means the Creatives Department is under my office!" I insisted.

My dear old boss approved my suggestion! And that should make me happy, right? That should make me jump in joy! But no, not when he decided to give the project for the next issue to Cassandra Michaels, the head of the Data Analysts and Marketers Department.

I have to say, Cassandra shows a promising and talented mind. When she became the head of that department, it had function in a more organize system. Her work ethics is also impressive, but she is barely even a month in LaVida Company.

Sure she possesses the best eye when it comes to understanding trends, customers and sales reports but when we talk about line of work here, I'm more suitable for the job than her.

"I'm your boss." Dave emphasized in gritted teeth.

He should know that I won't be intimidated by this tiger look he's giving me.

I raised my chin, not backing down.

"Yes, by rank. But by function and responsibility, you don't have a hold on the Creatives Department. I am their direct supervisor!"

Dave rubbed his face with both of his palms in frustration.

I noticed strands of white hair which probably escaped his hairstylist's black hair color. His eyes wore more wrinkles today than before, it looked tired. The bags under his eyes getting darker perhaps from lack of sleep.

He straightened up and looked at me with those deep eyes.

"Tana, it's not that I don't trust you. You know I still think this is a risk we're taking here. LaVida had not made such drastic change it's going to take now but I considered what you said about adjusting the contents for the readers. However, I'm still very critical about this and I trust you, I do, that's why I approved this but I need to make sure this becomes successful-"

"And you think it won't be if I will handle the project?"

"That's not what I mean."

"Yes, it is." I felt my anger fire up even more, engulfing my head with so much heat I thought it would burst.

"Dave, I've been handling every production LaVida had made for years now and what, some newbie impresses you and you flip?"

"Tana, this is not about you or Cassandra." He argued, disbelief written all over his face.