Trouble With Us

Chapter 12

Chapter 12.............backtrack

It had finally arrived. The one day in which we all waited on....wanted to come....to finally be over. Today was the day friends wished their friends and coworkers both good luck and secretly wished ill will. As the minutes ticked by everyone waited on agonizing breath for their department to be called. Judgment day had arrived and the layoffs had began first thing that morning. I had to hand to it to Will he didn't back down from a confrontation. He didn't hide behind closed doors nor did he mass deliver pink slips carried forth by some stranger. He did however have two lawyers and members of a private security placed through out the building. One by one the funeral march of people past my desk to find out their fate. The lucky were offered different job postings within the company. A select few received promotions. Most of who were called were dismissed with varying compensation packages. Still yet there were those who left with nothing more than a box to carry their stuff out with. There was no asylum, no place I could hide as I had a front row seat to watching peoples fears come true. The entire while being forced to wonder and wait if I too would be standing in the unemployment line tomorrow.

There were some who took the news calmly and with as much dignity as possible collected their things and left. Some cried while others pleaded for their jobs. A few completely lost it and exploded causing security to have to escort them out. It was mid afternoon when it finally appeared to be the assistants who were being called. I knew the assistants were being heavily cut back on and there was several of us vying for the few remaining positions. Doing the math quickly in my head I began to panic. I knew that three of the ad executives had been dismissed and that the remaining executives were limited to one assistant that kept their duties as well as now the secretaries. Not that anyone said anything but judging from the look on their faces I guessed who was laid off and who kept their job. Uncertain I was guessing that their was maybe one job position left if that when Ryan walked into Wills office. It was only Ryan and I left.

Panic stricken hardly began to describe how I felt. Fear pushed me to look at the wanted adds on the net. I scanned various on line job posting sights. There were so few listings and in today's economy with so many people more qualified than me applying how would I get my foot in the door. Time was standing still and I could feel my skin crawling with anxiety. The minute Wills office door opened I studied Ryan's face for a sign of anything. While he refused to look at me his whole body posture spoke of relief. I knew in my gut that Ryan had got the job. Moments later Will text me to come to his office.

"Close the door behind you please," Wills tone was flat and emotionless. I was so focused on trying to remain calm I simply stood stiff as a board where I was. Without glancing up from his paper work Will motioned towards the chair in front of his desk, "Take a seat."

Sitting I nervously grabbed the edges of the arms on the chair. With a sigh Will finished what ever he was righting and dropped the pen on the pad of paper. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

I tried to focus on what he was saying but my thoughts were so scattered, "I'm sorry what?"

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Will repeated pointing at his monitor. "Team Viewer"

Oh god in my panic I had completely forgotten all the office computers were linked to Wills via Team Viewer. Will could link on to any of our computers at any time and know exactly what we were doing. He knew I was looking at other job listings. I tried to swallow but my throat was so dry and tight. "No." Was all I could squeak out.

Reading further down the page I realized that I was indeed ,being offered an assistants job. However not just as any assistant but Wills personal assistant. Not for just this office location either but his sole person assistant for Norsak. My hands shook as I glanced quickly through the pages as relief washed over me. "Thank you Will....Mr. Casey.