The sales team// J.H

14

I let out a frustrating grunt as I slammed my pen against my wooden desk, creating a large echo throughout the yet to be decorated room.

Between the resent I had for myself, the continuously growing love for my ex-coworker, and all this pressure on being a respected yet friendly manager at the Scranton branch ever since the office found out about the 'scandal', as they were calling it, between Jim and I through Michael, I couldn't get any type of work done.

It was just too hard, I needed to talk to someone but, as always, trust issues were there to screw with my mind and take every person who has ever told anyone else my private secrets into context, starting with patty Gutierrez in the fourth grade.

I rubbed my eyes, shading my eyes from the bright lights in the room. I swear one day I was just going to hop on top of my desk and rip those goddamn thing off of the roof.

I snapped my eyes open as a loud noise was heard from the front of my room.

Ah, just what I need. Someone from the office wanting to bluntly judge me, again.

"Come in." I shouted, watching the door swing open. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I saw Pam standing there with a large smile, struggling to hold some folder in her hands.

"Thank god its you. I need someone to brighten up my day." I smiled lazily, laying backing into my chair.

"Unfortunately, that's not gonna be me right now. Jan's here and she needs to see you." I groaned, watching as Pam's face lit up with amusement.

"Could you tell her I'm not here?" I jokingly whispered, she winced, looking back at the main room.

"She already saw you." I looked to my left, Jan standing at Michaels office entrance with a forced smile, waving at me.

I waved back, looking back at pam I sighed.

"Well, duty calls, Pamela." I stood up from chair, walking around my desk to the door, taking some of the folders Pam had in hand.

"You don't ne-" I waved it off, as I continued to walk through the kitchen out into the office.

"Okay, well, talk later?" I asked, setting Pam's folder's onto the reception desk.

"About wether or not we're downsizing, definitely." I furrowed my eyebrows but nodded, turning away into Michaels office.

With a knock, I entered, watching Michael, Jan, and the cameras gaze fall onto me.

Michael looked like he was in a trance, and weirdly, the camera men looked like the complete opposite.

"Lana! So good too see you again! How have you been? I trust you did everything you could to turn the place around?" I furrowed my brows, sitting down in the second chair next to her.

"I 'did'? As in past tense?" She inhaled through slightly gritted teeth, turning her attention toward Michael, who still sat in shock.

I was getting wary at this point.

"I, um- So-"

"They're closing the Scranton branch." Michael cut in, letting out a large breather as he scrunched his face up in dysmorphia.

I sat still for a second, looking from Jan to the cameras, then to the entire office who was just staring at us through Michaels office window.

"Sorry I do- what?" I questioned, still in complete shock and hoping my mind was just playing with me in a horrible damn way.

"The board voted last night to close your branch." Jan explained, looking over at me with a fake sympathetic look sprawled out on her perfect face.

"On whom's authority's?" Micheal questioned, sounding as he was ready to break down in any moment.

"The boards." Jam deadpanned. I scoffed as I twist my body towards her ready to give her hell but nothing came out.

Probably my subconscious telling me it wasn't her decision and she had no word in what ever had taken place.

"I'm very sorry. I-I don't relish tell you this." She shook her head with a genuine pitiful smile.

"You two have been big parts of the company and the board has asked me to thank you for your years- and year- if service." I just listened to her carefully, hopefully this was a horrible prank. Dunder Mifflin always did share a dark, dark, sense of humor.

"You're welcome."

But, what'll happen to the office?To their kids, their wife's? What'll happen to Val and I.

"But, uh, what about staff? What'll happen to the office?" I voiced my thoughts, trying to keep my voice low as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"A small number of people will be transferred to the Stamford branch and the rest will be getting severance packages." I sighed as I glanced over at Michael who just gulped.

"Are we small number people or a severance packages?" Micheal asked. I turned to look at Jan. This was it, this determined wether or not Valerie and I have to move back home.

Jan turned to me with a small smile, despite the life changing news she was giving us.

"Well, we haven made final decisions about personnel but...Lana, you'll be transferring to Stamford. Micheal, your a severance package person." Micheal let out a sob as I leaned back into my chair.

Jesus Christ, just as life was starting to look up. The lord throws me this.

—

Okay, i know it's been a minute. It always is but, there has been so much going on and it's just really hard to think about knew plots and characters. But, to make up I'll be posting a couple chapters this week. Let's see where Lana and Jim end up. Peace on the streets, dudes.

Sincerely, your weird author A.J (yes I'm a female)