The Blossoming: XO Trilogy (BWWM) incompleted

Chapter Five

A bit of a long one but i promise it get's interesting lol shit is about to hit the fan. enjoy x

Chapter Five

I had entered the toilets at work at 11:27 and at 11:28:35 I was watching the clock on my watch tick forward in complete agony. I didn't want to go back out there and have Mark shred me to pieces. Nothing was ever good enough for him and I just wasn't in the mood that day to listen to his short but surprisingly precise critique of every aspect of my work. But I couldn't stay in the toilets forever. After two minutes, I came out of my stall, gave a tight smile to Joseline the admin assistant, washed my hands and sulked back to my desk. I opened my e-mails and found a response from Mark waiting for me.

MARK.SALT: Thank you. See me in my office when you get the chance. 

My heart fell to my feet. He hardly ever gave me feedback in person, it was usually all over e-mail and the last time he had called me into the office was when I had just started and had a lot to go through. I felt my hands begin to shake as I cautiously walked the short distance to his office.

When the fuck were those pills going to kick in?

He saw me through the glass screen and immediately beckoned me over. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and he greeted me. His face had no expression on it and with every second that passed, I felt nerves overwhelm me.

"Is this about the report?" I asked sheepishly.

"Yes, take a seat." He replied shortly, doing nothing to ease my anxiety.

With my heart thumping out of control, I did exactly what he said. He didn't look pissed off but that was Mark. He wasn't very expressive, and I had at times wondered if he had a condition that made him that way.

"Since you've started you've progressed amazingly," he started with a straight face. "The report has just solidified that."

My face crumpled up with confusion and he gave me the first real smile I had seen from him since working there.

"I must admit Alexandria I am a bit old school; I wasn't sure about you when you first started, and I didn't want to let you have it easy." He continued.

Yes, because being the only black girl in an executive position in a basically all white office was so easy.

"But you've certainly proven yourself and an opportunity has come up which I think will be great for your career development."

I stopped myself from doing a double take. "What do you mean? Like a promotion?"

"Eventually," he replied with a nod. "First you'll need to do a secondment. There's an opportunity in Wilmington for you. It's only six months but there is a possibility that it may be extended given the needs of the department."

"This is a lot," I breathed.

"Of course," he said clasping his hands together. "I don't need a decision now, you have time to think about it but don't take too long there's a bloke in Manchester who seems eager, I'll send you an e-mail with further information."

I nodded. "Thank you...I'll have to speak with my fiancé and everything, but it sounds good."

He nodded back. "Do what's best for your career Alex."

When I left his office, the e-mail was already waiting for me. I would basically be doing my current role at a higher lever and with more responsibility for six months. Accommodation and travel would be taken care of and (most importantly) it came with a £7,000 salary increase. Almost immediately I pulled out my phone to text Dane but was abruptly stopped in my tracks when I realised that he still wasn't talking to me. Instead I texted Khalida.