“Did you hear yet?” Amanda leaned forward conspiratorially against the wall of my cubicle, coffee cup in hand. “They made their decision on the new director.”

I spun around at that, half written email forgotten on the screen behind me. “Who is it?”

“They haven’t announced it yet. But Kelly told me that in the morning meeting this morning Kruger let slip that they already decided.”

“God, I can’t wait for things to settle back down after this,” I slumped back down, rubbing my eyes wearily. I would sleep like a baby when this whole process was finished.

Amanda nods sympathetically. “Fingers crossed for you, hun.” She flits out of the office, carrying the news with her like the pied piper, spreading it from cubicle to cubicle.

She had been a main supporter when I had decided to throw my name in for the role, her optimism emboldening me in what I could now only describe as a moment of lunacy.

Sighing, I knew it’d be impossible to return to my work right now. Grabbing my own coffee cup, I headed to the kitchenette to refill with the company provided sludge and give myself a breather. As I neared the counter, I saw a small cluster of accounting standing next to the refrigerators, deep in conversation.

The second they saw me it became clear they had just been talking about me. All three had the look of deer in headlights, and immediately halted their conversation.

I forced a smile at them and pretended not to be aware of their sudden damning silence, resolutely turning to the coffee pot to pour myself a cup. Behind me, I heard the sounds of them quickly exiting.

Deep breaths, I reminded myself. I rested my hands on the cool linoleum, letting my head hang heavily for a moment.

“If that isn’t the universal sign for a bad day, I don’t know what is,” a rich voice says from behind me, a lilting Irish accent deliciously biting into the consonants.

I force a smile as I turn around to find myself face to face with a broad shouldered man, easily standing a head above myself, a lock of curly, dark hair falling from a thick mop into place just between his eyebrows. My mouth falls open, attempted smile forgotten

“I’m Gregory - just started on fourth floor,” he holds out a hand and after another moment of gaping I weakly raise my own to meet it. His hand encompasses my own, strong and warm, before he releases it and stares at me, expectantly. After another moment of silence, he presses on, “and you are…?”

Finally catching on to my lack of etiquette, I squeak out, “I’m Marney. Sixth floor, sales.”

His eyebrows raise slightly in surprise. “Ah, our new director. Congratulations, I only just heard.”

My jaw drops. “I - what? How do you-?”

At that moment, the door bangs open, causing me to jump and spill my coffee all over my new blazer. Our vice president, Kruger, strides into the room and barks out, “Marney. Need a minute of your time,” leaving just as curtly as he entered.

I turn meekly back to the handsome stranger, who seems to have put together my ignorance and looks absolutely horrified. “I’ll see you around - it was really nice to meet you.”

And with that, I square my shoulders, take a deep breath, and follow Kruger out the door.