Office Politics

Faye stomped her heel on the ground with a sharp click. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I had no idea she was behind me, so when it happened I jumped. I looked back over my shoulder, trying to keep my eyes on hers instead of staring at her cleavage. I have never understood why a woman who was that anti-social would always wear clothing that drew your attention. “Ummm…”

“That isn’t much of an answer. Want to try again?”

Most days, I would have just grinned and tried again. I am usually very mild mannered. After spending the weekend fighting with my in-laws, todays wasn’t most days.

“Sure,” I said, spinning around in my chair and standing up so that I towered over her. “What the hell I think I am doing is my job. I am trying to fix the code,” I made air quotes for that word, “that your development group gave m since is doesn’t actually work. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Her mouth dropped open. She stared at me like she had just been slapped.

I took a very deep breath to try and steady my nerves before leaning down a bit to look her in the eye. “While I admit that I normally ignore your stomping in here to complain; today isn’t normal. So, unless you want to get into a screaming match here, you need to politely ask whatever it is you came in here to ask.”

She wet her lips and backed up a step. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I was stunned. I figured she would take an attitude with me. I hadn’t been prepared for her to be polite. “Thank you.”

We had our discussion, I demonstrated the code problems and she took notes. To my amazement, Faye even smiled as she left.

The e-mail arrived so that I was reading it on my way to my car. I sighed, cursed, and then turned around to walk back into the office. One elevator and half a mile of hallways later, I’m at Faye’s door.

I should have knocked before walking in, but I didn’t. She was inside, sitting behind her desk. Two members of security and one lady from HR were all seated around her.

When she looked at me, she smiled, and it looked frosty enough to make her skin turn blue. “Oh good,” she said. “We have a lot to discuss.”

Now, as I watch her pull into her garage, I look at the gun in the passenger seat and decide that this time, I will be the one who stomps on the floor when she doesn’t know someone is behind her.

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