My Sweet Olivia.

Olivia. This is like the fiftieth time that I checked that stupid clock across from my desk. I've had a rough day at work, and I really want to go home— but I still have about another hour left of work, and a meeting that will take place in the next fifteen minutes. I’ve been working diligently to get all the files ready for my big presentation on Monday. This presentation will determine if I can run for the leadership of my department or if I will need a new job. So, losing to my rival is not an option because I love working here. I cannot give her that chance to ruin me. My mom always told me that I was resolute and unswerving towards my life goals, and she was partially right about that. I have always wanted to be a marketing director since I was a little girl. I used to watch the Super Bowl commercials with my father, and I judged every single one of them. I was more interested in the commercials than I ever was in the shitty half-time show. I still criticize the Super Bowl commercials until today, and I still throw a Super Bowl party, even if my team never makes it to the finals. I think I annoy my friends when I sit there and micromanage the things I would have done better-- If I had designed said commercial. The only halftime show I enjoyed watching was the amazing collaboration of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. The commercials were a bit sloppy that year though, but honestly speaking, the content in some of them was very creative. I still could have done a better job. On another note, the NFL needs to improve their artist selections. Their halftime show is one of the most intense spectacles in all sports. I always dreamed of working at one of the biggest firms in New York, and perhaps one day having my own business. Why not? The marketing industry could be very lucrative if managed correctly, and I am a very creative designer. I design a lot of unique content, and I have lots of references to back up my own praise. Don't just take my own words for it. The multiple awards sitting on my desk can speak louder than me. I was able to obtain a job as a marketing coordinator with one of the best marketing enterprises in Northern Virginia. The Marketing Dynamics Group. They are the best of the best in the area. And since I was moving up north with Amelia, they seemed like the only company I would want to work for. They started as a small family-owned business, and it then grew into a multi-million company. I started working with them less than two years ago. I had no job experience in this field prior to submitting my resume, and that freaked me out. However, I graduated at the top of my class from Harding University, and I had multiple references from a couple of professors. I also did a two-year internship with Cardinal Productions LLC throughout my last two years of college. I learned everything I needed to land myself a decent job. The CEO of CP wrote a heartwarming reference for me as well. These past two years have been a mountain to climb, but I am wearing my best hiking shoes. Challenges only determine how well we perform when working under pressure. I received my first 'Top Production' award within my first seven months of working here. And I can proudly say that I am one of their top designers too. So, when I was given the opportunity to run for the leadership position, I simply went for it. I took the chance without delay. I might be a shy girl, but when it comes to my profession, I have strong work ethics. I let no one stand in my way. “Hey girl, the boss is ready for us.” “Thank you, Levi. I will be there in just a minute.” I gathered all my stuff. Thank goodness for my work buddy. He looks after me and he helps me with everything I need. We never have any meetings on a Friday, especially not this late in the day. It was almost time to go home, but Mr. Lewis wanted to make sure we had everything ready for Lidia Roberts’ campaign. She is kind of a big deal for us. Lidia is not just a famous Hollywood celebrity, she is also a very influential entrepreneur. She moved to the Washington DC area last year after she married Clarence Hayes, one of the Supreme Court Justices. Big shot man, as everybody calls him. Lidia already has her own line of perfumes, and is now launching her own clothing line. She is in the process of hiring us to develop a marketing strategy, and wants us to make this a successful product in the market. And to make sure other competitors do not obscure her designs. I have personally seen them myself, and they are gorgeous. They really have no good reason to envy any other brands. She has crafted each design with very vivid colors and top-of-the-line fabrics. They are very unique, and I'm sure they will outshine many other designers without a doubt. So, I am more than confident that I can nail the perfect campaign for her. I entered the conference room with a notepad and my laptop. I’m old-fashioned, notepads are still my thing. And, of course, a big coffee on my other hand, because I am totally running low on fuel. I’m only waiting for the chronometer to hit five o'clock. I have plans for the evening and one of them includes my boyfriend and me, in an Adan and Eve outfit. On my bed. Having lots of urgently needed s*x. “I’m going to be straightforward," said Mr. Lewis. "Monica and Olivia are running for Chief of our marketing department. I have allowed each of them to choose their own coordinating team. This will be a fair and square campaign. I'll make sure of it. The winner will be promoted once Evelyn retires in six months. Since you are both competing for her position, she will help me oversee each team’s performance and will be stepping in as needed.” If f*****g Monica had the same superpower as Cyclops, she would have cut me in half by now. She was leering at me with so much abomination— she doesn’t hide her feelings towards me anymore. She has been a total b***h since the first day I set foot in this office. She loathes me. It’s not my fault she feels threatened by my performances. “Monica, is your team ready for the presentation?” asked Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis got divorced at the beginning of the year. Monica told me the other day that he favors me more, because I flirt with him. Which is completely far from the truth. Plus, I’m not interested in mature men. He has just recently celebrated his fortieth birthday, and I am a few months away from turning twenty-five. The fifteen-year gap will never allow me to be attracted to him. Not in my right mind. Besides, I have a boyfriend already. We have been together for four years. My boss is rather handsome; I’m not going to deny it, but I only have eyes for my Noah. He is the love of my life. “Of course we are, Tim. My team has worked hard, and I am confident that I will be the one to get promoted to Chief of the marketing team. I not only deserve this role because I have seniority over Olivia, but I also have more experience than her. And my team has more knowledge and skills. We will definitely win.” Hmm, talk about seduction. She does flirt with our boss. Big time— she even calls him by his first name. I’ve seen the way she gawks at him. How she batters her eyelashes at him when she walks past his office. We have all seen it. “Okay. What about you, Olivia— is your team ready?” “Firstly, I’d like to thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Lewis. I don’t see this as a competition; at the end of the day, it all comes down to meeting the needs and expectations of our client. I know Monica has worked at this company longer than I have, but I consider myself worthy of a try. She may have seniority over me, but time is just an irrelevant number. The sales and production speak in volumes. And I know the awards and recognitions I have received can testify for me. I know I am prepared and equipped to lead our team to higher ground.” “Well, fair enough. I don’t think that length of employment will make a difference here. Evelyn was newer than Margot when my father promoted her, and she was by far the best choice for the role. She has been head of this department for over twenty years, and she has succeeded and exceeded every expectation.” Monica gave me a nasty glare, and her little minions had a smirk on their faces. f**k! This will be more stressful than I thought. “Monica, since you said you have more seniority than Olivia, I will schedule your presentation to be the first one. Olivia, you will go next. Each one of you will have forty-five minutes to present your strategies for her brand. Please be prepared with all the material, and to answer any questions.” I nodded, acknowledging his last statement. “Ah, one last thing. Lidia is not aware that this is a competition between you two. That is something internal. Thank you, Evelyn, for suggesting this. It was a great idea. I have told Lidia that two of my best marketing coordinators will plan a launch for her brand—and that is all she needs to know. Please behave professionally, and let the best girl win this challenge.” “Thank you, Mr. Lewis” I said, and walked out of that room like I had fire ants in my pants. “Guys, can we please meet up in my office for a few minutes before we go home? It won’t take long—I promise!” I told my team. I’m sure they wanted to go home as much as I did. We had been preparing for this campaign for a few weeks now, and we were exhausted after a long day at the office. After a long week, that felt more like a whole month, I would say. “I’d rather go over our presentation steps right now because I’m not the kind of person that will disturb your weekend. I want to make sure we know our places. This is a team effort— remember that our client’s clothing line is our priority. Helping her launch her new business is what matters the most- whether I lose or win, but this company must win that contract.” I felt very confident about the four teammates that I chose to partner with in this competition. We work well together. "Where do you think you are going?" Monica snagged me by my wrist. "I'd like to thank you for this opportunity," she mocked me, repeating what I had told Mr. Lewis, and not letting go of my hand. "Listen, you little bimbo. You are no match for me, so you had better drop the f*****g act. I will be the next Chief of Marketing, and when I win, I will fire your ass the next day." "f**k off, Monica. Why do you hate Olivia so much?" contended Levi, trying to get in the middle of us. "It's okay, Levi. It's her fear talking." I uttered, still trying to break free from her hold. "Fear?" she tittered. "Why would I be afraid of you b***h?" she laughed. "Maybe because she has more sales than you, and because she is more talented than some piece of s**t I know," uttered my friend, trying to defend me once more. "I have got no time for your insecurities, Monica. Can you please let go of my hand?" I tried pulling my wrist from her strong grip, but she pulled it back. She looked me up and down, and then released my hand as Mr. Lewis and Evelyn walked out of the conference room. I gave them a dimmed smile as they walked right past us, and wished the group a great weekend. I wasn't going to start anything with her, I just wanted to get the hell out of there and go meet up with my friends and Noah. I spun around and walked towards my office, following after my boss. I had to coordinate the game plan with my crew. I won't lie, I was a bit dubious about the way Monica was behaving. Levi and the other guys tried to cheer me up, and they succeeded, thankfully. Why can't we be civilized colleagues? I'd love for us to work in harmony. I'd love to one day come to work and deal with no drama. I have no memory of anything I did wrong for Monica to hate me that way. All I know is that she has made my life so f*****g miserable all this time. She is a talented designer. I can't dismiss that. But she is also an ugly human being, and everyone in this office knows about that. She is twenty-nine years old, but she behaves like a thirteen-year-old who has finally discovered puberty. She is rude and bossy, and sometimes, she will go to other lengths just to get things done her way. Like that one time she spilled coffee all over my white dress just before I got my recognition for Top Production of the year. I had to take a picture with an ugly stain all over the front of my attire. She even took a photo of me, and then she ridiculed me on her social media, saying pigs shouldn't wear white. I brought this to Evelyn's attention, and she promised to bring it up to Mr. Lewis, but nothing happened to her. Monica gets away with everything she does because she is cousins with Mr. Lewis' exwife. "Liv, go home and relax. You'll kick her ass on Monday," Levi reminded me. And he was right about that. Defeating her with my presentation was the worst punishment I could give her. Or it could also be the worst humiliation I could endure if it goes the other way around. And with that being said, it was time to go home. I was looking forward to a well-deserved weekend. I needed to forget all about work and enjoy some quality time with my boyfriend.