My Sweet Olivia.

Olivia. This is like the fiftieth time that I’ve 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, 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 whether I can run for leadership of my department or if I’ll need to find a new job. So losing to my rival is not an option because I love working here. I cannot give her the chance to ruin me. My mom always told me that I was resolute and unswerving in pursuing 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 halftime show. I still criticize the Super Bowl commercials to this day, 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 the commercial myself. The only halftime show I enjoyed watching was the amazing collaboration between Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. The commercials were a bit sloppy that year, though. Honestly, some of the content was very creative. I still could have done a better job. On another note, the NFL needs to improve its artist selections. The halftime show is one of the most intense spectacles in all of sports. I always dreamed of working at one of the biggest firms in New York and perhaps one day owning my own business. Why not? The marketing industry can be very lucrative if managed correctly, and I am a highly creative designer. I create a lot of unique content, and I have plenty of references to support my own praise. Don’t just take my word for it. The multiple awards sitting on my desk speak louder than I ever could. I was able to obtain a job as a marketing coordinator with one of the best marketing firms in Northern Virginia: The Marketing Dynamics Group. They are the best of the best in the area. Since I was moving north with Amelia, they seemed like the only company I wanted to work for. They started as a small, family-owned business and later grew into a multimillion-dollar company. I started working with them less than two years ago. I had no direct job experience in this field prior to submitting my resume, and that terrified me. However, I graduated at the top of my class from Harding University, and I had strong references from several professors. I also completed a two-year internship with Cardinal Productions LLC during my final two years of college. I learned everything I needed to secure a solid position. The CEO of CP wrote a heartfelt recommendation letter for me as well. These past two years have been a mountain to climb, but I’ve been wearing my best hiking shoes. Challenges reveal how well we perform 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 now one of their top designers. So when I was given the opportunity to run for the leadership position, I went for it without hesitation. I might be shy, but when it comes to my profession, I have a strong work ethic. 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 as quickly as I could. I was shaking from head to toes. Thank goodness for my work buddy. Levi looks after me and he helps me with everything I need — especially when I'm under pressure. We never have meetings on a Friday—let alone 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’s kind of a big deal for us. Lidia isn’t just a famous Hollywood celebrity; she’s also a highly influential entrepreneur. She moved to the Washington, D.C., area last year after marrying Clarence Hayes, one of the Supreme Court justices. A big-shot man, as everyone calls him. Lidia already has her own line of perfumes and is now launching a clothing line. She is in the process of hiring us to develop a marketing strategy and wants us to ensure it becomes a successful product in the market—and that competitors don’t overshadow her designs. I’ve personally seen them, and they’re gorgeous. There’s really no reason for her to envy any other brands. She has crafted each design with vivid colors and top-of-the-line fabrics. They’re distinctive, and I’m sure they will outshine many other designers. So I’m more than confident that I can create the perfect campaign for her. I entered the conference room with a notepad and my laptop. I’m old-fashioned—paper notepads are still my thing. And, of course, I had a large coffee in my other hand because I’m running low on fuel. I’m just waiting for the clock to hit five o’clock. I have plans for the evening, and one of them includes my boyfriend and me in an Adam-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 to make this a fair and square campaign. And I will 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 glaring at me with so much hostility—she doesn’t even try to hide her feelings toward me anymore. She’s 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 performance. “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 because I flirt with him—which is completely untrue. Plus, I’m not interested in older men. He recently celebrated his fortieth birthday, and I’m just a few months away from turning twenty-five. That fifteen-year gap alone is enough to keep me from ever being attracted to him. Not in my right mind. I'm not like my friend, Amanda Madox, who's into older men. Besides, I already have a boyfriend. We’ve been together for four years. My boss is rather handsome—I won’t deny it—but I only have eyes for my Noah. He’s 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. And 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?” “First, 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 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 the opportunity. She may have seniority over me, but time is just an irrelevant number. Sales and production speak volumes, and I know the awards and recognitions I’ve received can speak for me. I am prepared and fully equipped to lead our team to greater heights.” “Well, fair enough. I don’t think 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 has met—and exceeded—every expectation.” Monica shot me a nasty glare, and her little minions wore smug smirks. f**k. This is going to be more stressful than I thought. “Monica, since you mentioned having more seniority than Olivia, I’ll schedule your presentation first. Olivia, you’ll go next. Each of you will have forty-five minutes to present your strategies for her brand. Please come prepared with all materials and be ready to answer any questions.” I nodded, acknowledging his last statement. “Ah, one last thing. Lidia is not aware that this is a competition between the two of you. That’s something internal. Thank you, Evelyn, for suggesting this—it was a great idea. I’ve told Lidia that two of my best marketing coordinators will plan a launch for her brand, and that’s all she needs to know. Please behave professionally, and let the best woman win this challenge.” “Thank you, Mr. Lewis,” I said, walking out of that room like I had fire ants in my pants. “Guys, can we please meet in my office for a few minutes before we go home? It won’t take long—I promise!” I told my team. I was sure they wanted to go home as much as I did. We had been preparing for this campaign for weeks, and we were exhausted after a long day at the office. After a long week that felt more like a month, I’d say. “I’d rather go over our presentation steps right now because I’m not the kind of person who disturbs your weekend. I want to make sure we all know our roles. This is a team effort—remember, our client’s clothing line is our priority. Helping her launch her new business is what matters most. Whether I win or lose, this company needs to secure that contract.” I felt confident about the four teammates I chose to partner with in this competition. We work well together. “Where do you think you’re going?” Monica snapped, grabbing my wrist. “I’d like to thank you for this opportunity,” she mocked, repeating what I had told Mr. Lewis and refusing to let go of my hand. “Listen, you little bimbo. You’re no match for me, so you’d better drop the f*****g act. I will be the next Chief of Marketing, and when I win, I’ll fire your ass the next day.” “f**k off, Monica. Why do you hate Olivia so much?” Levi shot back, stepping between us. “It’s okay, Levi. It’s her fear talking,” I said, still trying to pull free from her grip. “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’s more talented than some piece of s**t I know,” my friend shot back, defending me once again. “I don’t have time for your insecurities, Monica. Can you please let go of my hand?” I tried pulling my wrist from her strong grip, but she yanked it back. She looked me up and down, then finally released me just as Mr. Lewis and Evelyn walked out of the conference room. I gave them a dim smile as they passed us and wished everyone a great weekend. I wasn’t going to start anything with her—I just wanted to get the hell out of there and meet up with my friends and Noah. I spun around and walked toward my office, following my boss. I needed to coordinate the game plan with my crew. I won’t lie—I was a bit uneasy about the way Monica was behaving. Levi and the others tried to cheer me up, and thankfully, they succeeded. Why can’t we just be civilized colleagues? I’d love for us to work in harmony. I’d love to come to work one day and deal with no drama. I honestly have no memory of ever doing anything to make Monica hate me the way she does. All I know is that she has made my life so f*****g miserable this entire time. She’s a talented designer—I can’t deny that. But she’s also an ugly human being, and everyone in this office knows that. She’s twenty-nine years old, yet she behaves like a thirteen-year-old who had just discovered puberty. She’s rude and bossy, and sometimes she’ll go to extreme lengths to get things done her way. Like that time she spilled coffee all over my white dress just before I received my Top Production of the Year recognition. I had to take a photo with an ugly stain across the front of my dress. She even took a picture of me and mocked me on social media, saying pigs shouldn’t wear white. I brought this to Evelyn’s attention, and she promised to mention it to Mr. Lewis, but nothing ever happened to her. Monica gets away with everything she does because she’s cousins with Mr. Lewis’s ex-wife. “Liv, go home and relax. You’ll kick her ass on Monday,” Levi reminded me. And he was right. Beating Monica with my presentation would be the worst punishment I could give her—or the worst humiliation I could endure if it went the other way around. With that, it was finally time to go home. I was looking forward to a well-deserved weekend. I needed to forget about work and enjoy some quality time with my boyfriend.