Morning all. Time once again for the morning prompt. Are you ready? Well then timers set and off we go…
I don’t think this is the beginning of the story. I think this actually might be closer to the end.
Wednesday, September 24th: It is a multimillion-dollar campaign.
“It is a multi-million dollar campaign,” Alister said. Luke sat there waiting for the rest of the comments, the rest of the explanation. There wasn’t any more. Alister simply folded his hands in front of him.
“And Luke prompted.
“And I think that Stephen will be the best candidate for heading up the team.”
Again Luke stared at Alister. He felt his temper boiling, bubbling underneath the surface. Alister sighed heavily.
“I’m sure he’ll want you involved, and your name will still be on the team project.”
Luke took a deep breath, Alister’s words like ice water on his bubbling rage. It cooled him, brought a sense of clarity. “I see,” Luke said.
Alister smiled as Luke stood, clearly pleased Luke accepted things the way he saw them. Luke walked out of the office. He had no doubt Stephen would call him. Stephen had the look, the smile, the winning ways with the clients, but he couldn’t do the job. So he always called Luke.
‘I’m done,’ he decided. He glanced at the clock. Today’s meeting lasted longer than anticipated and it was close to the end of the day. At his desk, Luke looked over his work load. All of his projects were completed and everything he was responsible for was done. He anticipated being put in charge of the campaign and wanted to clear his desk so he could focus.
‘Makes it easier,’ he decided. He e-mailed all of his projects to their designated recipients and then he drafted his letter of resignation. He pointed out that all of his projects were transferred and made his resignation effective immediately. He sent the e-mail where it needed to go and closed everything down. He kept nothing personal in the office so there was just his bag and coat to gab. He slipped the coat on and slung the bag across his body. He then walked to the door turned out his office light and left the office. His cell phone started buzzing before he exited the main door. He didn’t even bother looking at the screen. He knew it was Alister calling him and telling him he was being childish.
He didn’t care. Alister wanted Stephen, then he was going to be stuck with Stephen.
It was a Friday night and he was certain there would be multiple calls over the weekend. His contract didn’t require him to stay past this set of projects, so he wasn’t going to. Luke walked to his car and decided staying in town for the weekend wasn’t in the plans either.
‘The cabin,’ he decided. He hadn’t been up to the cabin in a while. ‘Perhaps a long weekend,’ he decided. While there would no doubt be weekend recriminations, everything would hit the fan Monday morning and he didn’t want to be around for that. He didn’t want anyone stopping by for an in person conversation.
He was done.
Luck felt tension he hadn’t realized he was carrying ease out of his shoulders as he pulled out of the parking lot. Things had been getting worse, Stephen claiming credit for things Luke managed. There was more of course, little things Stephen liked to do to remind Luke that he was higher up the totem pole then he was.
Luke smiled. The thing was, there was no one else in the office who could take up the slack. Stepen would either have to step up and actually do the job or watch the multimillion dollar campaign fall flat. He knew the company was counting on it to elevate their status level and as he drove he wondered if the company itself would falter if Stephen failed.
He found himself unable to drum up concern. Any feelings he had for the company were gone.
Ten til Midnight 