“He’s gotten better,” I replied, keeping things neutral. “Adjusting to our branch would be difficult for anyone, especially with the circumstances.”
He nodded. “Just making sure. I was going to call Corporate about his treatment of you. He’s been hard on others as well.”
“I can take care of myself, thanks,” I replied. He only cared when it affected him, not when I was the one getting the brunt of it. I stood, brushing off my skirt. “I’ll leave the notes on your desk. You’ll be in tomorrow, right?”
“Yes,” he replied, avoiding eye contact.
I hurried to the door, more than ready to climb out of the snake pit. I didn’t know what he was up to, but I didn’t like it.
“Elena?” he called.
“Yes, Marty?” I turned, catching him blotting his forehead with tissues, sweat pouring from him.
“This chat stays between us, okay?”
“Absolutely.”
He padded the top of his balding head. “Not even Lee can know.”
Now that was fishy.
“Feel better, sir.” I wasn’t sure what was wrong with him, but I was desperate to get away. Contagious or not, he didn’t look well.
I hurried out of there like a bat out of hell and grabbed a notepad and paper from my desk.
“I have to sit in on something for Marty. I’ll be back, eventually.” I spouted it out for whoever, only Lee noticing. Monica didn’t look my way, focused on her cell phone.
“I’ll hold down the fort,” Lee assured with a red blotch on her face from the impression of her phone.
“Thanks, lovey.”
I rushed to the conference room, not wanting to walk in after they started. I wasn’t dressed for an executive-level meeting, my gray skirt and pink cardigan looking more librarian than high-powered businesswoman, but there was no turning back. I took a deep breath and stepped in with my notebook and pen clutched to my chest.
Jason sat at the head of the table, eyes immediately on me. “Elena?”
He looked incredible in a black suit, an admiral blue tie and white button-down peeking from beneath. As usual, he was light years ahead of everyone else, others dressed in rumpled suits with cat hair and crumbs aplenty.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be sitting in for Marty. He has an appointment.”
He rolled his eyes, earning laughs from around the room, a sea of middle-aged men all focused on me. “Gentlemen, this is Elena Julian. She’s part of our sales team and also well-versed in product management.”
I grabbed the nearest open chair, sinking into the high-backed seat sandwiched between two men that didn’t know staring was impolite. I appreciated him not outing me as an assistant in front of our visitors, keeping my dignity intact. If they caught wind, I’d be treated like a ditz.
“Elena, these are Croft’s other branch managers from around the country. None are as funny, personable, or handsome as the one you’re used to, so you’ll have to excuse their manners. If you need me to translate any caveman phrases, just ask. ”
The room stirred with chuckles again, and the meeting kicked off. The conversation started light with basic overviews, a few bulleted lists sufficing for Marty. I was self-conscious to be the lone note-taker, but I was only doing what was asked of me. I doubted Marty would even read them, but I couldn’t come out empty-handed.
Jason led the meeting with his usual steely calm, flashes of humor piercing the armor here and there. He was truly in his element, up to his elbows in figures that made my head spin, but he didn’t break a sweat. He was meant to lead, and when he hit Chicago, he’d be a force to be reckoned with. I couldn’t imagine how far he’d take the company, not that I planned to stick around to see.
I sent off more applications that morning, one for a position in Boston and another for a role out of Montreal with a remote option, making the move back to Willits Bend possible. I’d have to hog coffee shop wifi until I found a place, but it would be better than staying at Croft.
“Next up are product trends. Does anyone have buy-up suggestions for future stocking packages?”
A thousand and one items came to mind, the backlogged expedites flashing before my eyes. The same lines I’d requested the product team buy more of to no avail. I’d been adding to a spreadsheet for years with hot items that no one wanted to move on.
“Gaskets,” I called out, the only one speaking up. All eyes shifted my way, making me squirm under the attention. “Specifically those used in submersibles and ships.”
“Any particular reason, Elena?” he asked, grabbing a pen to take notes, everyone else following suit. “Or the series?”
“They’re used by both the Navy and shipbuilding companies. If Croft bought up a few price breaks, we’d get more bang for our buck, plus have stock available when calls come in for small orders. ”
“Could you send me a list of part numbers?” he requested.
“Absolutely. I have an open file I could send over. They’re expensive but usually needed on the fly.”
“Why don’t we stock them now?” he asked.
Hiring inexperienced people showed in our stocking practices, but I couldn’t say it out loud. I would privately, however. “I’m not sure, but we don’t have a product manager for the line, so you’ll have to ask Marty.”
“We do now. It’s yours.”
My heart leaped at his words, but I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to out myself at the table of testosterone. But I also knew Marty would freak. I was hired on a fast-track route to be a product manager but kept in an assistant position to play Jill of all trades for the branch, taking on duties outside the norm as needed.
“Any other items?” he asked.
“I have a whole list,” I replied, grinning.
His blue eyes twinkled. “Of course you do.”
I scribbled a note on a blank sheet to send him the file I’d been working on. “Just doing my job, boss.”
The table stirred with
