6

~[CHAPTER SIX]~

I waddled into the large room acting as a conference hall, eyes taking in the number of figures scattered around the area.

There they all were, forms surrounding the black, oval table centered in the space, and with voices pouring out, breaking the calm of the room, each one went engaging in a discussion with another.

I had been here for at least enough time to get acquainted, yet a stranger, I felt.

Perhaps, I was.

No one bothered sparing my incoming form a glance. For all they cared, I was the company's new marketer.

"Oh, come on people. It's just a minor issue" A voice called from beside the chair I had sank into, with the profile of a middle-aged lady coming into view.

"Perhaps it is to address the new arrivals" Her gaze spun to me at once, a smile lighting up her red-stained lips.

"Can you believe there's a new employee?" She pushed even closer, eyes intent in mine.

"Some wretch, I'm informed of" Believe me, I heard those words just fine. "Lord knows our pay would be cut down now, and all attention fixed our way, all because a wimp decided to make her arrival here"

"Why do they think we need an addition to the team?" The lady beside her let out, soon snatching the attention of the people around. "Incompetent, they think of us? How boggling!" She followed.

"Perhaps, cause it's lacking" I spoke for the first time since I made my arrival, and believe me, it was much discomforting than being sat lone in the company of nobody.

I caught those eyes which had now found rest on me, and with puzzled gazes, scrunched brows, I could tell just what lingered with each one of them.

"And who are you?" This time, it was the guy across the table.

If I was to guess, he was no more than twenty-two, which only meant he was just as new in the job, yet, he dare parade me with those looks.

"I'm Jane Parker" I believed it was time ridding the puzzle, and believe me, at the break of those words, I watched those gazes shift from disgusted, to confused, and finally settling on apologetic.

I watched the lady right beside me shift in her seat, eyes anywhere but my way.

She turned here to there, lips pulling open, then shutting after a while. And perhaps deeming it just wise to say something after realizing we would be in this room for as long as the minute lasted, her words came pouring.

"I never knew she had arrived" She chuckled emptily, eyes managing to meet my blank ones.

"Well, here she is" Followed my words.

"It's a delight to have you, Jane" That voice came from the other side, and at once, I turned to the redhead who had on a grin growing cheek to cheek.

That strong whiff which blew past my face overpowered every comporting I thought to have, for the instant that breath poured out, face went scrunched up, with nostrils taking a pause at the pungent smell.

"Oh, it's Chinese" She smiled. "They have one of the best food in the area"

"You should have lunch with me sometime" She flashed a smile, revealing a set of food-perched teeth, with gum holding onto stains here and there.

"I'll try" Followed my voice, the same minute a figure had proceeded into the room, managing to seize every ruckus there was.

The sound of his steps drew even nearer, coming over to my seat, and in a second, he had walked right past, going up front to take the mounted platform.

"I called this meeting for urgent reasons" That husky voice bounced into my ears, his figure stood away, staring back at every single person present in the room.

"There has been a huge drop of sales"

That utterance got me shifting in my seat, eyes refusing to meet the scrutinizing ones of his.

"And it seems this recent days have brought about relaxation in every department"

"Need I remind you, the company chases after something. It has a mission, goals. And if such goals aren't met, it only forces us into taking drastic actions"

"Which is why I will be presenting a new employee into the team" That utterance got me snapping my gaze up to the girl who had now taken to her feet, soft eyes found beaming on at everyone before her.

"I introduce you all to Susy Clark" He called.

"And she will be joining the marketing department, assist to Miss Parker"

For a long moment, the silence prevailed, my eyes left gaping at that figure away, and then came the break of my utterance.

"I don't need an assist!" I blurted.

"Well I happen to think otherwise, Miss Parker" Followed his voice. "She will assist you with all you need. Pitching in ideas on how you can do better as a marketer, cause apparently you're failing" His words poured out flat, blunt to my ears.

"I've only been here for what? Five days. And you deem it fair to berate me?"

"It's not the duration that foretells, Miss Parker. It's the output"

"I refuse that, Mr Holden" My tone was firm, eyes squaring his.

"I refuse your order of having her as my assist"

I could hear the murmurs which broke around me, the figures present in the room, only watching the sight before them.

"You've been heading the company for years now, and in one way or the other, the company stumbles, yet no one has brought it up as an issue to you" My eyes all the while remained centered on just one figure. And while of that gaze of his remained blank on my form, mine so happened to be pensive in his, all of me found agitating.

"You don't see anyone imposing on you"

He only watched in silence, eyes gnawing at my form.

"Why then should you bite at me? Not even sparing a chance for me to prove myself" my voice broke out even louder this time, causing a break of silence into the room.

I had only realized how intense my sudden outburst had been when the beep of the dispenser machine seemed to be the only sound to be heard in the space.

And there those eyes settled on my figure, each one staring at the comic I was.

"Are you done, Miss Parker?" His voice was low.

I felt empty, left with nothing but the questioning gazes of everyone in the room, staring blankly at my profile.

"Very well, then" He cleared his throat" Miss Clark will commence work in your office tomorrow"

"Good day"

With that, he was proceeding out the area, and all the while those figures remained staring at his departing form, here I stood, left in utter shame, living in my own regrets.