I know, I know. I probably should have said something right then and there—corrected James on the spot and told him exactly who was responsible for the viral video. But my mouth was too full of shock to do anything except hang open like a drowned fish. And James hates being told he’s wrong, especially in front of other people. Once the meeting was over though, it was too late. Going to James at that point would have been like tattling, and who wanted to look petty in front of their boss?

So Graeme got away with it. He got away with swiping the credit and the praise right out from under me.

That asshole.

Ever since then, he’s used the incident to launch himself to BFF status with our boss. The beginning and ending of every staff meeting is positively packed with testosterone-filled chatter.

How’s your son? How was boating last weekend? Did you catch the latest Mariners game? There was enough brownnosing masquerading as bro bonding to make me want to smash the speakerphone into smithereens under my pointiest heels.

Here’s the thing: I’ve worked with Graeme’s type before. He might have the whole nice-guy facade down to a science, but I knew the truth. He was a sneaky, entitled user who was willing to do whatever it took to get ahead.

Graeme must have figured out somewhere along the line that I was onto him, because over the past year he’s become nothing less than the bane of my professional existence. Anytime I want something done quickly, there’s always a reason he can’t do it. If I have an idea, he questions it. I send him an email? I get a curt response—never mind a please or thank-you.

Apart from the occasional video conference, I’ve never actually seen Graeme in person, since he works full time from home. So I like to think that despite his steel-cut jaw and those deep-set eyes, he has spindly arms and legs and cottage cheese breath to match his personality. I picture a short, paunchy Graeme cackling and dancing around a fire pit holding a pitchfork.

Logging in to Outlook, I punch out an email like I’m entering the nuclear codes.

To: [email protected]

Cc: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Social Media OVERDUE

Graeme,

I noticed that my requested social media posts promoting the airfare deal for all remaining 2019 “Coastal British Columbia & the Inside Passage” departures were not published today. As this deal expires in a week, and none of the September voyages are currently at capacity, I expect to see it marketed robustly on our social media platforms. See the Google Doc I shared last week for content. Please address ASAP.

Thanks,

Henley

Henley R. Evans

Marketing Manager, North and Central America