From his bed to the boardroom a cooperate scandal

Chapter one.

Fuck Harlow. Fuck Christian. And fuck the entire team at Clermont.

That was my entire train of thought as I left the office in a fit of rage.

Today had started off great-like any other day with a hot cup of coffee and a traffic-free drive to headquarters. Now, that may seem like a regular day to any other person, but for New York residents, it was a big deal. I honestly thought the universe was in my favor as I headed up, dressed in my best slacks and a sleek blazer, ready to wow the entire team at Clermont & Co.

I had been working my ass off for the past five years since I got hired, rapidly climbing the ranks to achieve my dream of becoming the managing director. And it seemed like I was in luck when I received an email stating I had a meeting with the board today. To say I was excited was an understatement. I was so certain that when I walked out of the boardroom, I would have the position of managing director.

I responded to every greeting, waved hi to everyone, and even tipped security on my way up. Everyone was well aware of my good mood.

The elevator finally dinged, indicating I had arrived at the 21st floor the executive floor. Only the major placeholders of the company had offices up here, and very soon, I was going to be one of them. I walked into the boardroom, greeted everyone, and took my seat.

Harlow, one of the big bosses, cleared his throat and sat up straighter.

"Good morning, everyone. Sabrina, thank you for joining us this morning. I know this is quite abrupt, my apologies for that."

"Oh, it's fine, Mr. Harlow. No hard feelings, am I right?" I replied, smiling so widely at him that if he was creeped out, he didn't show it.

"Okay, onto the order of the day," he said, and I nodded.

This was it. The moment I had been waiting for. I could literally taste it. The Sabrina of five years ago would be so proud of me right-

"We want to believe that since you honored our meeting, you've decided to step down, and we couldn't be more grateful for this, Sabrina."

Wait... what the actual hell?

I snapped out of my reverie and turned to face Harlow, smiling stiffly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Harlow. I'm a little lost. You said something about me... stepping down?"

"Yes, it was in the second email we sent. Did you not go through it?"

Of course, I did not go through it, you stupid idiot.

I got one email telling me to visit the 21st floor, and I quickly called all my friends, downed a bottle of white wine, danced to Lauryn Hill, and slept off in giddy excitement. So, no, I did not read nor did I receive the damn second email.

But I couldn't say all of this to Harlow. He was known to be a very fickle and ill-tempered man, so instead, I turned to Christian, another executive, and said sweetly,

"I don't think I received another email aside from the first one you sent. I can check my phone right now to show you maybe there was a glitch somewhere?"

Christian looked really uncomfortable.

"Uhm... we are really sorry, Sabrina."

"Whatever for, Christian? Do you mind telling me what was in that email?"

"Uhm... well, you see..." Christian spluttered, while Harlow rolled his eyes.

"Oh, for goodness' sake. Sabrina, we have a special request for you."

"Okay... go on." I still had no idea what this strange-as-hell request could be.

"As you know, Mr. Asdin Clermont retired a couple of months back," Harlow said.

"Yes, I am very aware of that, Harlow. I was at the retirement party," I answered flatly.

"Good. Mr. Asdin has entrusted the reins of power to his son, Mr. Lukas Clermont, who is going to be our new CEO and will resume sometime this week."

"Well, congratulations to Lukas. But again... how do I come in here?"

Harlow exchanged a glance with Christian before Christian cleared his throat.

"Well, we vetted all the employees in this company and discovered that no one knows the ins and outs of this company like you, Miss Sabrina."

"So, in light of this, we want you to assist the new CEO to make the transition very easy for him."

My world came screeching to a halt. It felt like everything I had been working for came crashing down at that very moment.

"You're... offering me the position of an assistant?!"

Christian looked nervous. "No, Sabrina. Not like an assistant just like a supervisor to oversee his work."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"That's fucking rich coming from you, Christian. I have an MBA from Yale, and you're offering me the position of an assistant? Okay, okay... deep breaths. In case you've forgotten, I am still the Assistant Managing Director. Surely you can't uproot me from my position that quickly."

"We already have that handled," Harlow said. "Jefferson will be taking over your position."

"Jefferson?!" My voice rose. "Jefferson-that was hired six months ago? That Jefferson?!"

"Uhm... yes, Sabrina. That Jefferson," Harlow muttered, looking everywhere but at me.

I laughed, but there was no humor in it.

"You mean to tell me that someone fresh out of school who, mind you, I am more qualified than is going to take the position that I worked so hard for?"

"No, Sabrina. You should see this as a promotion of some sort-"

"A promotion of some sort? You know damn well I don't need the money, Harlow. I'm stable. If I needed the money, I wouldn't have been busting my back for the past five years in this hellhole!"

"Now, Sabrina, let's not be rash-"

"Nothing I do will ever be enough for you all, will it? I am one of the best, most upstanding staff members in this company, and you know it. You both know it. I deserve this promotion more than anyone! If not, let me retain my position in peace. But no you just have to be the typical chairmen picking on an innocent hardworking woman"

As soon as the words left my lips, Harlow and Christian's eyes widened in horror as they scrambled to claim that it was just the way things happened to be.

I should have known better than to work for a company where my efforts were going to be underappreciated.

"Okay, then. Why the position of the low level of an assistant Because I don't see any goddamn reason why you would take my position in the blink of an eye and hand it over to a man-boy who hasn't even worked a full year in this company!"

"Please, calm down. I know this isn't what you were expecting-"

"You're right. It wasn't. And for a decision that was supposedly made yesterday, you all seem to have accepted it without hesitation. Which means... you didn't just come to this conclusion overnight, did you? This has been in the works for a very long time, hasn't it?"

Christian was flushed red, while Harlow just looked constipated. That only cemented my thoughts.

"We are absolutely sorry, Sabrina."

"No. I'm absolutely sorry, because you know what? I quit. There's no reason to do this anymore. Get someone else to babysit the new CEO because it sure as hell ain't gonna be me. Oh, wait-I have a stellar idea. Why don't you get Jefferson to do it?"

"Sabrina, you can't just quit. You have to contact HR-"

"Do I look like I give a shit about HR right now? I'm done. I'll pay whatever little fine y'all have for a breech of contract but I am done thank you for the worst five years of my life and wasting my time "

"Sabrina, I know you're very mad right now, and this isn't a good time, but we will not be getting in contact with HR just yet. Your spot is still open you're a valuable worker, and we need you on our team."

"Yeah, sure you do, Harlow. You need me on your team as a freaking assistant, not as something else. Two words: I'm done. Get someone else to do this shit."

I stormed out, my entire body burning with rage. The best day of my life had just turned into the worst.

I walked briskly to the parking lot fuming past the reception I'm sure I gave the people there a whiplash because just a couple minutes ago I was smiling from ear to ear.

I entered my car and let out the scream I have been holding as tears ran down may face five years five fucking years wasted gone down the drain just like that.

Fuck Harlow. Fuck Christian. Fuck the entire company.

And most important, fuck Lukas Clermont.