My first impression had been a mess, but if I had learned anything from working at SOAP, it was that there were plenty of ways to get rid of even the most persistent stains. I had worked in many different departments and knew the business inside and out. I was quite literally born to do this. I wouldn’t let something like this stop me from achieving my goals. I just had to work harder, be smarter and most importantly, stay on my feet. 

Team Leader Quinn would retire in six months and I was determined to take over the position from her. Before I joined the new team, I hadn’t had a single doubt about being the best person for the job, but now there seemed to be competition. Jake. He worked just as hard as I did and he had the advantage of having been on this team for longer than me. 

🝔🝔🝔

It was an ungodly hour. It was early even for me, and I was used to being the first to arrive and last to leave. My eyes were bleary and I hadn’t gotten enough sleep, my head had barely hit the pillow before I had had to get up for work again. I was working on a new proposal and editing a report at the same time. One by one, the rest of the team started to drop in throughout the morning. I smiled brightly and greeted everyone with small-talk, hoping to get on their good sides. 

Being observant was something I prided myself on being, so I tried to assist whenever I noticed even the smallest detail. This had me running around quite a bit, my new shoes chafing, but I ignored the pain. Spencer seemed to be looking for a pen, so I casually lent him one. Holly looked tired and I decided it was time to get coffee for the whole team. I forgot to get one for myself, which was annoying, but I found a drink on my desk that I must have left there at some point, although I couldn’t for the life of me remember when. I helped sort out Alec’s ideas for the new products we were launching and handed in all my reports and proposals well ahead of the deadlines Team Leader Quinn had set for us. I printed out the materials and set up the meeting room before our team meeting, and if I got a nasty papercut along the way, it was no one’s business but mine, so why was Jake here, looking all innocent. 

“Here have this.”, Jake offered, holding out three band-aids. 

I would have declined, but the papercut was quite deep and I didn’t want to get blood on the meeting materials. 

“Thank you, one will do just fine.”, I put on a polite smile as I reached for one of the band-aids Jake was holding. 

“Oh, are you sure…”, Jake said and looked down. 

What was he looking at? My gaze followed his and I saw he was looking at the marks my shoes had left on my skin. How annoying, why was he so perceptive? I gritted my teeth briefly, before relaxing my jaw on purpose, returning to my pleasant smile before he could see the frustration on my face. 

“Ah, I hadn’t even noticed! Thank you for these.”, I thanked Jake as he handed over the band-aids. 

The only one who didn’t need my help was Jake, it seemed. He completed all his work with ease and had the nerve to try to help me. He must be looking down on me, thinking he’s so much better than me. I would stay late and make sure there would be nothing he could help me with in the future. 

Jake was the last one to leave that night, except for me of course. I was fighting to keep my eyes focused on the document before me and to look unbothered. 

“See you tomorrow, Hana.”, Jake said as he packed his things and got ready to leave for the day. 

“Good work today, see you tomorrow.”, I replied with a smile. 

“Don’t stay too late, you look tired.”, Jake said as he left, leaving a drink on my desk as he passed by on his way out. Was he insulting me? I looked weak to him? Who was he to tell me I looked tired?

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”, I was fuming, but managed to keep a civil tone in response. 

The drink he left. It was the same kind I had found on my desk earlier today when I forgot to get my own coffee. Had he left it there for me? No wonder I hadn’t remembered buying it. Damn. Insults or pity, or whatever it was, I would not stand for it. Who was he to think I needed his help? I was fine. I was doing just fine. I didn’t need him to notice my shortcomings, especially when he didn’t seem to have any of his own. He was turning out to be more of a rival than I would have expected. I had to step up my game. I couldn’t lose to him. He wanted to play this game? I would show him how it was done.