The battle had been raging for months. Each side’s forces were exhausted. Early during the war there was ground to be won. Each side moving closer to their goal. Now it was a fight of inches, not feet. What began as a free-for-all had been reduced to sitting and waiting, hoping the politics and gossip would lead each side to victory.
The king of gossip was Jensen. He was in the boss’ office now spreading lies about Jared’s sales performance. Jensen and Jared had been vying for the corner office for months now. Both believed they should be offered the office, and the position it came with. In typical office fashion however, they had been pitted against one another for the betterment of the company, and the detriment of themselves.
Jared and Jensen were friends once, before the war tore them apart. Jared had been the one to get Jensen the job in sales three years ago. They had helped each other along the way, sharing leads to ensure each other’s numbers stayed exemplary. When their boss retired though, and it was announced one of the sales team would take his job, the friendship ended. Now each spent their time sabotaging the other’s sales calls, sharing false leads, Jensen even siphoned the gas out of Jared’s car one night so he’d be late for work the next day.
The fighting had grown so disruptive that the temporary boss called both into his office and said the shenanigans had to stop. So now the fight was about subterfuge, undermining each other’s credibility in the hopes one would finally be given the promotion. It appeared that day may have finally come.
An email came through from the boss addressed to Jared and Jensen asking Jensen to meet at 8:00 the next morning, and Jared at 8:30. Each side was exhausted and secretly hoped someone would get the promotion so the fighting could stop.
The next morning Jensen arrived to the office early so he could pick up the boss’ usual breakfast as a bribe. Jensen walked into the office right at 8:00, bagel and coffee in hand, and sat down across the desk from the man who held the future in his hands. “Jensen, I’m not one for small talk, so let me just say, I have impressed by you the past few months. It takes a real talent to be so destructive of one’s co-workers without raising any suspicion. That’s what it takes to make it in this business.”
“Thank you sir,” Jensen said, “does that mean what I think it means?”
“I believe it does. I’d like to offer you the position of Vice President of Regional Sales. As I’m sure you know, that position comes with the corner office,” the boss said with a grin.
“Thank you sir,” Jensen said, keeping his excitement in check, “I’ll begin moving my things in immediately.” Jensen left the office and headed back to begin packing his desk. He looked at the peace lily Jared had given him on his first day of work, and saw Jared sitting down at his desk. Without a word, Jensen lifted the peace lily and, walking right by Jared’s desk, he went straight to his new corner office. Locking eyes with Jared, he dropped the plant in the nearest trash can then slowly closed the door.
The king of gossip was Jensen. He was in the boss’ office now spreading lies about Jared’s sales performance. Jensen and Jared had been vying for the corner office for months now. Both believed they should be offered the office, and the position it came with. In typical office fashion however, they had been pitted against one another for the betterment of the company, and the detriment of themselves.
Jared and Jensen were friends once, before the war tore them apart. Jared had been the one to get Jensen the job in sales three years ago. They had helped each other along the way, sharing leads to ensure each other’s numbers stayed exemplary. When their boss retired though, and it was announced one of the sales team would take his job, the friendship ended. Now each spent their time sabotaging the other’s sales calls, sharing false leads, Jensen even siphoned the gas out of Jared’s car one night so he’d be late for work the next day.
The fighting had grown so disruptive that the temporary boss called both into his office and said the shenanigans had to stop. So now the fight was about subterfuge, undermining each other’s credibility in the hopes one would finally be given the promotion. It appeared that day may have finally come.
An email came through from the boss addressed to Jared and Jensen asking Jensen to meet at 8:00 the next morning, and Jared at 8:30. Each side was exhausted and secretly hoped someone would get the promotion so the fighting could stop.
The next morning Jensen arrived to the office early so he could pick up the boss’ usual breakfast as a bribe. Jensen walked into the office right at 8:00, bagel and coffee in hand, and sat down across the desk from the man who held the future in his hands. “Jensen, I’m not one for small talk, so let me just say, I have impressed by you the past few months. It takes a real talent to be so destructive of one’s co-workers without raising any suspicion. That’s what it takes to make it in this business.”
“Thank you sir,” Jensen said, “does that mean what I think it means?”
“I believe it does. I’d like to offer you the position of Vice President of Regional Sales. As I’m sure you know, that position comes with the corner office,” the boss said with a grin.
“Thank you sir,” Jensen said, keeping his excitement in check, “I’ll begin moving my things in immediately.” Jensen left the office and headed back to begin packing his desk. He looked at the peace lily Jared had given him on his first day of work, and saw Jared sitting down at his desk. Without a word, Jensen lifted the peace lily and, walking right by Jared’s desk, he went straight to his new corner office. Locking eyes with Jared, he dropped the plant in the nearest trash can then slowly closed the door.
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