"We will drop PPC marketing for Avant-Garde and focus on SEO and influencer marketing—"
"Wait, what?" Avery's brow furrowed, he didn't like being cut off mid-sentence.
"What's the matter Miss Rose? I assumed you were listening to me earlier." Vivianne clenched her jaw from irritation.
"I was listening," not even the looks her teammates shot her could keep her from talking, "you want us to drop PPC for Avant-Garde." Even the mere idea seemed ridiculous.
"I have already closed all PPC links." Vivianne's eyes widened from shock.
"With whose permission did you do that?" Avery's eyes turned cold.
"With my permission, or have you forgotten who your boss is?" Vivianne barely bit back a scoff.
"With all due respect—"
"I advise you not to finish that sentence Miss Rose, because I will be highly disrespected." When people start a sentence by saying with all due respect, they are about to say something very disrespectful.
"I don't see the sense in cutting of PPC for Avant-Garde, we have been able to reach massive customers with it." Vivianne argued.
"Only at the beginning, Avant-Garde is spending thousands for only a few paid clicks, and besides we all know PPC is only a short-term digital marketing model, in the long run we will have to drop it." Avery said, frankly he was tired of this one-sided animosity.
"But I did the digital analysis only a few days ago, and the marketing trend was going fine—"
"Are you the digital analyst or am I?" The tension seemed to double under the weight of that question.
"You can't just walk in here and change things, you're just acting like you know what your are doing but it's just daddy's connect—"
"Miss Rose." Avery slammed his hand on the table. "Shut up."
Even though all the teams were separated into different cubicles, the walls were made of glass— transparent and definitely not soundproofed; it was safe to say that all the other teams had heard the quarrel— a few snoopers had even been caught in the act.
"Vivianne that's enough." Natalie's cold voice rang with finality.
"I need to use the bathroom." Avery's cold eyes followed her as she stepped out of the office.
"Uhh....I will just go check on her." Arianna forced a smile as she followed after Vivianne.
********
When Vivianne stepped out of the bathroom stall it was to the sight of Arianna leaning against the sinks— clearly waiting for her.
Arianna not only looked like a model, she had the height too; standing there in her 6'0 feet glory and her 5 inches heel she dwarfed a 5'7feet tall Vivianne easily.
She was dressed in a pink suit skirt that had Vivianne wondering how she made it past security with how much of her thighs were revealed; matched with a white off-shoulder blouse, her pink hair was styled in a messy chic bun and her pink glossed lips were pressed into a thin line; it was her eyes that Vivianne avoided looking at— she knew the sapphire blue orbs would be dark with disappointment.
Vivianne shuffled nervously in her nude pumps— off course Arianna was the only person who could make her nervous.
It was a waiting game and the first to give on was the loser— as the seconds ticked by, so too did Vivianne's nerves which frayed easily by the minute— feeling irritation crawling under her skin she broke the silence—besides there was only so long she could spend washing her hands .
"Out with it, I know you have something to say, I know you're disappointed." Arianna snorted— very inelegant and unariannalike.
"Disappointed is just the beginning of how I feel." Vivianne finally turned to look at her long-time friend, she didn't find disappointment in her eyes— just understanding and worry. "What was the meaning of that?" Arianna arched a brow.
"I don't know okay." Vivianne groaned with annoyance. "I just felt angry, I worked hard on that project and he just wants to close it."
"Vivi, I understand." Vivianne felt her eyes twitch at the nickname, but choose to settle into the warmth of Arianna's hand on her shoulder than argue about the ridiculous nickname. "But you have been disrespectful to Avery, and he has been nothing but kind and patient with us." Vivianne shifted slightly, allowing Arianna's hand to fall from her shoulder.
"I have worked hard, toiled in this company for years and when I am finally about to be rewarded he's suddenly thrown in, we both know Avery didn't work for his position— nepotism is the only reason why he's here, it's not fair." Vivianne slammed her fist on the wall.
"Vivianne I know how hard you've worked for this, hell I have seen it....but, life's unfair." Arianna had known Vivianne since when they had been fumbling interns— watched her run around doing petty errands— buying coffee, photocopying documents, throwing out waste papers— watched her cry from every criticism only to work twice as hard and prefect every error.
"Just when I thought it's my turn, some rich kid just stumbles in, but I guess that's how life is— the rich enjoying the luxuries that the poor suffer for." Vivianne could hear the traces of anger and resentment in her own voice.
Vivianne had been born into a poor family, all her life she had had to work twice as hard to get anything— her mother had taught her that— in their part of the society you didn't fold your hands and wait for opportunities to come to you; you worked for it through sweat, tears and aches . She watched her parents struggle to pay rent while others could afford luxurious mansions, when it came to healthcare and education they were always the last to recieve it.
When she had gotten a scholarship for a school for the elites; she had been bullied just for being the 'poor girl', during holidays she juggled multiple jobs just to survive while her schoolmates where off in some Island drinking cocktails and sipping wine.
It was hard growing up on the other side of the societal fence and just when she's about to get the position she has worked herself tired for— the Chairman's son conveniently steps in.
"You are probably going to need to apologize." Arianna's voice snatched Vivianne back from the spiralling dark hole that was her past.
"Ugh! Don't remind me Anna." Vivianne groaned.
"Wait a minute did you just call me Anna?" Arianna's screech could have risen a dead man. "Do I look like an Anna to you?" She gestured at herself— no offense to all the Anna's in the world. "No I don't, I look an Arianna, there's a big difference there sweetheart." Vivianne scowled.
"You call me Vivi all the time." Vivianne argued.
"That honey," Ariannal leans down to pinch her cheeks, "is because you look like a Vivi."
"You are impossible, what the hell does a Vivi look like?"
"Grumpy, serious, looks like a fierce kitten and about to lose their job."
"Fuck you, and stop pinching my cheeks." Vivianne glared darkly.
"But they're so soft." Arianna pouted.
**********
Safe to say, the cubicle had been in a tense state since the quarrel between Vivianne and Avery earlier that morning.
The moment it was time for lunch; Natalie muttered an audible thank you and logged out off her system.
Raymond visibly ran out of the cubicle.
"Let's go Vivianne, my mother's been trying this new recipe with her chicken sandwiches that I know you will just lov—"
"You can head out first Arianna, Miss Rose and I need to have a discussion." Avery cut a tense Vivianne an icy look. "She will join you later."
Arianna hovered like a fly with an awkward smile, but under the weight of Avery's false smile and Vivianne's frown she caved. "Don't take too long before the sandwiches get cold." She left the cubicle with the echoe of her heels.
"Miss Rose, the only reason why you aren't collecting your things and leaving this team is only because I am aware of your loyalty to the company — first as an intern and now an expert in PPC— but don't feel cushioned yet, the next time there is a repeat of today's..... situation will be the last time you step foot in SparkDigital." Avery's voice was cold and measured.
"I am—"
"Save it, I am not interested in hearing your half-hearted apologies." Avery cut her off. "I am aware you don't like me and frankly I don't care because it's not your job to like me; your job is to follow my instructions and do your work properly." Vivianne had never felt so small in her life as Avery's sharp eyes cut her down.
"I understand." Vivianne's voice was a small whisper.
"Good." A file was placed on her desk. " Avant-Garde's data analysis, go through it and tell me if PPC is still appropriate." Avery answered the unasked question in her eyes. "Do a research on Lumineer Tech tonight, you will accompany me to a meeting with their representative tomorrow."
"You want me to accompany you?" Vivianne thumbed her chest in disbelief.
"Well you're a good marketer." Avery shrugged. "Go ahead and have your lunch, Arianna's mother seems to have put a lot for effort in her sandwiches and we don't want them getting cold." Vivianne nodded.
"Aren't you going for lunch?" Vivianne asked awkwardly.
"I am busy." Avery replied without glancing up from his computer screen.
"And remember Miss Rose if there's ever a repeat of what happened today, you might need to dust up your resume." Vivianne paused halfway out of the cubicle. "Are we clear?"
"Crystal."