Free High Stakes by Robin Thomas

I
    Friday
    6:30am: The glass doors slid open. As I scurried into the silent lobby, I glanced at my watch. An hour before most people trickled in and two hours before official starting time. Good. I would have cleared my desk, made the first few calls and have a coffee on Shelley’s desk, waiting for her when she arrived at 8:15. Points to me. I needed them. Pete had stayed late every night this week and was already looking like the blue-eyed boy. But he wasn’t an early riser. I smiled as I stepped in the lift.
    6:40am: The office was quiet with only the distant hum of a vacuum cleaner. The file I’d nearly finished last night, before exhaustion had numbed my brain, was still waiting for me. She’d wanted it like, yesterday. As if. Shelley never tired asking for the impossible. But she’d get it this morning on her desk, with the coffee. I’d even tie it in red ribbon if it would make her happy.
    6:53am: Was it too early to call the last supplier? It was nearly 8:00 in Sydney.
    6:55am: I slammed the receiver down. Who the hell isn’t at work by nearly 8:00? I’d try again in five minutes. That’s all I needed, one price, and then it was done. Time to grab a coffee. My third since 5:30, but I needed the caffeine jolt.
    7:30am: At last, success. Wonder he keeps his job with the hours he keeps. Ze file iz done! Decided against the red ribbon. Shel has no sense of humour. God, here comes Pete. Never mind. Paste smile on face.
    ‘Morning, Pete.’
    ‘You’re in early.’
    ‘Nah, not really. Only just got in.’ Tell the enemy nothing. I slid from my desk with the file.
    ‘Finished that one at last, eh?’
    He is one smartass. He knew it was due in yesterday.
    ‘No probs. Did it yesterday. Just checking it. You know what she’s like.’ He was standing uncomfortably close. I hated that he was taller than me, even when I was wearing heels.
    ‘Actually, I have always found Shelley quite reasonable. As long as you do the work, keep to schedule, she’s happy.’
    ‘Oh yeah, I know what you mean. She can be understanding; even when you make mistakes, like that estimate you did last week. Even though it was a few ks out, she really stood by you.’ I had the satisfaction of seeing his face deepen two shades. Smug Pommie B.
    ‘Well, I guess you would know. If you hurry, you can just pop that file on her desk and she’ll think you finished it yesterday.’ He winked at me and sauntered off to his cubicle. My fingers tightened around the paperweight on my desk.
    7:40am: The swing doors to the office burst open and Shelley made her entrance, three inch heels clacking, Dior silk scarf flowing behind and manicured red nails digging into the takeaway coffee. Double shot black. No sugar.
    Damn, I still didn’t have the file on her desk and she already had her coffee. Why did she have to pick this morning to come in earlier than usual? That little squabble with Arsehole had taken up valuable time.
    ‘Good, you’re both here. Pete, Kate, my office – now.’
    Clutching my file, I took a deep breath and followed in the wake of her Calvin Klein perfume. Naturally, Pete was at the door of her office before both of us, grinning and opening the door.
    With a flick of her hand, she motioned for us to sit. She walked to her desk and stood for a moment, looking out the window and sipping her coffee. No indication yet whether her mood was up or down. That was Shelley all over — cool, analytical, deadly.
    I quickly placed the file on her desk, and then settled back in my chair, ignoring Pete on the other side of me.
    She turned and scanned her slate grey eyes over us; then, with a half-smile, sat down. ‘I won’t beat about the bush. There’s a promotion going and you two are considerations.’ Pete started gushing gratitude, but she held up a hand to silence him. ‘The board meets at the beginning of the month and will make its decision then, based on my recommendation, of course. I’ll be looking at all the usual things; top