Love and Hate

You found yourself sitting at your desk staring at your now cold cup of coffee. The frown on your face refusing to go away. You started at this company at the bottom over a decade ago. Years of hard work and long hours got you to where you were. You sacrificed a lot for this company. You had almost no social life outside of family events, you never took sick days or went on vacation, you happily worked many hours you didn't get paid for, and yet it felt like you'd been slapped in the face with all your hard work. You were 40 now and had almost nothing to show for your dedication. No wife, no kids, no fancy car, no corner office. You'd been a fool, and you ruminated about why.

A VP position had opened up a while ago and you applied for the position. You already did all the work the previous VP was meant to do, so you thought the position was a sure thing. Even the people who would have promoted you to that position seemed to think your application was just a formality. You'd been looking forward to finally being in a position that would allow you to secure some personal time, and the pay would have set you up for living a very comfortable life. Yet one month ago you came into work to discover that not only had you not gotten the position, but that a young woman fresh out of college had gotten it.

You didn't care that she was a woman, or that she was young. No. You cared that she had no experience in your industry, no experience for the job she was given, and worst of all no experience managing people. There was only one reason she was given the job. She was the only niece of the CEO. All your hard work and dedication meant nothing compared to familial ties.

You let out a deep sigh, took a drag of your cold coffee, and set to getting back to work. You had to will your fingers to your keyboard and mouse in order to start working. In the month your new VP, Rene, had been here she'd issued several policy changes that made work very unenjoyable. Processes that didn't add anything to what was done by your team, and in practice were just time sinks making your team less efficient. You used to be able to go help your team with any tasks they had, but now the majority of your day revolved around these useless time sinks. Documentation of documentation. She wanted documentation in specific formats even though all the info in the documents she had you make already existed at her fingertips if she'd take a day to learn the system. You remember the verbal beating she gave you when you tried explaining how to find all of this info previously.

In fact that was another thing you disliked about Rene. You could eventually forgive that she got into a position she wasn't qualified for if she wasn't such a bitch all the time. Talking with her was always nerve inducing as you just never knew what was going to piss her off. You did your best to shield your team from her bitchy attitude, but it was impossible to do that 100% of the time, and as a result the morale of your workers suffered. Quite a few had left for different jobs actually.

"David" you heard a tentative voice from the direction of your office's doorway. Looking up you saw one of your veteran employees standing sheepishly inside your office.

"What's up Luke" you asked the normally cheerful man in front of you.

"I just wanted you to know that I've been looking for a new job, and I was offered a position at a different company. I'm going to take it, and I just didn't want you to be surprised when I turn in my two weeks" Luke said almost embarrassed. You let out another deep sigh.

"I completely understand Luke. I'm sorry to see you go. I don't suppose I could talk you out of it could I" you asked already knowing the answer.

"No, it's actually closer to my home and the...um...culture...is better from what I've learned talking with other's who work there" he answers with a smile that tells you all you need to know. That culture he's referring to is not having a bitchy VP micromanaging his entire day. You let out a half chuckle to let him know you know what he's getting at.

"Well like I said I'll miss you, and I know the team will, but I understand why" you smile back at him. "Good luck Luke" you finally say standing up to shake his hand. Luke gives you look of sorrow as he shakes your hand, and then leaves your office. He knows it puts you in a tougher spot, but you can't say he's making a mistake.

Another of your veteran employees bites the dust. A direct result of Rene. Fuck you hate that bitch. Suddenly your phone rings and you can see it is Rene calling you. It's going to be another shit day you think to yourself as you pick up your phone.

"Hello, David speaking" you say as you put the phone to your ear.

"Come to my office" you hear her say before she abruptly hangs up on you. Can't even be bothered to fake being nice you think to yourself again. You put your phone back on its receiver, take a drag of your cold coffee again, and head to Rene's office. Knocking on her door you hear her call you in. Entering her office you see her standing looking out her window. The only upside to Rene was that she was definitely nice to look at. Long blonde hair, beautiful, gorgeous ass, nice tits, toned body, pouty lips you couldn't help but wonder how good they'd feel on your cock. She was the type of woman you'd see on the arm of some billionaire, or on Instagram showing off how amazing her body looked in the mirror at her gym. You had to shake your head to snap back to reality for a moment.

"You wanted to see me" you asked her.

"Yes, it has come to my attention that Luke is no longer going to be working for us and will soon turn in his two weeks notice" she stated sternly. Apparently Luke had told someone else who ratted him out. You made a mental note to find out who that was.

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. He's been a key worker in my department. Did we want to try to offer him a raise to stick around" you asked. Rene looked at you like you'd just said the moon was made of cheese.

"What? No! Go fire him effective immediately" she answered you as if that was the most obvious thing.

"I...but...I'd have thought we'd have wanted to get him to train one of the others in the tasks he does first, and also if we fire him he gets severance" you explain trying not to sound dumbfounded.

"Can't your team handle any job in your department" she asks. You can't help but notice the venom dripping from her words.

"Well, yes, but transitioning someone into his position would be easier and less clunky if we had him around to help the person transitioning" you try to argue. Rene just holds up her hand to stop you as she rolls her eyes at your statement.

"Just do it, and make sure security escorts him out" she says waving you away with the same hand. You stand there for a second in almost surprise at the pettiness of her decision, and her lack of respect for you.

"Why are you still here. Go do your fucking job David" she scowled. Hearing your name spoken snaps you back into reality and you turn and leave. You could feel yourself almost shaking with anger. This was getting to be too much. Something had to change. You just didn't know what yet. She was basically untouchable. You made a mental plea to the universe for something to come your way to help. Soon you were standing next to Luke's desk with one of the security guys behind you. Luke just smiled as you pulled him aside, and you explained what was going on.

"Look, I don't know who told her, but if you could text me later who you told or might have overheard anything I'd appreciate it" you whispered to him as you walked him out.

"No problem sir. Whelp, guess this is goodbye then" he said extending his hand to shake yours. You took his hand put on your best smile. Luke was a good guy and a good employee. This sucked. The remainder of your day you brooded about ways to get back at Rene. Each one just as unlikely as the previous method you came up with. Finally it was time to head home, so you packed up and drove home.

After dinner your phone dinged at you and you saw that Luke had texted you the names of people who he told or might have overheard. There was one name that stood out to you. Angela. She'd attended the same college that Rene went to, and was hired directly by Rene. If there was a mole she was it for sure. You had no doubt of that as it was clear she idolized Rene. You'd have to figure out how to deal with her later. For now you found yourself a little bored. You certainly weren't going to spend any of your off hours doing company work anymore, but that left you with a lot more free time than you realized.