Page 3 of Exchange of Heart

I smiled my way through our office of grey and black, allowing my glittering emerald dress to radiate positivity while screaming ‘look at me’. The current senior financial analyst, Terry, announced his upcoming retirement three months ago, and Hayley explained the term ‘peacocking’ through a fit of giggles when I’d told her. I’d agreed it would be my opportunity to be noticed, so I’d hurried to the library that evening and basically eye-fucked Peacocking for Attention until I understood exactly what I needed to do.

‘How’s it going, Freddie?’ I sashayed past the redhead who kept calling me Noreen despite my constant correction.

This afternoon, he didn’t even grace me with words. He simply nodded and continued typing furiously, hunched over his laptop. Never mind. His five months and lack of team bonding would come back to bite him in the ass. I, on the other hand, detoured back to my desk past accounts and marketing for a quick rundown of their weekend plans, because every leader should demonstrate communication.

I then passed tightly packed cubicles and eyes glued to computer screens until I reached my small desk, flung my yellow bag underneath, and gazed at the photo I’d framed of the Sydney Opera House for a spark of motivation.

‘Has anyone got some spare manilla folders?’

I didn’t have a clue who asked, but my legs sprung up with the enthusiasm of a Labrador. ‘I do!’

Operation Promotion would be over in a few hours, after ninety days of soul-draining overtime, additional work, and excessive cheer. It would have been worth it once I could finally afford an apartment bigger than my ant-sized rental and get some decent health insurance. Perhaps even a car to visit my mum and brothers in the Blue Mountains rather than taking the bus and train. My eight loyal years – five of them in this role – and an almost completed Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning would ensure I had this in the bag.

‘Has anyone seen Nora?’ the brown-haired lady from HR called over the desks.

I smoothed my hands over the waist of my dress and checked all the buttons at my chest were done up. ‘Here I am,’ I called with enthusiasm.

I faltered when I realised her smile wasn’t the kind you wore when you were about to change someone’s life for the better. Although, perhaps she’d had a bad day. She’d probably missed her train this morning or spilled coffee over her favourite dress. My gaze darted over her ‘dead-body grey’ blouse and black pants. Of course, definitely the coffee problem. No one would wear that outfit by choice.

‘Mark would like to see you in his office.’

Words wouldn’t form. Excitement grabbed my brain fistful by fistful and hurled it against my skull. I gave a quick nod and followed her to his large office. His stomach brushed the edge of his desk as he stood from his chair, and Dead-Body Blouse closed the door behind me.

His stomach caught the edge of his desk again as he sat back down, knocking a pen to the floor in the process. ‘Please, have a seat.’

Was this the final test? Should I crawl under his desk to produce the runaway pen as a show of good faith and dedication?

He tracked my gaze and chuckled, ‘Leave the pen, it’s probably found the rest of its missing family down there.’

Phew. There would be no pen diving and putting myself in questionable positions. The cushioning of the leather chairs normally reserved for other CEOs were out of this world. I’d sunk so perfectly into the chair I couldn’t tell where it ended and my ass began. This was the chair they’d pulled out for the victor; I knew it.

‘Your résumé and interview were very impressive, Miss Claremont.’ He placed some papers onto his polished, mahogany desk and settled a small smile onto his face.

I prepared to show the proper mix of surprise and enthusiasm I’d been practicing in the mirror each morning as I mentally hurled everything from my desk into Terry’s office. He opened his mouth to continue, and my heart pounded through my ears, muffling his words with the thrumming thrill.

‘You won’t be disappointed.’ I stretched my smile so wide I wondered if he could see the filling on my right molar.

‘Well, that is excellent sportsmanship. Freddie will be stoked to have such an enthusiastic team behind him.’

My smile shrunk to confusion. ‘I’m sorry?’

Mark chuckled again, his belly bouncing with the motion. ‘Cats out of the bag. Try to act surprised when he comes out, though. I haven’t told him yet.’

‘Freddie? You’re promoting Freddie?’ My eyes narrowed as my head twisted back and forth between Mark and the HR lady’s hideous outfit.

‘Well, ah, yes.’ Mark shifted uncomfortably.

My palms were sweaty and my head swayed with the lightness of a helium balloon. Affordable organic blueberries were rolling out of reach and I couldn’t bear the thought of renewing the lease on my tiny apartment. I’d already saved tabs online for new places to view!

‘But I’ve got five years on him. He’s only been in the role five months. Look at how young he is.’ My pointing finger stretched in the direction of that hunched-back traitor.

It was a miracle his umbilical cord wasn’t still connected to his mother.

‘Freddie has been with the company almost as long as you have, Nora. It’s only that he moved from legal, so he has a thorough understanding of much more than the financial side of things.’

The room spun. I gripped the leather arm rests and focused on my whitening knuckles as I convinced myself I wasn’t going to spew. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

Success.