The Promotion
by Asmi Mahajan
Daniel stepped
into the office, and the air shifted.
Conversations stuttered, then picked up in hushed
tones. Eyes flicked toward him before darting
away.
He adjusted
his tie, forcing a steady breath. He had earned
this. Late nights, impossible deadlines, meetings
that stretched into oblivion—he had done it
all. Today was the payoff.
Near the
conference room, a cluster of coworkers stood too
close, their words just a little too sharp.
“Unbelievable.”
“He
didn’t deserve it.”
His jaw
tightened, but he kept walking. Let them talk.
They didn’t know the sacrifices, the
politics, the sheer will it had taken to get here.
He pushed open
the conference room door. The chatter died
instantly.
At the head of
the table, his boss leaned back, fingers steepled,
a practiced smile on his face.
“Daniel,” he
said, smooth as glass. “Glad you
could make it. We were just discussing your
replacement.”
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