“Hey Honey! Can you come here a second?” I call out from my office.

His head popped into the doorway, “What’s up, Hon?” Henry walked over to my desk where I was still glued to my laptop.

“What do you think? I want to present it to the meeting tomorrow. Do you think it is done? Do you think they will like it?” I shoved my laptop up into his arms.

Henry’s face glowed as he stared at the screen. He was doing his best to hide all emotions. He finally set the laptop on my desk in front of me, and he looked down at me.

I too gazed up at him awaiting his response…

He bent down and kissed me. A small sweet peck on my mouth. “I hope they love it. I do. I know my dad would have loved it too. He would have been so honored to have a library designed after him, but also be touched that he helped with the idea as well.” Again he kissed me; this one a little deeper. “Thank you Hon. I love it too.”

I smiled. No I beamed! I had hope my husband would love my design, but I’m so happy to know that I did old Hank proud. That Hank would have loved my design.

Hank had always wanted to design a library; a library that was fun for kids but also for adults. A library that would inspire reading. So I added caves, hideouts, secret panels, false walls, and at the center I added a tunnel called Hank’s Tunnel.

I stretched back up, and kissed my husband back; just a quick peck, “I’m so happy you love it! Do you think the board will approve it?”

“They would be dumb not to. It’s inspiring, interesting, captivating, and a memorable for someone. But it will all depend, I think, on your presentation. Let’s work on that tonight; I’ll give you some feedback and pointers so that they don’t reject your design.”

Oh! I loved him. Even though he just had a long hard day at work; he was still willing to help me with mine. “That sounds great! What’s your work schedule like for tomorrow?” I stood and snuggled into my husband’s embrace.

“Sadly I’m busy all day. Meeting clients and reps. I probably won’t see you until after working hours again,” He wrapped his arms tighter around me, “but I’ll make it home for dinner.”

“No problem. I’ll text you what the board members say as soon as the meeting is over. Good or bad, let’s have hamburgers tomorrow night. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect.”

…

Well as much as I was hoping that today was going to be smooth sailing, I was so wrong. Sarah decided to present something today as well. And magically she gets to go before me; this is not the first time. But what many people don’t know, is she has stolen may last four designs. She must watch me sketch or take sneak pictures, but she always goes first and she always has my designs just tweaked a smidge, so that they are not identical.

I’ve never really cared. I’m a senior designer; I’ve been with the company now twelve years. I’ve designed various buildings, events, vacations, weddings, etc. I’ve not just settled for being one type of designer; I’ve always wanted to do it all. So Sarah has only stolen invitation designs, an art mural location, a cafe logo, and a coffee shop revamp. The last one was my last freebie to her though.

Three weeks ago, I told her as such. After that meeting I pulled her outside and told her she was to stop taking my ideas, or I would take this matter up the ladder to the VP. He was my direct boss.

Sarah was baffled at that. I’m guessing she believed she could do this forever. But she assured me that she had only “borrowed” the last few designs to secure a permanent job. She explained that her mom was sick and she needed the pay bump. Which I totally can understand; and why I decided to brush the last four designs under the rug. Only my husband knew the truth, besides me. But I adamantly told her she needed to submit her own work from now on.

So yes, I’m surprised Sarah is presenting today. Yes, I’m bummed I don’t get to go first, because hers might be amazing. But I’m pumped to present my design! I really hope that the proposal goes through and Hank’s library can come to life. I was ready. With my husband’s help last night I was ready for any type of question that might be thrown at me. Thinking of my husband I sent out a quick text as I settled into my chair in the meeting room. ‘The meeting is about to start. I’ll text you after. Love you.’

Just as I put my phone on silent he texted back, ‘love you too! Good luck!’

I love him. Sarah came into the room, and I put away my phone. She settled onto the chair across from me. The other employees and members followed in behind her. I was ready!

Or not…

Sarah started her presentation. It was a library. She said it was a new kind of library. She clicked for the next slide, “It will be called Hank’s Library,” her voice echoed in my head. It was exactly same as mine. Exactly. She didn’t even try to hide her crime. Everything was the same, down to the tunnel named Hank’s tunnel. That was my special gift to my father-in-law.

I was livid! Enough was enough! This ends here! I stood suddenly; smacked my hand down on the table, “Enough!” Everyone jumped at my outburst. I didn’t just stand still, waiting for retaliation; I moved towards Sarah. I was like a cobra sizing up its prey. It was no longer a battle; it was a bloodbath. “So Sarah, do you want to stick to your claim that this design is yours? Or do you want to retract your previous statement?” She didn’t deserve a chance, but I gave it to her anyways. Sarah just stood there frozen. She didn’t speak. No one spoke, actually. They all were silent.

“I don’t know what you are saying, Joleen. This IS my design.” Sarah manage to get the words out without sounding like a complete liar.

So she decided to take the path to being fired. I shook my head and walked past Sarah to the front of the room. “Ladies and gentleman, you are being lied to, and if it was to continue it could have major repercussions to the company. The design that my colleague tried to present; is actually my own design. I unplugged Sarah’s USB and plugged in my own. Almost an identical opening slide popped up, but mine looked more professional. My husband had given me some pointers of what the board members liked to see. I didn’t wait for anyone’s approval; I just began my presentation. It was clear, precise, informative, but still open to suggestions. When I finish; applause erupted around. All but Sarah who was still standing where I left her.

“Well Joleen,” Samuel Kingsley was the first to speak, “I must say that was indeed a wonderful presentation and a truly remarkable design. But the issue of whether or not this project is indeed yours cannot be proven,” he was saying this less to me and more to the table.

“It can,” I looked him directly in the eye. He wouldn’t look at me; so he was a schemer too. “I’ll open up the next segment for questions. If certain questions are asked; then the truth will surface naturally.

“Why is it called Hank’s library? Who is Hank?” Stephen called out into the silence.

“That’s the question. Thank you Stephen. Hank is my Father-in-law, or I should say was. He passed away before this idea could become a reality. Hank’s tunnel was actually his input,” that last remark I directed solely at Mr. Kingsley. He started to fidget in his chair.

“Do you even have proof?” Sarah finally blurred out finding her voice, “I called it Hank’s Library because of a role model in my life. The tunnel was because my nephew was chimming in with ideas and suggested a tunnel. This is my design!”

She was good. I didn’t expect her to have a story cooked up. I did have proof, but it was in my study at home. I knew that with Mr. Kingsley backing up Sarah they wouldn’t allow me to run and get it. Or even if I did, they would say I faked it. I only had one option. I walked back to my seat; dug my phone out of my bag and texted him. ‘Pineapple.’

My phone vibrated and his name flashed on the screen. I answered, even though phones were forbidden during meeting hours, “hey, could you get something from my house? Yeah. I’ll tell the nanny to grab it for you. She knows where it is. No. It’s not good. A colleague tried to steal my design. The same one. They say I need proof. A Mr. Kingsley,” I glanced at Kingsley who looked confused at the sight before him. “You will. Thank you. I’ll tell her now.” I hung up my phone, but before stowing it away I texted my nanny to have the proof ready for him. I stowed my phone away, and settled back down into my chair.

All eyes were on me. “Well?” Sarah said with disgust, “are you going to prove yourself?”

I laughed, “did you not hear me on my phone? Do your ears not work. Maybe they don’t; since I told you three weeks ago that I would not allow you steal another one of my designs.” Sarah’s face went white. She tried to interrupt, but I cut her off, “no. You don’t get a say. I was going to be understanding and let you keep those last four proposals, but you trying to steal this design. A design that I worked on with my father-in-law before he died. That on the day he died, he begged me to make it a reality. That he wanted to watch from heaven; seeing his grandkids running around the library,” I wiped an escaping tear from my cheek. I truly missed Hank.

“But no. You had to steal again. So yes, I will be filing a complaint against you with your last four projects. I’m amazed you are willing to do this with everything you have on the line. Your mom, your career, your future. When it is proven, and it will be, you will be blacklisted. Do you not understand that?” I was still livid, but I also felt a smidge guilty towards her mom.

“What issues with her mom?” Cassandra blurted out. She was just a small fry in the far back; “her mom is vacationing in the Bahamas right now I think. Right, Sarah?”

Wow. Just wow. “So you not only steal projects; but you lied so easily about your mom. Here I was feeling guilty towards her lying in a hospital. But actually she doesn’t even know anything about this or anything at all,” so Sarah was just a leech.

“None of this actually proves anything. Right, everyone?” Sarah pleaded with the table and the now crowd that had formed at the door. “She’s just stalling; she has no proof, or she would have brought it forward. Mr. Kingsley, I think we should proceed, and just use Joleen’s presentation as my own, since she interrupted me. Everything she said was my own thoughts, except for the person inspired.”

“True. Very true. I believe you would have done an amazing job on your presentation as well,” Mr. Kingsley now stood beside Sarah.

I wonder how much he supported her. As if reading my mind Kingsley rested a hand on the small of her back. Nothing I said would help, instead I settled into my seat, waiting for the man to show up.

As if on cue, “who is questioning my senior designer?” The VP walked into the room.

“Mr. Walters,” Mr. Kingsley walked over to the VP, “Joleen has stolen Sarah’s project, she” the VP held up a hand.

“Really,” Mr, Walter’s glanced in my direction, “show me the design in question. You are Sarah right? You present it to me. You had just mentioned, before I came in, that you would have said everything that Joleen had said. You will have fifteen minutes for your presentation, and you must cover everything she did, word for word. Begin” the VP took his chair at the far end of the table.

Sarah again didn’t speak. She just stood there baffled and stunned at his request, but she couldn’t very well deny the VP’s request.

“Mr. Walter’s, it’s not right for us to expect perfection,” Mr. Kingsley tried to defend Sarah.

Again he held his hand up, “so she forfeits her chance to prove herself. Alright, Joleen,” I stood. “Will you present your presentation again? Same expectations apply. Will you?”

“ I will.” I walked back to the front and presented again, but this time there were no nerves. It was truly perfection. I was again greeted with applause, plus the VP’s.

“Does anyone still question the true owner of this design?” Mr. Walters asked the room.

“That’s not proof. She said she had proof. When she interrupted me; she wiped my brain clean. It must have traumatized me, and that’s why I couldn’t present when I was asked. She hasn’t proven anything.” Sarah finally spoke.

I’m realizing that she can only speak when it is lies coming out of her mouth. That honesty gets trapped and lies just flow. I wanted to…

“You mean this proof?” The VP held up a yellowed napkin in a plastic sleeve. However, this napkin was all marked up with ideas and sketches. The words unmistakably titled the napkin, Hank’s Library. There was a note jotted at the bottom saying Hank’s tunnel. But the most important marking was the bottom right corner. There were the names: Hank and Joleen. Plus the date 12-03-2019; almost three years ago. Proving Joleen as the official designer of the library.

Talking erupted! And as if cohesively, all eyes stared at the two who definitely lied.

“How do we know someone didn’t fake this evidence, because she is a senior designer,” Sarah blurted out.

But she was not met with understanding; but with shock and horror. Because this time she didn’t question me, she was accusing the VP.

What she said must have dawned on her because she started to backtrack. “I wasn’t. I didn’t.” Mr. Kingsley too moved away from Sarah; probably realizing she was a sinking ship now.

I too walked back to my seat; but this time I relaxed into my seat waiting for what would come next. The bloodbath was ending.

“Ms. Marks, you have proved to be without morals and untrustworthy. You have also committed forgery and with a further investigation, an additional four more forgeries. You will go to HR today to go through the process of termination,” Mr. Walters did not look her way, instead he had been typing a text. He stowed his phone back into his jacket pocket and looked at the astonished Sarah. Two security men came into the room. “Please escort Ms. Marks to HR, and then off the premises. Use force if necessary. Please leave,” motioning to the door.

“No! I won’t leave. This is my job. I need this job! You can’t fire me. On what basis. I’ll sue you!” Sarah was frantically attempting to escape the security’s grasp. But she was no match for them. They grabbed her by the upper arm and escorted her out the door and off to HR. She continued to protest until her voice could no longer be heard.

“Now. For Mr. Kingsley. You are under investigation. You are suspended without pay until the verdict is in,” Mr. Walters again did not look at the person in question but instead was texting.

“On what grounds? You have no say in this matter. I’ve been with the company twenty years. Sarah lied to me as well; I thought I was helping a younger generation succeed in the workplace. What gives you the right to,” he stopped his rant. Because he went too far. Just like Sarah had done. Questioning the company, arguing the claims put against you, all fine; but don’t put the blame on the VP.

Two security guards came once again. “Will you go willing? Or will they need to forcefully remove you from the premises too?” Mr. Walter finally glanced at the now very screwed Mr. Kingsley.

“I’ll take my leave willingly,” and he strode from the room with the security guards following.

“Congratulations Joleen,” Mr. Walter stood from his chair and shook my hand. “Your design and presentation was superb. Everything I expected from my senior designer. I will be sending the recording of your presentation to the other board directors, but it should be accepted. It was outstanding. Take this victory!” Mr Walters handed me the sleeved napkin. Then he left the room.

‘It should be accepted!’ Mine and Hank’s hard work finally payed off. My coworkers congratulated me as they went back to their desks. I sat once again in that chair. Soaking up everything that had happened. But next I did what needed to be done.

Text: “Happiness!”

…

I got home maybe ten minutes before Henry came through the door. With meat covered hands and all, I ran from the kitchen to him. My pose ready for a hug; he laughed and pulled me in for one, but while avoiding my hands.

“Good work today! I’m glad that everything has been resolved and you can move forward without worry.” Henry followed me to the kitchen.

“All thanks to you!” I went back to forming the hamburgers. “I don’t know what I would have done if you had been busy.”

“Well you got my attention when you sent the word pineapple. I was so confused. I thought maybe you had sent a voice text and it autocorrected it to pineapple,” Henry chuckled about it was he sat on a barstool.

I washed my hands and joined him on the barstools. The hamburgers could wait. “I thought that was your panic word,” I laughed at my mistake. “I thought using it would kickstart everything.”

“Now that you say that, I do remember saying something about pineapple. Well it worked even though I forgot,” Henry pulled my barstool closer to him, my legs in between his. “Now you know to not allow projects to be stolen. Because greed always comes with that. They always want one more; because it’s easier than doing the work themselves.”

“You’re right. I’ll try to be better. I’m bummed though; that no one can know our relationship at work.”

“You know,” Henry started…

“I do. I know it would become a weakness to the both of us. All of our competitors would use it against us. But I will say the secret office romance is fun too,” I smiled at him. “A VP and a senior designer, it’s like one of those romance books.” I laughed but he didn’t.

Instead all I could see on his face was wanting. Desire. Love. So I leaned forward and closed the gap between us with a deep kiss. I started to pull away, but he grabbed my face and deepen the kiss.

A VP and a senior designer fell in love and lived happily ever after.

The End