No Escape

It was another beautiful day in San Diego—the type of spring day that makes even the locals consider skipping work and heading for the beach. Shania knew she couldn’t afford to miss work, but the thought still crossed her mind. She pulled into the parking garage next to the office building where she worked. Shania rode the elevator to the sixth floor and entered Daly Medical Coding. After greeting her coworkers, Maureen, Tim, and Gary, she unlocked her desk and put her purse in the right-hand drawer. She booted up her computer, and the morning passed by much the way it usually did. Just before noon, however, she heard the boss, Rita Daly, call out to the main room from her office. “Maureen! Maureen, could you come in here? And Shania too, please. Is she out there?” Shania and Maureen made their way to Miss Daly’s office. Their boss raked a hand through her short, rapidly graying hair just as they entered the small, cramped space to stand side by side in front of her desk. “You wanted to see us, Miss Daly?” asked Maureen. Shania stood beside Maureen and tried not to fidget with anxiety over what their boss might have to tell them. She stood as straight and as confidently as she could. “Oh, yes,” Rita replied, knocking over the stack of folders before her. Shania smiled slightly. In the three years she’d worked for Miss Daly, she’d never known her to be any different—clumsy and always in a hurry. Rita was the no-nonsense type, simply a hard worker who liked to make and spend money. Shania assumed as much, judging by her extensive wardrobe and jewelry collection. Shania knew her boss had gone through a bitter divorce just before she had hired her. She was willing to bet—though she didn’t know for sure—that Miss Daly hadn’t dated since. “How are you two doing today?” Rita asked. “Fine,” they answered in unison. A look of seriousness overtook Rita’s features. “Look, Maureen, I respect the fact that your dad’s a prominent physician in the community and that he was my very first customer, so I think you’ll both be pleased with my decision.” Maureen eyed her boss quizzically. “What’s that, Miss Daly?” “Well,” began Rita, “you know I’ve been wanting an office manager, and I feel a certain promotion is due.” Out of the corner of her eye, Shania saw Maureen flash a quick smile. And why not? She’d been with the company from day one, while Tim, Gary, and Shania herself had only been there between two and three years. But then why did Miss Daly want to see her? “I haven’t had a vacation since I started this company, and I need someone I can count on. First, I want you ladies to understand that I put a lot of thought into which one of you would be fit to move up to office manager.” Shania and Maureen’s expressions turned to a mixture of confusion and curiosity. How much thought could it possibly have required? wondered Shania. “I’ll get right to the point since it’s just about lunchtime.” Rita had pushed enough papers out of her way to lean her elbows on the desk. She clasped her hands together, showing off her many glittering rings. At one point, Shania winced as the sunlight from the nearby window glinted off a huge stone she couldn’t even begin to identify. “I’ve decided on Shania for that job, considering her wonderful job performance,” Rita said, directing her gaze toward her. Shania could sense that Maureen was just as angry as she was shocked to learn of the decision. “But Miss Daly…” Maureen began. Rita silenced her with a raised hand. “It’s not that you’re a poor worker, Maureen. Not even close. However, your communication skills need work before I can move you up.” “Really, Miss Daly, this is so unfair,” whined Maureen. “I’ve not only been here longer and know the ropes better than she does, but I just learned that I’m pregnant.” “Oh, congratulations,” Rita smiled, as if they’d been engaged in a long, pleasant chat. “Who’s the father?” “Just some lame bastard who took off on me, which means I could really, really use the extra money. Babies are expensive, and well, I’m sure you can understand my predicament.” “Oh, I can, I can.” Rita rose from her chair. She had obviously made up her mind. “Still, Maureen, regardless of our personal circumstances, Shania’s the gal for the job.” “Miss Daly, please reconsider,” Maureen pleaded as Rita headed for the door. “I have. Many times. Come along now, ladies. I want to run across the street for a sandwich before the lunch crowd gathers.” Shania and Maureen followed their boss out of the office and watched her stride confidently through the reception area and out of the building. The door closed behind her with a thud. “This is so unfair, so not right,” Maureen said, anger evident in her voice. “I know how you feel,” Shania said empathetically. Maureen rambled on. “Who the hell does she think she is? And who the hell do you think you are, coming in and stealing my promotion? You haven’t been here as long, and you haven’t worked nearly as hard.” Shania gasped slightly. “Hey now, I didn’t make the decision here, Maureen. I told you I agree it’s unfair, but all I can do is talk to her and hope…” “Forget it! You’d never be able to reason with a bitch like her. All you’d do is make things worse. Besides, she’s been out to get me ever since she hired me.” “But why?” asked Shania, confused. “The hell if I know!” wailed Maureen, her face growing red as her anger rose. “All I know is that no matter how great she thinks your so-called communication skills are, you don’t deserve the job. I do.” “Are you sure you don’t want me to talk to her?” “Positive. Once that stubborn bitch makes up her mind, there’s no changing it.” “Again, I’m sorry,” was all Shania could say. Maureen’s gaze bore into hers. Shania watched as her green eyes turned to a dark, stormy gray and her face to a deeper shade of crimson. “Yeah, you will be.” Shania’s heartbeat quickened. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Just what I said,” Maureen replied, heading for the door. “Yeah? Well, let me remind you once again that I’m not the damn decision-maker here.” But Maureen was gone, leaving Shania with no appetite for lunch.