“You’re so gloomy. We don’t need you here.”
My boss, a woman who didn’t know much and didn’t care to learn, belittled me.
I sighed, looking at her smug face.
“Well then, I quit,” I said, and left the company.
Months later, I ran into that awful woman again.
“Did you ever find a company that would hire someone as useless as you?” she mocked.
“Yes, actually. Your major client,” I replied.
Her face went pale as she realized what I meant.
My name is Scott Ritter, and I’m a salesman at a food and beverage company. I’m over 43 years old and work in sales, but in a different way.
I don’t go out for client visits. I just work on the computer at my desk by the window.
“Good morning, Scott.”
“Good morning, Paul.”
“Scott, we’re going out for drinks after work today. Would you like to join us?”
“Thank you for the invite, but I have other plans.”
“Got it.”
I didn’t talk much with employees and spent most of my time in front of the computer.
Everyone else was younger, which partly explained why I didn’t fit in with their conversations.
“Scott always dresses so neatly, right?”
“His clothes are always ironed perfectly, and his shirts are crisp.”
“And he smells good too. It’s not perfume, maybe fabric softener. I wonder what brand he uses.”
I noticed them glancing my way and chatting a few times, but I never asked what they were talking about. I just kept working.
“Time to clock out already. Good work today.”
“Yes, good work today.”
“Scott always leaves right on time, so we know when it’s time to go. In a way, he’s like an alarm clock for us.”
I left work on time every day.
Sometimes I had places to go after work, and sometimes I just went straight home.
“Would you like to join our company?”
“Yes, thank you. I’d love to.”
I joined this company about five years ago. Before that, I worked at a different beverage company, but I was approached to join this one.
I never stayed long at one company, moving around in the beverage industry.
“Scott, how have things been since you started?”
“Fine. No major issues. Everything is going smoothly for now.”
“That’s good to hear. We have high hopes for your work.”
“Thank you.”
It was a company executive who had approached me. He had heard about me and reached out. It seems this company often recruits from outside.
“Well, Scott, do you have a moment?”
“Sure, I’m available.”
“I wanted to ask you about sales strategies.”
“If it’s something I know, I’ll send you the information you need.”
“Thank you. I’ll email you later. I’d like to learn more about Company D and a few other things,” said Pamela.
“Scott, you’re the same as always,” she replied, understanding my usual straightforward approach.
Just then, Michael approached as the younger colleagues were chatting with me.
Michael Phelps is the only colleague close to my age in sales, and he’s the one who brought me to this company.
“That’s right. Thanks for your help with that issue. I’ll be counting on you again,” I said.
“Got it. Also, the client wants to go out for drinks next time.”
“Understood.”
Michael and I had known each other before joining this company, so we could communicate with just a few words.
As the only other senior employee, he handled a lot of different tasks. Michael is attentive and single, which makes him quite popular.
“Let’s keep up the good work today,” he said, as we enjoyed another peaceful day in the sales department with no major issues.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Laura Sano, and I’ll be the new department head starting today,” she introduced herself when she was transferred to our team.
Laura came from a larger affiliated company, and it seemed she had more experience from her previous position.
“Is that so? Maybe it’s a matter of power,” someone commented.
“Who knows? But she’s our boss now, so let’s hope we can work well together.”
I sighed quietly as I observed Laura.
She was wearing bright red clothes that didn’t seem very professional, with heavy makeup and a strong perfume that reached my desk.
Her attitude was confident and assertive.
“Listen to what I say. I’m in a higher position than you,” she said, making her authority clear.
The thought of her being the boss made me uneasy.
“Hey, who prepared this document?” she asked.
“Yes, that was me, Reo.”
“This document and the client you’re handling will now be my responsibility.”
“Am I really changing this now?”
“What’s wrong with this document? Figure it out yourself. Look, it’s easier to read this way.”
“But in our company, we usually…”
“Just do as I say,” she insisted, making sure everyone in the sales department followed her lead because of her background in a big corporation.
“She’s really the worst. She’s all friendly with the young men and Michael, but she’s tough on us women,” a colleague whispered.
“I’m just trying to stay out of her way,” I replied.