Kingdom

II вlαckmαíl II

I was in my room, working on an PR assignment, mostly covering how having the CEO of Brand Tech also the owner's wife. Since I worked for the company and planned on inheriting it, I had to write positively. I mean, as much I wanted to trash Vanessa, I really had to get on my dad's side. I wasn't exactly being easy to be around lately. I was busy pulling up graphics about Vanessa's performance, when my father walked into my office.

"I have an assignment for you, Millicent," he said, dropping a file on my desk. I put down my pen onto my desk and looked up at him.

"Oh?" I asked curiously, pulling the file closer to me.

"I want you and Vanessa...

Kill me.

"To work on a project together. So you guys can bond," he said. I shook my head, "I expect results by the end of the day."

I couldn't believe it. It's not like those Get-Along shirts actually worked, so why would a group project? I'd probably end up pulling her ass the whole time.

"What's it about at least?" I asked as my father was walking about.

"Automating our factories," he said with a smile. Perfect, it was something I had been advocating for for months, so at least I had something in my court. I stood up and kissed my father on the cheek, and we both left the office. I looked at the empty secretary's desk and smiled to myself. I'd had have to get myself a new assistant soon.

As I stood on the elevator that was taking me up to Vanessa's office, I looked through the file. Most of the documents were documents I had written myself. This would literally be the easiest assigment ever. I more or less just had to transfer my work onto a spreadsheet and call it good.

The elevator reached the right floor, and I strutted into Vanessa's office with the file under my arm. She more or less looked like the devil incarnate. She had a bright red jumpsuit on, and a matching lip color.

"Millicent, sweetie, it's so good to see you," she said with a smile. I grunted and set the file on the desk, and pulled a chair up to her desk.

"Let's not make this more painful than it has to be," I said and opened the file, "So what do you think of automating our factories?"

"I think it's an awful idea."

I swore in my head.

"Why? It's cheap, reliable, and we don't have to account for human error."

"We take away so many jobs. And the power costs would spike through the roof."

"Human labor is way more expensive than power costs. We're in Silicon Valley, we don't even have to worry about lack of access to the resources."

"You know what? Let's take a lunch break, and I'll get back to you with research. Let's meet back up at one"

I mentally flipped her off, but if she was going to gather resources, so was I.

*****

I was furiously working away at my desk, trying to shove kale salad into my mouth while simultaneously researching furiously. I was shoving another enormous mouthful of kale into my mouth, when I heard a knock on the door.

"Can I come in?" Caleb asked, poking his head around the corner.

"Please," I pleaded, "Relieve me."

Caleb opened the door, and came in. He came over to my side of the desk and kissed me on the cheek.

"Hey baby," he said, pushing a hair out of my mouth, as I viciously chewed my salad, "How's the rabbit food?"

"Great, thanks for asking," I said with my mouth still full, and then swallowed.

"What're you working on?" he asked.

"I have to do a team project with Vanessa. Honestly? I'd rather die. But, here I am. I haven't been on my dad's good side for a while, so I got to butter the old dude up again."

"Sounds fun."

"Oh, you won't believe what I found out about her."

"With your family, I never do."

"I have pictures of her and Nicholas making out and doing other rather scandalous things."

"What the hell Millie?"

"No, I didn't take them. I'm not that bad Caleb," I said. Caleb raised an eyebrow and I smacked him, "I had a friend who brought these to me to show Dad, but I'm going to use them to my advantage first."

*****

After lunch, I was back in Vanessa's office. I had laid out a whole bunch of reports, still warm from the printer, when she walked in. She didn't have her laptop or any files with her, so I'd giver her the benefit of the doubt. She probably did the research on her phone.

"Alright, let's get back into this," I said as she sat down, "So, company's like Google have saved-"

"Oh, cut the crap Millicent," she snapped.

"Sorry?"

"We all now that no matter what happens, Silas will take my opinion over yours."

"Oh my god. You actually think that being his fiancee will have more pull over him than his own daughter?"

"Look, honey-"

"Don't honey me Vanessa. I'm not your daughter or friend, nor am I lesser than you."

"Okay, Millicent, I already have the report and spreadsheet done. Just go back to work, and I'll present it to him."

"I have it done too!"

"Alright, I don't care. I'll fire you if you don't put my spreadsheet on his desk."

"Or," I said, opening up the file I brought. I knew she was going to try to play this card, "I'll put this on his desk instead."

"You bitch,'' Vanessa snarled, but I smiled back, "Just, submit yours."

"Sounds good."

*****

The next morning, I opened up the news and saw on the front page the following headline:

Brand Technology Employs Robots and Lays Off Human Labor

Having dirt on your stepmother really is a power move, if you ask me. 

(a/n) I'm sorry this came out late. I don't know if you can tell in the writing, but I was having a hard time coming up with material to use. I also had a really tough night last night, but I'm going to get another chapter today as well, to make up for the lack yesterday.

Thanks for your support,

Jenna