“Yeah.”
“I don’t know why I asked that, as if there’s more than one Naomi,” he says, smiling. “She’s still on mat leave.”
Shit. I did not know that.
“Oh. Right.”
“Is there something I can help with?”
“Erm,” I say, my mind whirring. What now? “Do you know who the interim strategy leadis?”
“Perhaps,” he says mysteriously. “May I ask what this is about?”
“Oh, um—I was just coming to introduce myself.” I peer around, looking for someone, anyone else. This guy looks like he has all the time to waste in the world. I need to find a grownup. “I’m the new data strategist.”
He leans back in his chair. Something about his posture calls to mind a cat playing with its kill.
“I wasn’t aware we’d hired a new data strategist.”
“And yet,” I say, drawing an arm down the length of my body with a flourish. “Here Iam.”
“Strange,” he muses. “I don’t remember your interview.”
“Probably because you weren’t there.”
“And neither was the department head, from the sounds of things,” he says. “That’s worrying. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”
“Yes.”
“Could you have interviewed over at CoinDot? They’re on the 29th floor. Easy to get confused.”
“I’m sure,” I say, gritting my teeth. “I already work at Taskio. I got reassigned.”
“Ah,” he says. “The layoffs. I’m beginning to understand. What’s your name?”
“Annie. Winstead.”
“Annie Winstead,” he repeats, testing it out. “Well, Annie, if you want to send a copy of your résumé, I’ll make sure the department head getsit.”
“Why would I do that?”
He blinks at me. “So you can apply for the role, I’m presuming.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary. HR already made the transfer.”
“Be that as it may,” he says, “I’m certain you’ll still need to interview.”
“Which I’d be able to do,” I counter, “if you’d point me in the direction of the strategy lead.”
He tilts his head likewell, you have me there.
“Tell you what,” he says, “the department head usually does the interviews up in the canteen. Why don’t you head up there and I’ll go find him, tell him to see you up there in five?”
“What are you, like their PA, or something?”
“Definitely ‘or something.’ ”
I huff. I don’t have time for this joker.
