4 Insert Smile Here

Charles looked at Isabel with a worried expression. His fingers absent-mindedly drawing patterns into the palm of her hands. She had frozen from his rhetorical question. She stared at him without seeing him.

"Izzy?" he whispered.

She flinched from the sound of her nickname and finally gazed at Charles. He smiled broadly.

"Were you that shocked?" he chuckled softly.

Isabel felt the heat rush to her cheeks as she gradually realized he was serious.

"Since when did you–" she stopped herself. It's been several years since they started working together. It was the little things that she merely brushed off as him being friendly and a gentleman to get his bearings in a new job. She opened her mouth again only to snap it shut when she suddenly made eye contact with Gretchen who was leaning casually against the glass wall of her manager's office; her face a silk canvas of a thick layer of foundation, blush, full false lashes, and plump lips coated with a coral-colored matte lipgloss.

She didn't stand with her arms crossed over her chest but rather folded carefully under her breasts emphasizing its full and perkiness. Her low cut blouse did her cleavage almost no justice; her $145 black Mackay rib pencil skirt hugged her waist in all the right places. She was a woman on a mission, almost too perfect that you'd overlook that a third of her was plastic surgery.

"Shit, " Isabel breathed as Ms. Collins smirked and slid off the wall she'd been trying to mark with her presence. Her devil spawn, Lee McCauley, quickly followed the click of her $500 Louboutin pumps. He was a scrawny man; young and ambitious. He habitually talked down to people when they approached him in the HR office. Suited up in a formal, yet fashionable attire he scurried after his master like a lost pup.

Isabel gave Charles a warning look before straightening up and trying to focus on her computer screen. She had just marked up the latest article on the new Apple watch when the strong scent of Coco Chanel tickled her nostrils. She didn't need to look up to know that Gretchen was hovering over her desk.

"Ms. Perez," she said in a tone that made you feel as though she was addressing a stray animal.

"How can I help you, Ms. Collins?" Isabel replied in the same tone, not pausing to look up but continued to type up the report on her screen.

Lee glared at Isabel in astonishment and opened his mouth to speak but Gretchen held up her hand to silence him. He stood there quietly and sulked like a school boy. She snorted before turning her attention to Charles again.

"Afternoon, Mr. Grover. Were you able to take a look at that task I requested?"

Charles reluctantly turned to her, his face serious. "Unfortunately, no. I wasn't able to find an relevant information related to the Nasdaq and Google stock markets that isn't already being reported in the business section of the paper. I'm sure you could have learned about this without my assisstance." He added this last remark sarcastically looking right at her before turning his attention back to his work.

"I'm sure you already know why I asked for your assisstance in this matter," She continued, unbothered by his dismisive tone. "I wanted to spend more time getting to know you." She paused to glance at Isabel and smirked.

"Surely you'd rather be around better company or people that can guarantee a higher position in the company. Your current workplace seems a bit below standard for someone of your stature."

Charles clenched his hands around the lead pencil he'd been using to manually make small edits before inputting them into the computer. His expression was annoyed, but he tried to remain composed. Gretchen continued to make subtle but snide remarks about his work environment and his present "company" that Isabel began to fume in her seat. Gretchen finally turned her attention to Isabel and smirked at her expression.

"Am I saying anything that is bothering you personally, Ms. Perez?" She sneered, daring her to make a retort.

Charles looked at Isabel and made a pleading expression. 'Whatever you're thinking about, please don't,' his eyes begged her, but Isabel didn't care. She closed her eyes and sighed before getting to her feet. She felt Charles' hand against her skirt as he gave her a gentle tug that made her catch a quick glance of his warning headshake. Isabel glared at her HR representative for several moments before she smiled broadly.

"Good afternoon, Mr. David."

Gretchen froze; her usual sneering demeanor cracked as it struggled to transition to a gentle and professional manner. It was Isabel's turn to smirk and enjoy the cringe that was at the root of every one of Gretchen's gestures. Mr. David, who had been leaning against an empty desk a few meters from them, starightened up and apprached the small party that was formed by the four of them. He greeted Charles and Isabel with a nod and a smile before finally turning a disgusted gaze to Ms. Collins and Mr. McCauley.

"I was unaware the editorial department was due for it's weekly harasment by our HR and her sidekick," he nearly raised his voice. The look on his face was easy to read as it was obvious he had been standing there and heard the entirty of Gretchen's routine monolague. His expression was furious as he stared at the both of them tight lipped.

"I will see you both in my office in five minutes, there is something I wish to discuss with Ms. Perez," he said through clenched teeth.

A few minutes after their hurried departure Mr. Joshua David let out a huff and looked over to his two employees. He gripped the corners of the desk to steady himself and compose his anger before plastering a smile on his face.

"I'm sorry you two had to endure that. I'm aware of the behavior of Ms. Coliins and her stooge from several complaints in a couple of departments. Unfortunately, the editorial department is the only place she spends most of her time." He eyed Charles and smiled. "I can see what the fuss was about."

Charles raised a bewildered eyebrow and Isabel blushed and a dull pink. He looked at his boss quizically, unaware of the obvious meaning of his words of observation. Mr. David looked at Isabel and chuckled. He pointed a thick finger in her direction.

"You'll have to clarify the rumors with your supervisor here but I think she will have a hard time if she changes to a more danerous color." He continued to laugh but only made Isabel flush an even deeper shade of pink. She cleared her throat after a few moments.

"You w-wanted to s-speak with me, Mr. David?"

"Ah yes," he paused and looked at her. "I want you to be the new head of the editorial department." He held up his hand to silence her before she could speak. "I understand your reluctance in leaving the nest because you have a fledgling. However, pit's a double promotion. Not only will you become the new department head but Mr. Grover will follw closely and become the section head supervisor. He will report derectly to you so you two will still be abe to work together."

Isabel gapped at him. 'Me? a DH? How?' she glanced at Charles and he nodded, a light in his eyes. From a distance Isabel caught Janice watching her. Her face was pale and sickly as her eyes were open wide. Isabel wasnt sure what she was looking at but the gaze felt as though it went through her. Isabel nodded to Mr. David and he clasps her hands in approval before shuffling off toward his office.

"Izzy? You okay? You were staring into space for a minute there." The worried tone in Charles' voice bled into his question. Isabel looked up once more to the corner where she had seen her best friend, but she had vanished. Her eyes wandered around the room to search for her but came up empty. She frowned.

"It's nothing."