ONE

Jasmine

The only good thing about this job is that I get a month and a half extended summer unlike the few days you'd get at other photography studios. But that's the perks of Hall & Gen Photo Studios. I'm the head of my division and that's high praise especially given to a woman amongst a roaring see of distasteful men in this company, who give me hell. One specifically, Rowan James. God, I hate this man. I've been working here for the past four years, and he makes it his life mission to be a nuisance in my life. Granted, he's tried to be cordial and friendly at times, but I don't buy it. I don't buy his niceness or even when he dropped flowers on my first day. It's all an act to try and intimidate me but I knew better than to let it work.

None of that even mattered, because in a matter of two days, I'll be having the best summer of my life. Before my mom died, we made a list of all the places she wanted me to travel and I make it my point of duty to make sure I do this for her. Chronic Kidney Disease took her about two years ago and it was tragic to lose someone you loved like no other, but I also knew she was in so much pain and death took that away. I have no doubt that my mother is in a good place, but sometimes, I find myself wishing that she was still here. Her last words remained with me though, 'The world is yours to take and let no one stop you. I love you and one day, you'll see how worthy you are of love. Live a little, Love a lot, Make memories, Travel the world and stay true to yourself. I love you."

Whenever I'm having a bad day, I think of that quote. It's written literally everywhere. I have a tattoo with the writing on my stomach, there's a printed quote hung up in my office and in my living room as well as it's on my phone case. I took every reminder of this that I could get.

"Ms. Morris," Sameer, my assistant said as he entered my office, "Your meeting starts in about a minute and here is the agenda." He handed me the four-paged booklet and I grabbed my meeting necessities; pens, laptop, folder and my pain killers. Rowan James would drive me insane as he does every single time.

He was pissed when I got promoted after just a year of being employed. Promoted to a position that's way higher than his will ever be. And it wasn't a competition, but I found the greatest joy in knowing that whatever a man could do, I could do better. Especially that man. I'll never forget how awfully I was treated because of the errors, that were out of my reach might I add, at the Smith's wedding shoot. It was four years ago, but I'll never forget it.

"Thank you Sameer," I said and smiled at him. "Get the prints for the Johnson photoshoot packaged and organize my schedule of shoots while I'm out," I instructed and he promptly got to it.

Meetings were boring. My mind was too creative to be sitting in a large room with a bunch of men. It's very misogynistic how the men are in high positions and the women tend to be in lower positions, but I guess I got lucky. And it wasn't even luck, I'm just damned good at what I do. Better than most of the men here.

Pushing the door open, the strong smell of coffee beans and big egos slapped me in the face. Coffee was fine, but the ego would be and always will be a huge problem for me. The atmosphere was more tense than normal which meant there was either a change taking place, or a big issue at hand.

"Good morning," I said and took my seat.

"As always you're late," Rowan replied in a snarky tone. Half of the attendants weren't even in the room yet. He fucking pisses me off.

I chuckled. "I see you're still miserable over that failed shoot you did two days ago and the fact you lost the contract to a woman, specifically me." That silenced him and gladly so. I'm not sure why he thinks I'm one of those timid women in staff who he has intimated and can provoke.

The rest of the board members shortly entered, filling the room. I was growing impatient and their lack of respect for time was totally unappealing. I found it astonishing how half of them here had wives. Were these women sane? Anyways, my brain spaced. That's how much I'm repulsed. The only reason the men in this establishment got away with everything, was because they were of the male species and it sickened me.

"With all due respect," I spoke, "Why are we here? We met like four days ago," I pointed out. Everyone was used to my short temper and smart mouth. It's what got me hired and what got my work done effectively. I wasn't for the bullshit, and I told everyone as it is.

Geoffrey, our overall head of divisions, walked in and everyone stood up with the exclusion of myself...and Rowan.

Everyone looked around at us in shock and might I add, they do it every meeting. "Why are we standing?" I confusingly asked.

"Because he's our upper head," Jamie whispered.

"He's not God," I blurted, "Let's get this started please. Some of us have actual jobs to finish for our actual boss," I commented and folded my arms. Label it what you may, but I couldn't stand him. Geoffrey was even worse than Rowan and that says a fucking lot.

He gave everyone the directive to sit, and they looked pathetic as hell. I needed this meeting to be done like right now. I have a suitcase to pack and flight plans to go over with Sarah , my bestest friend in the whole world.

"This meeting was called because the quarterly reports were requested and we're still missing from three departments," he said and glanced at me, Nick and Chung. He must be very mistaken. "Nick, Dixie and Chung, the reports?"

Rowan glanced over to me with a grin on his face and I mouthed the words, "fuck you" to him. He's so annoying. "Geoffrey, check your email throughly. I emailed you a week before reports were due, so you're either being forgetful, you didn't check or you're trying to embarrass me and none of those will work on me. Maybe Mel from HR, but not me," I warned.

He gritted his teeth and pulled out his laptop to search for the email. I took the time to pull up my files and there it was.

To: geoffrey.mullings@hallgenphotostudios.com

From:jasmine.morris@hallgenphotostudios.com

Subject: Section 4, Quarterly Reports.

Attached are the finance reports, workload listing sheet, PowerPoint document and every other requested and necessary information for the reports.

📎- 7 attachments.

I even sent the email as PDF documents so they were uneditable. I don't trust a soul here and I'm not about to get embarrass by anyone. I'm too careful for that.

"Hm," he mumbled, "I see it, you're lucky." Excuse me?

"Actually, you're lucky. I sent my reports and your sexist ass didn't acknowledge it, and you're welcome." I would always stand up for myself no matter the circumstances. He's so fucking rude and my blood boiled for him and not in a good fucking way.

The rest of the stupid meeting was just idle chatter and so I got up and left. I couldn't be fired for this and even if I could, no one ever deserves to be treated or spoken to like that. Especially by a man as sloppy as Geoffrey Mullings.

"Good job Morris," Noah commented as he strolled past my office.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up Rowan."

"Do you hate me so badly that you can't even accept an ounce of sincere praise? Your brain must be a very depressing place." He scoffed.

Stay calm, Jas.

Breathe.

Don't let it get to you.....Fuck it, it's too late.

"Your brain must be a very shallow place if you keep provoking me."

"You're welcome by the way and I did mean it, good job. You put Geoffrey in his place and it's deserved," he stated and leaned against my door jam. This was the only moment in life I didn't hate him so much. He's still on my hate list but that compliment was heartwarming. I'd never show him that it affected me, but it was good to know.

A slight smile crept up on my fave. "Why are you being nice?"

"Not nice, I'm being honest. But excuse me, if I stay here any longer, I'll break out in hives." He fake gagged and started moving from my door. The world is spinning again, he's still an ass.

"I hate you," I whispered to myself aggressively.

"I hate you even more," he responded. I didn't know if he heard nor did I want him to, but a part of me is glad he did.

The day ended and I desperately wanted to go home. This day was tiring to say the least. Sarah rescheduled our hang out for tomorrow instead because she's delivering three babies today. I'm proud of my little doctor. Years of working our asses off really paid off.