Chapter 2: Stress
The first week of going back to work was not an easy adjustment for Austin. He'd just managed to start sleeping on a schedule and feeding at relatively regular times when suddenly he had to deal with strangers handling him and giving him bottle that tasted funny and other pups being around him. While he didn't have the cognitive capacity to express it in much aside from whimpers and cries from time to time, he did miss his mother when she was at work. He knew he was safe, and none of the people around him or other pups were mean, but he still missed his mum.
The first week back was similarly tough for Brandy. She'd been gradually increasing her workload as she prepared to return to the office, working on projects from home while taking care of Austin during the last few weeks leading up to her return. Thankfully her team had managed capably in her stead, but getting back at the helm wasn't easy. It all began with an issue with her parking spot.
No one at Brandy's company had assigned parking-not even the department heads or executives-there was separate parking for them, but it was actually further from the main entrance than the general parking structure, so Brandy usually opted to park with all her coworkers in the non-executive spots. Over the years she'd managed to figure out the ideal spot. It wasn't too far from the lift up to her office, it was sheltered from the elements so her car wouldn't get rained on, and it was well lit, so she could find her car when she worked late (not that that would be happening too much anymore).
When she arrived the spot she usually parked in was already filled, as were the two on either side of it. She didn't recognize any of the cars, but it didn't matter, even if she did know whose it was she wasn't petty enough to call someone out on taking a parking space that technically wasn't even hers. So she did another lap of the parking structure and found a spot on the next level. It was a longer walk, but it was a minor inconvenience. She took her bag from her passenger seat and caught the lift up, fielding a few greetings from others who congratulated her on her motherhood and welcomed her back. After the pleasantries she arrived at her floor and went to her office. Her secretary Marc was waiting for her.
Marc was undoubtedly shallow, judgmental, and vain. He easily spent 45 minutes every morning making sure his fur was glossy and that he had his signature swoosh of hair styled just so. The poodle was one of the few who didn't dye his fur-subscribing to the belief that he was 'above that'-so his natural white coat always reflected the lights with its 'saturated follicles'-whatever the hell that meant. But despite his vanity he was an excellent secretary, and always knew the gossip in the office.
"Oh my gosh! Look who's back!" He pecked Brandy on both cheeks. "Girl, you are absolutely glowing! It's that baby magic." He nudged her side.
"Thanks Marc, honestly I'm surprised I'm even standing right now. Austin's finally on a sleep schedule, but last night he refused to go down. I was up to three before he finally crashed. I think he has separation anxiety from me leaving him at daycare."
Marc rolled his eyes, "Just another reason I never want kids."
Brandy ignored the remark as she sat her bag on the counter. "Okay, so dish. I was gone three months. What happened?"
"Well, let's see…" Marc grinned as he explained the office politics of the last three months. After explaining a few scandals he started winding down. "Oh, and that bitch Carla keeps stealing my post-it notes, I swear!"
"Marc, why would she steal post-it notes?"
"Fuck if I know." He shrugged. "Oh, and the big boss wants to see you later today."
Brandy bit her lip, Mr. Schnauzer was the head of marketing and Brandy's boss. Usually the two got along fine, but any time he called a meeting with someone was usually not good. "Did he say why?"
"No, but I hope it isn't what I heard…"
"What did you hear?"
"Well, you know he's planning on retiring at the end of the year, right?"
"Yeah."
"He wants to hire from outside the company. 'Fresh blood' or some bullshit. They're already planning on interviews with other firms. Get this, one of 'em is American!"
Brandy scowled. She was next in line for the promotion and she knew it. After all the years that I've worked here that pompous asshole has another thing coming if he passed me over… "And you think he's going to tell me I don't have the job."
Marc shrugged. "I hope not, because bitch you've put in way more work than anyone else here. That spot is rightfully yours."
***MH***
It was shortly after one when Brandy met with Jacob Schnauzer in his office. His suite was in the floor above Brandy's, where all the other executives were. After greeting his secretary, a golden retriever fresh out of college who seemed to have very little brains and very much of something else, she walked into his office.
"Brandy!" He shuffled a few papers off his desk and stood, shaking her hand.
"Hello Mr. Schnauzer." She accepted and shook.
"Please, take a seat." He motioned to the dark leather chairs in front of his desk. "You're probably wondering why I called this meeting."
"I must admit, I was."
"Well, as you know I'm retiring at the end of the year, and we've been working on finding my successor…" He began, standing to face the window behind him overlooking the Brisbane skyline. He sighed, "…it's been a real journey, finding the right man to fill my shoes."
Brandy was instantly taken aback. "The right man?"
Schnauzer rolled his eyes, "Oh, the right dog, I suppose… This political correctness will be the death of me one of these days." He waved his hand. "In any case, I want to commend you for all your time, and how despite your absence these last few months you've had a stellar record with our company."
Brandy's blood was boiling, "Sir, I took a leave of absence for maternity leave-during which I still worked the last month to make sure my team managed four new ad campaign rollouts."
"Yes, yes… Hope the little one is doing well. What is this, your third?"
"My first, sir." She did her best not to scowl.
"Really? Well, in any case I wish you and your husband the best."
Brandy allowed the creases at the edge of her forced smile to slip slightly, "I'm not married. I haven't been for years."
"Oh. Well, whoever the father is, I wish the best."
"Is there a reason to why you called me, aside from discussing my personal life?" Brandy asked.
"I was getting there. Goodness, I suppose those pregnancy hormones really do take time to subside."
Brandy resisted the urge to lunge over the desk and attempt to strangle her boss.
"I want to introduce you to someone. I have selected my successor, Liam, please come in." Schnauzer turned to reveal a white husky entering from the same doors Brandy had earlier.
Brandy's smile tightened further.
"Hello, I'm Liam Qimmiq." He offered a hand to her. She shook reluctantly.
So you're the American Marc was talking about.
"Well, I hope we can work well together, your portfolio is quite impressive-"He began before Schnauzer placed a paw around his shoulder.
"No need to give her a big head Liam, now come, I need to make sure you're caught up on a few things." He turned to Brandy, "You can see yourself out."
***MH***
"That bastard!" Marc announced, having heard Brandy's tale. "You should totally sue for discrimination! The only reason he didn't hire you is because you're a woman."
Brandy sighed, "I don't know if that's true, and even if it is Liam is qualified." She reluctantly admitted.
"What, you stalked him on Linked In?"
"Maybe…" Brandy admitted, having looked up his information in the elevator on the way down before taking a detour to the coffee machine.
"Well, if nothing else at least he's hot."
"Marc…" Brandy warned.
"What?" Marc said, pulling a please face.
Brandy scoffed, "You know that doesn't work on me."
"Ugh, fine."
"Let's just finish today. I don't know how it could get much worse, but I'm hoping I can get out of here before the universe figures out some way to screw me over again."
***MH***
As it turned out, the universe did have another way to make Brandy's day worse.
"Hello, Brandy Cattle, how can I help you?"
"Ms. Cattle are you the one in charge of the Super Suds Soap ads that launched recently?" A voice asked over the phone.
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm Nancy Labrador; I was the one to contact your firm in the first place for our marketing campaign. It turns out that your ads are attracting magpies. Giving that it's swooping season we have people complaining that every time they're near the signs they're being dive-bombed!"
Brandy groaned internally. "Okay, we can definitely look into that and see if we can negotiate a rate to have them revised."
"A rate to have them revised?"
"Yes, normally to pull and re-launch an advertizing campaign it takes a considerable amount of work. We would need to first determine if the ads are in fact what's causing the issue, and if they are we'd need to see what could be done. Depending on that the cost would vary."
"I would expect the cost would be nothing! This is hurting our company's reputation! We hired you to improve our sales, not ruin us!"
Brandy held her phone away from her ear as she replied. "Mrs. Labrador, while I understand your frustration, the contract you signed states that in the event where ads need to be adjusted, reprinted, or replaced there will be a fee. We can always negotiate that at the time, but those are the terms you agreed to."
"Fine. But I'm never using this firm again! Charging to fix your mistakes! This is unheard of!"
And with that the line was dead and Brandy had a doubled workload for the next two weeks.
***MH***
It was shortly after six when Brandy arrived at Austin's daycare.
"I'm so sorry!" She panted, running through the doors.
The attendant smiled, "No worries Mrs. Cattle. Austin had a good day today, but it's clear he missed you."
"How's that?" Brandy asked, wondering how a three-month-old could possibly show that.
"Well, I don't know if you realized, but he grabbed your scarf this morning when you dropped him off. He fell asleep with it right away and refused to let it go all day."
When Austin was brought out a moment later he was still holding the purple silk scarf Brandy had been wearing that morning. I thought I just forgot it in the car. As soon as he got close to her he immediately opened his eyes and smiled, a happy grin crossing the blue tot's face. He reached out for his mother and latched onto her, his arms grasping as tightly as he could onto the comforting form.
"He really is a little cuddlebug." The attendant noted.
"Yeah…" Brandy smiled, nuzzling her little miracle's head, taking in the smell of the baby shampoo she'd bathed him in mingled with the natural odor of his fur. Well, at least this part of today's looking up.
***Author's Note***
Work and balancing parenting is always a struggle, Brandy's life is no exception. Hopefully you enjoyed this, if you did please feel free to comment and tell me what you think! (And if you didn't, constructive criticism is always appreciated!) I'm working on two other pieces right now, Project New Era with Kodiwolf321 on his page and Society, a sequel to Outbreak on mine. Feel free to check them out! Thanks again for reading!