Chapter 16: Two Can Play at This Game

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Ignoring Ali in the office has actually not been as hard as you would think. Julia gave me some tips because several of her finance co-workers have sharp elbows, and she is constantly having to watch her back. Not exactly a great way to live, but it is what it is. Ali and I are in our stand-off phase.

Last week, during our meeting with Helen, the head of HR, Ali and I both put on a show. Ali was adamant she had nothing to do with changing my title or the business cards, and Helen chalked it up to a clerical error at the printer’s. I would bet my life that La Mode’s printer didn’t even print them at all, but there was no use in fighting. Helen ended the meeting lecturing us on how to work together, how we are so early in our careers and have so much to learn, blah, blah, blah. She was slightly condescending, but I decided to let that go. Getting out of her office as quickly as possible seemed like one thing we silently agreed on.

The good news, as it turns out, is we don’t actually need to speak to do our jobs. Emily is keeping me up to speed on the runthroughs and whatever looks Celine wants. I don’t need Ali for anything, so I am trying to just stay away from her.

In other news, New York publishing my quote turned out to be somewhat of a blessing. The story helped corroborate my defense. Since my title was printed as Assistant Accessories Editor in the interview, Emily told me that she heard from Matthew that Poppy now believes I am telling the truth about “Editors’ Picks.” That said, she definitely was irritated that I was quoted at all. I said I didn’t know that we weren’t allowed to speak to the press, considering I work with PR people all day long. And honestly, that’s mostly the truth.

My phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day. PR people are hunting down their accessories like they’re on a scavenger hunt with a deadline. I’m about to sneak off to the bathroom for a moment of peace when it rings again.

“This is Samantha,” I answer, a little breathless.

“Hello, Samantha. This is Deirdre from the human resources department at Condé Nast.” Her voice is stiff and clipped, like my third-grade teacher the day I spilled apple juice on her suede loafers.