Effie offered Irving Butler a polite smile and said, "Don''t worry, Mr. Butler. We''re all working for the good of thepany. I promise I''ll do my best."


    "Go on, then," Mr. Butler waved her off impatiently, barely concealing his irritation. His mind was already racing for ways to make things difficult for Effie-he wouldn''t let her off the hook that easily.


    As soon as Effie stepped out of his office, Shirley hurried over, her curiosity barely contained. “Effie, what did Mr. Butler want with you?"


    Effie replied, "Oh, nothing much... He just reassigned the project to me as the lead, and formed a special task team. I''m heading it."


    "Wow!" Shirley blurted out, her voice shooting up in excitement before she could catch herself.


    Several heads turned their way, drawn by the outburst.


    Realizing she''d attracted attention, Shirley quickly mped a hand over her mouth, offering an embarrassed smile before leaning in to speak quietly with Effie again.


    From across the room, Nelly let out a cold snicker. "Look at her, practically bursting to let everyone know how shended that project."


    The office was never short on gossip, and with Nelly''s words hanging in the air, a few colleagues perked up like cats catching the scent of a secret. They clustered closer, eager for the inside scoop.


    "Nelly, spill it—what''s the real story?" someone coaxed.


    Nelly had deliberately spoken just loud enough for others to overhear, clearly waiting for this moment. But she feigned reluctance. "It''s not really our ce to talk about other people''s business," she demurred.


    "Oh,e on, Nelly!" another chimed in. "She''s been walking all over youtely. Everyone can see it. Why cover for her?"


    "Exactly! I don''t see why you let her get away with it. If you won''t say it, I will!"


    These two were Nelly''s usual sidekicks—the kind who orbited her, always eager to curry favor. Nelly''s friendship with Irving Butler, the department manager, often meant the cushiest assignmentsnded in theirps, so it was no surprise they jumped to her defense.


    "Ma, let''s just drop it," Nelly said, putting on her best troubled expression.


    "No way, I''m saying it," Ma insisted. "If Mr. Butler gets mad, he can take it up with me. It''s got nothing to do with you, Nelly."


    Nelly sighed, making a show of stepping away, but it was clear she was giving Ma the go-ahead.


    Everyone''s attention now shifted to Ma, anticipation thick in the air.


    After ncing at Nelly, who had retreated just far enough to appear uninvolved, Ma began, "Yesterday, Mr. Butler and Nelly went to negotiate a partnership with The Hoffman Group. You all know-those two are the department''s veterans, the real heavy hitters."


    "But when Mr. Hoffman saw Effie wasn''t there, he exploded. He said if Effie wasn''t running the negotiations, the deal was off."


    "Think about it—Effie''s just a neer. There''s no way she matches up to Mr. Butler and Nelly. They tried everything, but Hoffman wouldn''t budge an inch."


    "So why do you suppose Mr. Hoffman insists on Effie? Makes you wonder, doesn''t it?"


    Ma didn''te right out and say it, but the implication was obvious. The crowd exchanged knowing looks-they got the gist.


    "I never pegged Effie for that kind of person," someone muttered.


    "People will do anything to get ahead. If I had her assets, maybe I''d try seducing a client, too," another snickered.


    "Oh please, as if any boss would go for your baby bump," someone teased, andughter rippled through the group.


    Though the gossip was whispered in corners, the shift in people''s attitudes was obvious whenever they nced Effie''s way.


    Unaware of the rumors swirling around her, Effie gathered her team for the afternoon meeting. She''d scheduled it for two-thirty, but when the time came, only


    she and Shirley were there early. The rest of the group trickled inte, some well past the start time, making no effort to hide their indifference.