The Former Supervisor

The morning air at the company felt different. Or has it always been the same and Naomi, was the different one?

Naomi stepped out of the elevator and onto her floor, heels clicking on the polished tiles. The previous day, an entire company-wide holiday, still felt like a dream. She was no longer just the competent employee with a ghost of a husband; she was a woman deeply in love, her body still humming with the memory of Damon's touch and her mind buzzing with the weight of his confessions.

The world outside the bedroom had seemed so far away but here it was, as real as it could get. Naomi walked strict to her department, an unusual glow on her face as her team members glanced her way.

“Good morning everyone!”

“Oh! Ms Naomi! You're glowing!” Didi offered.

Naomi touched her cheeks, genuinely surprised by her compliments. “You think so?”

“Yes!” Rose chirped in. “You look almost unrecognisable. Ms Namoi! Did your husband….you know?” She cleared her throat.

Naomi's cheeks coloured, is it that obvious or could that be a wild guess on her end?

“Hey! Get your mind out of the gutter!” Paul snapped, shaking his head at Rose in disappointment.

“Oh right! Mr Patrick called yesterday, asking for your whereabouts.” Didi said, suddenly recalling and trying to change the topic.

“Yes. Me too. What happened?” Paul asked.

Naomi went silent. Could this be Damon? When he was trying to find where she was? He went that far? Naomi swallowed, offering a nervous smile.

“Yes. He was able to reach me. It's nothing too serious, don't worry about it..”

“Reallly? I'm so relieved. I thought something happened.” Rose sighed.

“I thought it had something to do with our weekly reports. I was scared!” Paul said, laughing.

“It's nothing. We can get back to work now.” Baomi offered

They nodded and she headed to her office. Seconds later, a knock comes on her door and Didi peeps in.

Naomi had barely settled in but she glanced at the door expectantly. “Yes?”

“The thing is..,” Didi said, her smile faltering a little. She handed Naomi a printout of Tita's file. “Tita is here. She requested to see you first.”

Naomi froze. The name hung in the air, a ghost from her past.

Tita. Her former supervisor. The woman who had made her life a misery with petty tasks and condescending remarks, who had been demoted for her actions.

Naomi had thought she was gone for good. A wave of unease washed over her, but she quickly pushed it down, replacing it with a cool professionalism.

This wasn't the same girl Tita had bullied.

“Okay,” Naomi said, her voice steady. "Send her in."

Didi nodded, a look of sympathy on her face, and vanished to get Tita.

Naomi settled behind her mahogany desk, after hanging her coat on the hanger. She studied the file, Tota had been demoted and it seems she won't be holding an important role per se on the team. She folded her hands on the desk, eyes fixed on the door.

The door opened, and Tita walked in.

The sight was startling. Tita was still Tita; perfectly dressed in a designer pantsuit, her hair in a sleek, severe bob, and her face a mask of indifference.

But something was off. Her posture was stiffer, her smile was a little too tight, and the casual arrogance she used to wear like a second skin was gone.

It had been replaced by a strained formality.

Tita cleared her throat. “Good morning, Ms Naomi,” she said, her voice clipped. The way she said the name was an obvious effort, as if she had to force herself not to be condescending.

“Good morning, Tita,” Naomi responded, her voice calm and even.

She didn't stand up. She didn't offer a handshake. She simply looked at her, meeting her gaze with a quiet authority that clearly unnerved Tita.

Tita shifted her weight, her gaze flickering to the large window. “I assume you’ve been briefed on my new role. I’m here to… to get up to speed with my duties.”

“Yes, I have,” Naomi said. “I’ve reviewed your file. Your responsibilities are now a part of the Project Management team. You will report directly to me.”

Tita’s jaw tightened. “I understand,” she said, the words coming out a little too quickly. She folded her arms, as if to defend herself from an invisible attack.

“I suppose it must be… quite the change for you. To have… so much responsibility.” she said with that smile Naomi knew all too well.

Tita thinks she incompetent, under-qualified for the role. Despite almost losing her job, Tita was still an asshole through and through.

Naomi didn't react. She held her gaze steady. “I find that my new role is exactly what I was prepared for. My responsibilities are not too much, they are just fine and I expect your full commitment and professionalism in your new position.”

Tita's eyes darted away, a flicker of resentment in their depths. She was used to being the one in control, the one who held all the cards. But now, she was in Naomi's office, on Naomi's payroll, and under Naomi's command.

And it grinded her gears. She had tried to find another job but they kept turning her down. The moment they hear her name, she'd be escorted out of the building without any explanation. And it's been this way for all the companies she applied to. She had to return here.

She had no other choice.

“Of course,” Tita said, her voice dripping with insincere politeness. “I am nothing if not a professional. I’m sure you’ve heard.”

She was trying to regain her footing, to remind Naomi of their past, but her words sounded weak and hollow.

“I only care about your work performance from this point on,” Naomi replied, her voice leaving no room for argument. “The past is irrelevant. We will move forward based on results.”

Tita nodded, her eyes now fixed on a spot on the wall behind Naomi’s shoulder. She was trying to project an image of calm professionalism, but her forced posture, the slight tremor in her hands, and the way her voice wavered when she spoke betrayed her.

The situation was agonizingly uncomfortable for her, and Naomi could tell. Good. The sooner she realise that things gave changed arpund here, the better.

She took a moment to review a file on her desk, letting the silence stretch for a few uncomfortable seconds.

Tita shifted her weight again, and Naomi finally looked up.

“I’ll have a full list of your duties and expectations sent to you by the end of the day. For now, you can get settled into your new workspace. I'm sure Didi can lead you to it.”

Tita held back from scoffing, this was unbelievable. This used to be her office and now her space is worth the rest of the team.

Tita's face finally crumpled into a look of raw anger and humiliation.

She didn’t say anything. She simply gave Naomi a long, hard stare. Then, she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, the click of her heels on the marble floor the only sound in the quiet space.

Naomi watched the door close, a long, tired sigh escaping her lips. The silence that followed was a welcome relief. She hadn't gloated. She hadn't said a single cruel word.

Knowing Tita, this would be a difficult ride.