Chapter 9

From that point on, work stopped feeling like a challenge and started feeling like a beatdown.

In her next 1:1, Rachel didn’t waste time.

“You need to be doing more,” she said.

Risa nodded, because that seemed to be the correct response to everything now.

“You’re not really doing two people’s jobs,” Rachel continued. “Evelyn and Sophia both handle more than you.”

Risa kept her face neutral.

“Well,” Rachel added, “they each have ten distributors. You only have four.”

Risa smiled politely.

Inside her head, a voice replied, Yes. Just four. Plus BOL Tracker. Plus Sales File. Plus Analytics. Plus transcoding. Plus Power BI. Plus being alive.

She couldn’t argue with the numbers. Evelyn and Sophia did do more in Customer Service. They were machines. Overworked, underappreciated machines, but still.

And even when Risa helped out—jumping in here, covering there—they still carried heavier loads.

So she nodded. “I understand.”

That week, Sophia leaned over and whispered, “Drinks at lunch?”

Risa blinked. “Drinks?”

“Margaritas,” Sophia clarified. “Evelyn’s coming.”

Risa didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

They snuck out like teenagers, giggling slightly, and found a place nearby that served aggressively large margaritas.

After the first sip, Sophia sighed. “Okay. How are you really doing?”

Risa paused. Then said quietly, “I’m tired.”

Sophia nodded like this was the least surprising thing she’d ever heard.

“I feel closer to you two than anyone else here,” Risa admitted.

Evelyn smiled sadly. “That’s because we’re all drowning.”

Sophia leaned forward. “Can I rant?”

“Please,” Risa said.

Sophia explained what had happened.

The previous Customer Service manager had trained her to be the next manager. This wasn’t a secret. It was discussed with Brad. Everyone knew.

Then the manager left.

“And suddenly,” Sophia said, “Brad claimed he didn’t know about any of it.”

Risa frowned. “That’s awful.”

“And then Rachel got promoted,” Sophia added. “Even though she’s been here less time.”

Risa froze. “Wait.”

Sophia lowered her voice. “She’s the CEO’s niece.”

Oh.

Oh.

“Well,” Risa thought, that explains… so much.

“So basically,” Sophia said, “everyone in Analytics except you is a nepo baby.”

Risa laughed weakly into her margarita.

No wonder all the work landed on her.

Evelyn nodded. “They overwork everyone here. And even if you do well, they’ll tell you it’s not enough.”

Risa swallowed. “That’s… exactly what’s happening.”

They all sat there for a moment.

“I’m probably leaving at some point,” Sophia said quietly.

Risa believed her.

“You’d make a great manager,” Risa said. “You already are one.”

Sophia smiled sadly. “Thanks.”

Back at the office, reality resumed.

Risa dove back into the Promo Summary, untangling the latest scope creep. It took time, but she figured it out. She showed Brad.

“Looks good,” Brad said. “Now can you correct all the formulas in the Sales File?”

Sure.

“And remember to do a weekly export of the report.”

Of course.

The next day, during an Analytics call, Rachel and Fred started talking about SCs.

Risa listened carefully.

She had no idea what an SC was.

But she said nothing. She had learned that silence was safer.

Later, Brad asked casually, “Do you know what an SC is?”

Risa swallowed. “No—I don’t think I’ve heard it used before.”

Rachel’s head snapped up.

“Why don’t you know what an SC is?” she asked sharply. “It’s a basic industry term.”

Risa felt her stomach drop.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I haven’t encountered it yet.”

No one explained it.

The criticism just… hung there.

Back at her desk, Risa opened Google.

What is SC sales distributors analytics

Nothing helpful.

She searched internal files. Nothing.

She asked Evelyn and Sophia.

“No idea,” Sophia said. “Sounds like Analytics.”

Finally, Risa leaned over to Fred.

“Hey,” she asked quietly, “what does SC stand for?”

Fred blinked. “Sales Consultant.”

Risa nodded. “Oh.”

She returned to her desk.

Another lesson learned.

Never assume someone will explain anything.

Especially when they expect you to already know.