Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista

employers’ office was nothing short of laughable. And Jake had not only helped, he’d actually managed to make the weekend fun.
    It did look better, infinitely better, but I was still terrified. After all, I had suggested a makeover to Rupert and he had specifically vetoed it.
    ‘I’m not going to get any sleep tonight,’ I said.
    ‘You will if we get you pissed enough,’ Jake replied, and we all repaired to the pub.

18
     
    Cassie Cavanagh may have a future in interior design
    I wasn’t sure whether I should go into work early, so that I could be there to start explaining as soon as they all turned up, or whether I should turn up late – give them all the time to soak in their new surroundings, to process the change, to let off some steam if needs be. I wasn’t just worried about Rupert and Olly. I was worried about the other staff members, too. After all, they barely knew me, I’d only just turned up, and here I was reorganising everything, going through all their desks, removing their things and placing those things in new desks. I wondered whether that was a huge invasion of privacy. I suspected that it probably was.
    In the end, I decided that I would go in a little late. I dawdled on the way, stopping at the Deli Delivery place across the road from the office for a cup of coffee (£1.50 as opposed to £2.35 at Starbucks – and they remember my name).
    ‘Morning, Cassie,’ Andrei, the cheerful Russian behind the counter greeted me. ‘Usual?’ As Andrei made my latte I checked my phone. I already had three text messages, though all from my accomplices.
    How pleased/pissed off are they? Ali asked.
    Fingers crossed, Cass. Sure they’ll love it , Jude said.
    Good luck, gorgeous. If they don’t appreciate you, tell them to stick it , was Jake’s advice. I tended to agree with him. I’d done my best, with the good of the company uppermost in my thoughts and if they didn’t like it, sod them. All the same, it might be an idea to sweeten them up a bit, too.
    ‘Actually, Andrei,’ I said, ‘could you do seven lattes? And I’ll take some of those pastries, too.’
    Laden with beverages and baked goods, I made my way slowly up the stairs, my heart thumping in my chest, my hands starting to shake. I pushed the door open. They were all there, all six of them, standing in the main office, looking around, expressions of bewilderment on their faces.
    ‘Has someone got a fairy godmother?’ Melanie was asking.
    Fabio was clapping Olly on the back.
    ‘What a great surprise!’ he was saying. ‘Eees so much better than before.’
    Rupert and Olly were regarding each other in utter confusion. I coughed to attract attention to my presence and put the tray of coffees and bag of pastries down on the nearest desk, the one I had allocated to myself. Everyone turned to look at me.
    ‘Morning!’ I said cheerfully. ‘Would anyone like coffee?’
    No one said anything for a minute. Then Aidan came across to me.
    ‘Don’t mind if I do,’ he said, grabbing a latte and a pain au chocolat. The others began to converge around the table.
    ‘Hang on, hang on a minute,’ Rupert said. ‘This is your doing, I take it?’
    ‘That’s right,’ I said, trying to sound as confident as possible, ‘I thought—’
    ‘In my office,’ he said coldly. ‘Now.’
    Rupert sat down at his new desk. Olly followed us into the office and closed the door behind us.
    ‘This is not going to work out, I’m afraid,’ Rupert said. I tried to say something but he held up his hand, silencing me. ‘I understand why you did this – it all looks very good – but I explicitly told you to leave the presentation issue. You cannot simply take matters into your own hands like that.’ His voice was low, but his face was turning from its usual mahogany to an angry puce. ‘Leaving aside the issue of you going through everyone’s desks to transfer their personal things, you simply disobeyed me. And you’ve been here for two weeks! I’m sorry. Take your things now, and be on your way.’
    I couldn’t say that I wasn’t prepared for that, because I had been. I had hoped that he would look past the fact that I’d done the complete opposite of what he’d asked me to do and just appreciate the goodwork that I’d done, but I knew that there was a risk I’d get the sack. I’d gambled and lost. But even though I had known the risks, this still felt like a punch in the gut. I’d tried so hard. It just felt unfair. I wasn’t simply