Temi went into her three-month review prepared.
She had numbers.
Forty-seven blog posts.
Three hundred and twelve social posts.
Nine client proposals.
Four campaign concepts.
Fifteen briefing notes.
Seven competitor reports.
One hundred and fourteen hours of work outside her original role.
She placed the document in front of Mr. Biodun.
He went through it slowly.
“This is impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“You've covered a lot of ground.”
Temi waited.
“I've rated you Meets Expectations.”
She thought she had misheard him.
“Meets Expectations?”
“You're doing very well for someone three months in.”
Temi looked at the pages between them.
Apparently, all of that was expectation.
“Okay. What about my salary?”
Mr. Biodun's expression changed slightly.
“The company is having a difficult quarter.”
“I'm not asking for an increase.”
“I understand.”
“My offer says 85k. I've been receiving 75.”
“Yes.”
“So when will it be corrected?”
He leaned back. “Let's review it in month six.”
Temi stared at him.
“Month six?”
“I want us to have a clearer picture of the business first.”
Hartfield came immediately to mind.
Then the other accounts they had won.
She could have argued.
Instead, she gathered her papers.
“Okay. Thank you.”
In the bathroom, Temi stood in front of the mirror for seven minutes.
She didn't cry.
She almost wished she could.
Her phone buzzed.
Seun.
Sis thank you for the money last week. I don settle the books.
Temi read it and locked her phone.
When she returned to her desk, she opened draft_something.docx.
For the first time in three weeks, she started writing.