Reading: "Rituals of the Antithetical" from RITUALS OF THE ANTITHETICAL (A.Glass 2023) *Final reading from my 2023 book Rituals of the Antithetical in the foreseeable future. I have a new book coming out in 2024. For all readings, from all my books, please refer to link in post*

 

“Markets fell, taking all indices lower today, lead by the NASDAQ when Apple reported that it would be pushing back the development of what would be known as the Smartphone, which has been said will replace the Pager that we’ve all been using over the years. After the Taiwan and China war of Nineteen Ninety Eight. When China, through a military miscalculation, detonated a Nuclear warhead over Taipei. Destroying the advanced chip making industry overnight, causing the price of computer chips to skyrocket and a massive chip shortage ensured decades later. IBM stock was also down over Ten Percent over the last week, due to their ‘Summit’ supercomputer requirement, to have more input power to compete with NVIDIA’s ‘Selene’ system. As the IBM and NVIDIA supercomputers are still trying to decipher the Alien message that was received in Nineteen Ninety Seven…”
Suddenly an internal email is received to Diarmid’s employee portal. She reaches forward with her finger and taps the icon on her monitor opening up the email.

    “Dear Aria,

    My name is Abigail MacLeish, I am the new Talent Acquisition  lead at Tanning, Helas &        Lancaster. Would you be able to see me shortly.  It is in regards to your employment        application for your current  role.  I would like to discuss  some issues with you.

  Kindly reply to this email and  advise if you can attend my  office today.

    

    Regards,

    Abigail MacLeish

    Lead Talent Acquisition.

    Tanning, Helas & Lancaster”

Diarmid feels her heart rate elevate slightly. Responding to the email, she types back her response that she can see the woman shortly. Standing, lifting a small mirror out of her hand bag strung against the back of the chair. Checking her makeup and hair. Satisfied with her appearance, Diarmid places the mirror back into her bag. Turning around, she faces the clear blue sky again. She then makes her way to were the Lead Talent Acquisition office is located on the opposite side on the same level of Diarmid’s office.
“Please come in Aria and have a seat...” Abigail says sitting at her desk, without standing she points to the seat opposite her, as Diarmid acknowledges with a smile, entering the office. She sits down looking at the woman across from her. Opening up a paper file, placing her reading glasses on.
“...As you maybe aware, I have replaced Jacky Kremi, and the firm is in the process of restructuring the Talent Acquisition department. This maybe seem slightly impromptu, but I have been advised by the firm’s management committee to look at some of the staff that were appointed in the last Six months…” Leaning back into her chair, removing her spectacles. She places them down onto the paper file in front of her. “...I have looked over your experience and references, not only do I think that they are not legitimate, I also believe that you do not possess the skills for the position that you originally applied for.”
Diarmid, as she felt prior to the meeting, heart rate begins to increase. Not out of nervousness, but rage. “What are you talking about?” She replies, raising her voice.
“Your original cover letter…” Abigail points to her monitor, tapping the screen bringing up Diarmid’s original cover letter. “...You stated that you had worked in communications at BNP Paribas. But...”
“I can’t see the letter?...” Diarmid snaps back, her expression angry. In a calm manner, yet showing signs of nervousness, Abigail turns the monitor around so that Diarmid can see her original cover letter for the job application at Tanning, Helas & Lancaster. “Ok, stop here…” Diarmid taps her right index finger down onto Abigail’s desk. “...What are you doing? Are you insinuating something here? Why are you dredging out my original cover letter. This is ridicules!”
“Aria, I need you to be calm. I am not accusing you…”
“Yes you are! I know what you are trying to do...It’s…”
Abigail sits back into her chair looking at Aria, aware that she is now showing anger towards her. Allowing Aria to continue her tirade. “...very unprofessional.”
“What is?...” Abigail asks, lowering her voice in an attempt to assert a passive demeanor towards Diarmid. Aware that she had triggered Diarmid’s aggressive response, Diarmid is also aware of Abigail’s actions, she looks down at her own pager trying to bring up an email from BNP Paribas early in the year before she applied for the job at the legal firm. Diarmid ignores Abigail’s response.
“...Aria!…” Abigail now raising her voice, as Diarmid begins to ignore the woman sitting across from her.
“Yeah,” Diarmid replies, looking up at the woman in a dismissive way.
“I just want to clarify how the cover letter with your prior work experience at BNP Paribas and your resume relate to each other,” Abigail says, her tone returning to its calmer approach.
“You’re still not making sense to me. So, you’re saying to me that my original cover letter doesn’t show proof that I had worked at BNP Paribas?”
Switching from looking at her monitor and Diarmid’s file in front of her, Abigail returns her gaze to Diarmid. “Upon embarking of this review in relation to your employment with this firm, we cannot see that there were any references provided, nor any attempt by my previous colleague to verify not only prior employment history, but whether the cover letter, resume and application warranted a full time position at this firm.”
Diarmid quickly stands. “This is, as I said not only extremely unprofessional, but very petty, that after Six months of working at this firm. To have this internal investigation of my original application. And I don’t know what you are trying to achieve with this and why you are accusing me of misleading information. I’m going to complain.”
“You can complain if you like Aria, all I am asking is clarification. That’s all,” Abigail replies, as she remains sitting.
“I know why you are doing this. The economy is shot and you are looking to lay off workers at this firm.” Diarmid studies the woman sitting, her eyes narrow as she looks at the small faded finger tattoos on her right and left index fingers.
Closing the file, Abigail looks up at Diarmid. “If you say so.”
“Whatever, I can’t be bothered with this.” Diarmid quickly leaves the woman’s office.
Returning back to her own office, she gathers up all her personal items, lifting her tote bag. Quickly making her way to the foyer, in a hurried and determined manner she exits the firm walking towards the elevators. The lift doors open, she steps into the elevator, tapping with her left index finger the ground floor button. The lift descends.

___

Reading:  "Rituals of the Antithetical" from RITUALS OF THE ANTITHETICAL (A.Glass 2023)

All readings from all my books to date:  https:chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/search/label/A.Glass%20author