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Today was going to be the day when it all paid off. All the hours of unpaid overtime, of attending meetings that made him want to behave like one of those tycoon tyrants on TV, ranting and raving at the stupidity of everyone around him. But Blake had bided his time, and kept his opinions close to his chest. He’d listened and nodded, adopting what he thought of as his caring facial expression which he could now wear like a mask as his mind made connections and worked out what information would be useful to him, and what could be discarded.

It had taken him years to work out how to play the game. And it was a game of sorts. When he’d first started out in his career, he’d been naive enough to think that he’d be able to progress up the glittering corporate ladder through hard work and competence. But it had taken him longer than he liked to admit to realise that these factors were barely considered at the higher levels. It was all about who you knew, or what favours you’d given, and what you could ask for in return.

When he thought back on how he’d handled himself in his early performance reviews, he would cringe at how he could have sat there with his mouth shut whilst other people – his boss or some other person on the make – had taken credit for his ideas and initiatives. He knew better now, and had continued to evolve his approach to ensure that his name was intrinsically linked with the projects that he’d worked so hard on. He’d learned from self-promoters, even if it wasn’t something that came easily to him. Blake had decided that it was necessary to emulate the people that he saw in roles that he knew that he could do, even if it involved copying aspects of their behaviour which his younger self would have objected to on principle. Principles didn’t get you the job you always dreamed of, and that was now, finally, within reach.

The meeting was scheduled for 10.30 am which he knew was a good sign. They always let the successful applicant know first, and he’d been able to check out the running sheet for the day’s meetings. His name was on the top of the list, just like he knew it would be. It was his time.

Blake was two minutes early, demonstrating punctuality but also that his time was important. When he took his seat across the desk from two of the most powerful people in the company, a slow smile of anticipation tugged at his lips. He nodded his thanks as the offer was made, just as he’d known it would be. Then he watched their faces as he politely but comprehensively declined the offer. He was nearly as surprised as they were. It turned out his principles meant more to Blake than he’d realised.

This piece was written to a prompt on the Writer’s Digest website. I Have to Say No: someone is about to turn down an offer for their dream job.

Photo: detail from street art spotted in Newcastle, NSW