Griniaris.com

CompLady had been a supervisor for 18 years. Her silver hair was as polished as her leadership skills, and she’d weathered every storm with grace. She was a force of nature, a no-nonsense boss who didn’t suffer fools gladly—and didn’t tolerate anyone questioning her power. Her office was adorned with framed awards, certificates, and a neon sign that read “The Queen Reigns Here.”

Then came Maudine.

Maudine was fresh out of business school, and bursting with that confidence only the young seem to possess. She strutted into the office on her first day wearing a blazer, “I’m here to conquer.”

CompLady, sitting in her spaciously, eyed Maudine as she entered the room. A young pup, she thought. Let’s see if she can last a day in the real world.

“CompLady,” Maudine said, extending her hand with a grin. “I’ve read your entire biography. You’re legendary. I hope to learn a lot from you.”

CompLady raised an eyebrow, sizing her up. “Oh, really? So, what’s your plan for the first six months?”

Maudine didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be the disruptor. I’m here to shake things up, take risks, and… you know, innovate.”

CompLady smiled tightly. “I see. Well, good luck with that. Just don’t break anything expensive, and don’t mess with the coffee machine. We’ve had issues with that in the past.”

Maudine’s grin didn’t falter. She was on a mission.

The first few weeks were an escalating game of cat and mouse. Maudine took charge in meetings, suggesting bold new ideas, while ComLady sat back and observed with a faint, bemused smile. CompLady wasn’t threatened—yet—but she had a feeling Zoey was testing her boundaries.

One morning, Maudine breezed into the office with a pitch that could have come from a Silicon Valley startup. “We need to streamline operations, ditch the outdated software, and implement a cutting-edge app that will revolutionize client interactions.”

CompLady steepled her fingers, studying Maudine like a chess piece on a board. “How would you feel about starting the ‘revolution’ by making the coffee machine work again?”

Maudine blinked, thrown off guard, but recovered quickly. “I’ll handle the coffee machine, but just so you know, I’m bringing the future into this company. And I’m not talking about just technology, I’m talking about leadership. It’s time for women like us to step up and lead with unapologetic confidence.”

CompLady leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Ah, I see. So we’re going for the ‘alpha female’ approach, are we?”

Maudine nodded, her eyes sparkling. “Absolutely. It’s about knowing your worth, breaking the glass ceiling, and not apologizing for being amazing.”

CompLady leaned forward, a sly grin forming. “Well, in that case, Maudine… do you know what ‘alpha females’ do when they’re at the top?”

Maudine raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“They make sure their coffee is always perfect. Because an alpha female never has time for bad coffee.”

With that, CompLady pressed a button on her desk. Pita appeared,holding a tray with a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. CompLady took one, sipped it slowly, and set it down.

CompLady leaned back again. “You see, dear, when you’ve been around long enough, you learn the real power moves.”