Author: Jerry J. K. Rogers
Category: Thriller
Go to read content：https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/jerry-j-k-rogers/page,16,23159-the-fallen-and-the-elect.html
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For the remainder of the day, forgetting the circumstances leading up to the promotion, Alder was giddy from excitement and confident he could do the job after talking with Gary. But he wasn't sure if he could contain his nonverbal signals. Although Sherry asked directly, the others only speculated why Gary Applethorpe had gone in to see Alder and then invited Alder back to his office. Many thought it could be that Stephen wasn’t coming back to work. Others were thinking maybe some transitory changes in the reporting structure for supervisors. Alder was amazed that the usually stunningly accurate “grapevine” was wrong in this situation. Many in the company knew there would be an immediate need to fill the recent vacancies. For his new position, none foresaw the selection of Alder. Most of the accountants, who worked for him, or their peers, thought Alder had pinnacled to his full potential. He was an excellent accountant but only a mediocre manager.
As the end of the workday was upon him, Alder wished he could finally hurry home to tell his wife the news. No official announcement had made its way yet from the executive offices; maybe it would take a couple of days. Nevertheless, he began to flirt with the idea that the executive board had reconsidered the offer of the position. Alder thought that Maria was mildly obsessive-compulsive and, after recent events, highly emotional. Mentioning it to his wife and having to recant his news later would only add to her short temper and recent mood swings, which Alder attributed to the stress of change. The co-workers who were gone had become more than simple family acquaintances; they had come over for dinner or family game night or all gone out for drinks from time to time to get away from their kids. They wouldn't be coming over anymore. Alder wasn't sure she could effectively cope with the loss of new friends. In reality, it was his drinking that had frustrated her more.
Gary stuck his head in Alder's office. “You know what, let's go for a drink. It’ll be a good chance to meet up with a couple of your peers from other departments we’re going to promote.”
Alder shut down his computer, pulled his chip-encoded common access card from its slot, and neatly stacked the papers on his desk. He didn't need convincing; he was ready to go.