Subordination Stories

You're sitting in the train, looking out of the window as the landscape passes by, wondering what made you sit here, what made you follow her lure call. You sigh loudly—or lowly? You don't know, really, for the droning coming from your headphones drowns all exterior sounds. Loud enough, at least, to earn a worried look from the girl sitting in the same compartment. You choose to ignore her gaze as you are too absorbed by...

I was brand new, literally days old, when I first realized that this company was going to be much harder work than it looked like when I interviewed. But it was a chance to switch from commerical to military customers and I knew in the long run that was the right thing to do. It was so early in my tenure though and I was already worried about how long I could take it. Two years, I told myself. It has to be long enough to...

I'd been waiting for this moment for several days. When you lead a team of 30 it's often hard to get to speak to one of them alone - especially when there's only two women - and people talk. This morning was busy; the team had a deadline to deliver a part and everyone was focused on their task to make that happen, including Eleanor. I made an excuse to review her paperwork while she worked and waited until no-one was with...