Chapter 3Dad Is My Sugar Daddy

Despite my survival, a company-wide consensus was quickly reached: I was an irredeemable idiot.

But I was a cheerful idiot who never got angry and was surprisingly generous.

Sarah, the HR manager, called me in to discuss making my position permanent, gently suggesting I should try to keep a lower profile for a while.

I didn't understand, so I cheerfully handed her my time-off request form to sign.

"Gigi, this reason..." Sarah's eye started to twitch as she read the form. "'To see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour'?"

She looked up, her expression strained. "This is a cover for a 'family emergency,' right? Is someone sick? You? Your parents?"

I was completely baffled.

"Nope! Everyone's great. My dad had three servings of lasagna last night."

Sarah looked like she was about to have an aneurysm. "Fine," she snapped, signing the form with a flourish. "Take the time off. Let's see how you're going to get confirmed after this."

I was confirmed.

When I came back, I brought a small gift for everyone.

But the real kicker was the video I played from my phone.

On the screen, Taylor Swift herself was holding a microphone, smiling into the camera. "I hear Gigi's coworkers have been working really hard," she said. "This one's for you guys. You're doing amazing, sweetie!"

The office erupted.

"OH MY GOD! I've loved her for more than ten years! SHE KNOWS MY NAME EXISTS IN THE UNIVERSE!"

"Holy crap, Gigi! You're the real deal!"

"This is insane! The sweet girl was actually thinking of us!"

And just like that, against all odds, I thrived.

I'd give colleagues rides home in my "grocery-getter," buy hot water bottles for the women on their periods, and even babysit for them when they had to work late.

With all these redeeming qualities, my "stupidity" was rebranded in their eyes as "endearingly earnest."