As if an explosion has gone off, Andy erupts. “Because she deserved the promotion! Turner actually cares about her clients. She doesn’t look at them like a paycheck. They’re real people in her eyes, which is way more than I can say about you. She’s the first one here in the morning and is the last to leave. She brings those damn donuts you can’t live without every Friday. She doesyourjob for a fraction of the pay. She has moreclients than any junior agent andstillchases other athletes. There are multiple reasons you should have submitted her letter of intent! And whether you want to admit it or not, you know she would’ve gotten it if you had.”
“C’mon Andy.” The cocky edge in Trevor’s voice crumbles as his former minion turns on him. “I did what I thought was best. I knew she wasn’t fit for the job long before she slept with the golden boy.”
“At least she did the honorable thing! She stepped back the moment things got serious and gave him someone who could work with him professionally. But you? How many clients have you slept with and continue to manage? I remember you bragging about, what? Five?”
He what?
“So?” Trevor’s shaky laugh is defeated. “Would you really want someone like her to be your boss?”
“Yes! I’d love for her to be my boss! Jesus, Trevor! Everything you’re saying is discrimination!”
I don’t even realize that I pushed open the door and stepped into the office until their eyes swing over to me and their jaws drop in horror.
“You never submitted my letter of intent.”
Not a question. It’s a statement, and he knows at that moment that I heard everything. I see it in the way his perfectly trained smile cracks.
Trevor straightens. “I never said that.”
We both look at Andy, and I hope his boldness will continue for a little while longer. That our friendship means something to him too.
My chest releases when he moves to stand beside me and glares at Trevor. “Yes you did, Trevor. It’s time to stop lying.” When Andy meets my eye, his face crumples. “I’m so sorry, Turner.”
“Don’t be,” I whisper. “I heard everything. Thank you for standing up for me.” I turn back to Trevor, who is shaking in his expensive dress shoes. “All I wanted was to work at Permian under some of the bestagents, and one of them was you, but you’ve spent every single day reminding me that I don’t belong here. From the moment I walked in, you made it your mission to not give me a chance.”
Trevor shakes his head, but I don’t let him speak.
“I have given so much to you and Permian to be seen as equal, but I’m starting to realize I will never win in a system that is against me.” As I look down, my eyes catch my badge. Smiley Shay who took this photo on the first day of her internship had no idea this is where we’d end up. “I’m going to be a great agent, but I’m sure it won’t be at Permian.”
I should feel scared, but as the words slip out of my mouth, I can’t help but feel relieved.
“I quit.”
“You did what?” Holly shrieks.
I asked myself that question a million times on the drive home.
I have no job.
No income.
No references who can help me get another job.
No idea what I’m doing next.
Turning down the volume on my phone, I curl myself into a ball by the front door and force some false bravado into my voice for my former client. I couldn’t even make it to the couch. “I overheard something and decided it was time to leave Permian. For good. It may sound impulsive, but it wasn’t. It was—”
“A long time coming?” Holly sighs. “I agree. It’s about damn time.”
I nearly slam my head against the wall. “What?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. You do know that I know you pretty well, right?” Holly pauses, and I nod, though she can’t see me. “That office drained your bright pink energy that shined so beautifully when I first met you in the Permian bathroom. You never stopped taking care of your clients, but being there dulled you. I hated seeing you work so hard and be treated so poorly.”
If anyone else would’ve said these words to me, I wouldn’t have believed them, but Holly was my first client. Even if I haven’t broken our professional boundaries to vent about how much I hated working at Permian, I’m not surprised she noticed. We talked daily, our bond like a professional sisterhood.
The tile chills my calves as I stretch my legs out. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“Because you love us. You would’ve put up with just about anything if it meant you got to be our agent. It was an honorable sacrifice, but I secretly hated it for you.”
