Mr. Graves pinched the bridge of his nose. “Seeing as your mother is one of the firm’s partners, I thought you might just be the first assistant to make it to the two-year mark. But yet again, human resources has failed me. Pack your things and turn your badge into security on your way out. You’re fired.”
Sabrina let out an audible gasp. Her stomach muscles clenched. “You can’t fire me. It was only a single mistake.”
“I can’t?” Mr. Graves’s voice was steel. “Miss Hill, whose name is lettered in gold gilding on the door? The last time I checked, this ismyfirm. When you’re on company time, it’s my time. I expect you to work and not screw around.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “But Mr. Graves, I’ve been loyal to the company for the last five years. I interned for the company all four years I was a student at Baylor. I’ve never takenanyof my allocated vacation days or any sick time. Doesn’t that count for something? I am always one of the first ones into the office and among the last personnel to leave. Not to mention, you don’t even pay me overtime. This is the first mistake I’ve made.”
I’ve hated working for you, but Mom was always going on and on about how getting on your good side opened doors to “exciting future prospects.”
“Excuses, excuses. I pay you a good salary to do your job regardless of the hours you work.” He tapped his computer mouse to bring the screen to life. “Leave the door open on your way out.” Mr. Graves signaled for her to leave.
Dismissed as if I were no better than a wad of gum stuck to the bottom of his two-thousand-dollar custom Italian leather shoes. I can’t believe it. He didn’t even bother to ask me what happened.
Beneath her skin, anger simmered. There were many words she wished to yell out to the incredibly rude Mr. Graves, but it would do little to help her cause. He was probably already sending a message to HR, asking them to send up a temporary assistant.
She muttered under her breath, avoiding the urge to slam the door shut. All outside chatter amongst the paralegals stopped as she marched to the supply room to find a box for the knickknacks and fake plants adorning her desk.
Let them speak about me. I don’t care anymore. If I don’t have a boss who can treat me as a human, why am I even working here? I’ve hated it here since the moment I finished my intern orientation.
Discreetly, the paralegal whose desk was across from Sabrina’s pulled out a notebook and scanned through a list of names and dates.
After all this, I wonder who won the office betting pool about how long I would last.
* * *
For the last hour since leaving the office, Sabrina’s head had rested against the hard leather of her steering wheel.
A voicemail from her mother played aloud. “.?.?.?Any idea how humiliated I am to have to hear straight from Mr. Graves that you were fired? I am so ashamed of you right now. Why can’t you aspire to be more like your sister?.?.?.”
Sabrina tuned out the remainder of her mother’s rant.
Maggie will forever be the perfect daughter. The one who earned straight As and a full-ride academic scholarship to college for structural engineering. She’s the one who followed in Dad’s footsteps and is working at one of the most prestigious engineering firms in Dallas.
I may have earned my business degree from Baylor and earned an internship at Graves and Associates all on my own, but nothing I do ever compares to what Maggie has been able to accomplish. I’m just the average child.
Sabrina’s mother, Sarah Hill, was a close friend of Mr. Graves. As Sabrina was well-aware, this incident wasn’t likely to blow over anytime soon. She could picture her mother turning into a dragon and sending out shooting flames in her direction.
Even if Mom were willing to listen to my side of the story, she has never understood me.
Sarah Hill cared more about maintaining the image of having a “perfect” family, home, and job. A stray tear ran down her cheek. The rain began to come down in droves, pounding against her car’s windshield. Her chest grew tight.
I’ve spent all my time working here because it’s what Mom wanted for me. All I did was work, work, work. And now, that’s been taken from me. I have nothing. Where do I go from here?
Sabrina reached for the box of issues she kept in the center console of her car. After blowing her nose and drying her eyes, she started the car’s engine. The time flashed on the radio clock—eleven thirty a.m. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d had an afternoon free. Her lunch breaks had always been dedicated to catching up on errands for Mr. Graves.
Buckling her seat belt, Sabrina changed gears, exited the parking lot, and turned onto the main street. The rhythm of the windshield wipers, the soft lull of the radio, and hum of the engine relaxed her.
I don’t want to go home yet. I need a distraction. But where to go?
In a daze, she soon found herself pulling into the valet booth at the NorthPark Center mall.
A man in a yellow rain jacket tapped on her window. She jumped and lowered her window. “Hi, ma’am. Here is your claim ticket for the car. If you wouldn’t mind leaving your keys in the ignition, that would help me out.”
Sabrina nodded, shoved the cardboard ticket into the pocket of her Kate Spade tote, and slid out of her gray SUV. She stood still, staring at the brightly lit neon signs through the sheets of rain.
“Uh?.?.?. okay.” The valet scratched his chin. “Have a good shopping trip.” He opened the driver’s side door and slowly drove away.
Two
