When I get back to my desk, I stand there looking at it.
“What happened?” Veronica whispers. We share a desk. In my haste, I forgot to ask what was going to happen to Veronica. She’s nice. A little ditzy, but pleasant all the same.
I shake my head, then use my finger to indicate a slashing motion across my throat. She gasps. “Am I next?”
My bottom lip wobbles. “I don’t know,” I say softly. “I was in too much shock to ask.”
Just then, the intercom buzzes, and Veronica jumps in fright.
“Veronica? Could you come to my office?” Mrs. Ruins says loud and clear.
My eyes go wide. No way. Veronica was technically hired after me, but she doesn’t deserve this. Who’s going to run reception? Do they think it runs itself?
Clearly, we’re not at the top of the food chain, that much is clear.
“Oh, no,” Veronica mouths. “Shit!”
I lean down, pressing my hands to her shoulders. “I know it’s hard, but whatever you do, don’t crack in there. Don’t give them the satisfaction. I’ll wait for you downstairs, okay? We can hand our passes in together and leave this stinking shithole with our heads held high.”
She nods. “O-okay. Wait, do you think it’ll come to that? Who’s going to answer the phones?”
I shrug. “I hope not, but that isn’t our problem right now. I don’t see why you’d be staying and not me, they start higher and work their way down. Besides, I taught you everything… there’s no way that…. that…” I trail off.Oh. I also know Veronica’s pay grade is less than mine, but that doesn’t mean anything.
They wouldn’t. They wouldn’t amalgamate my job and her job into one, would they?
She winces. “I knew I should’ve called in sick today!” she whines.
“Just keep your head up, and your spine straight,” I tell her. “Nobody is better than us just because they wear a suit, remember that.”
She stands, running her trembling hands down her skirt to straighten it out. “I’ll text you after,” she says, taking off the same way I just came. “I’m going to need your support to get through this, Sadie. I’ve never been fired before.”
“You’ve got me, I promise.” I salute her. “Over and out, just remember, don’t let Ruins smell your fear.” Okay, a tad dramatic, but she’s young. I feel bad for her.
She’ll take it hard.
We’ve had a good working relationship this past year. It’ll be sad for her to hear the dreaded words and realize the company doesn’t give two hoots about their lowlife employees, but that’s just how these conglomerates are. They’re spineless.
I head to the break room to grab my bag and find a box to pack my things into. I don’t care what they say; that stapler is coming with me, and my bobbing cat head. It was a present from Bailey. Screw it, I’m taking all of the colored paper clips too.
Half an hour later, I’m taking the descending elevator, a lump in my throat as I contemplate what’s next. I can’t even bear to think about it.
Just to screw with them, I took my message board with me too. It’s tucked safely under my arm. I paid for it, it’s coming home with me. The coding system I reinvented? Yep, at the bottom of my bag. Good luck finding anything without the colored grid I made. I really am that petty.
I sigh when the elevator opens. Handing my security badge over, I take one long, last look around the place I’ve called home for two years for the last time.
I step out onto the chilly early November morning, barely having time to pull my coat around me when a cab flies past, spraying water all over me. I gasp, the freezing, murky water drenching me. Sign number four, or is it five?
My phone dings as I flip my wet bangs out of my eyes and read the text. My eyes widen. What in the world?
Veronica
Hey Sadie. Guess what? I’m not fired! I got a promotion!
I steel my jaw, glad I stole the cookie tin from the break room while I was at it.
Those bastards promoted her above me?
I drag my feet up the sidewalk. I can’t even catch the bus; I need to save every dollar I can because I’m not only jobless, but probably homeless too!
