May
Swiveling in my chair, I gazed at the pink slip on my desk declaring loud and proud that I’d been fired. I’d expected it after my blowing up on Jackie, laughing in Mark’s face, and generally being a bitch the past week. Hell, I’d even come in an hour late with no call today because it was Monday, and I had spent all weekend making sure Sarah had an alright birthday.
She was upset we couldn’t go to South Carolina, but there were plenty of cool stuff here in Seattle. Oran had even gotten her a gift, which had been sweet of him since they didn’t really know each other. Honestly, it was all a blur because I’d been tipsy the whole time, knowing what was in store for me today.
Everyone in the office knew before I even walked off the elevator that I was being terminated, but the snide comments I expected to receive were quiet. The atmosphere was somber, and I picked up the thin paper slip to read the reasoning for my firing.
There were several, but ‘creates a hostile work environment’ was the first one.
“Of course.” Wagging the slip, I rolled my bottom lip between my teeth to nibble absently. Why was I still sitting here, staring at this stupid, pink paper, when I could be heading back to the hotel to celebrate? I had a replacement job, I had every single cent that I’d gotten from David’s fake bonus, and I was leaving a shitty company for something so much better.
Pushing myself out of my chair, I shouldered my purse and checked inside to make sure I had everything. I didn’t want to come back here, and I checked every drawer. Digging my phone out of my purse on the way through the aisle to the edge of the cube farm, I navigated my way to Oran’s contact to press the little, green phone icon.
“Ah, so it happened, huh?” His smirk shone in his tone, and I hugged the wall as someone breezed past me, not even bothering to look down on me.
“Yeah. I don’t know what happened. Suddenly, it’s like I’m not even worth disdain. It’s kind of insulting, honestly. They put all this effort in there.” I spoke loudly, earning me some fierce glares as I walked toward the elevator, but I only glared back. “Must suck that all anyone can do here is hate on other people.”
“Or, there could be another explanation. That contract your subsidiary won pulled out.” I paused mid-step and Oran chuckled with malicious glee as my brows nearly flew right off my forehead and into space. “They wanted you to head it, and since you won’t, they pulled out. I found out Friday, but I didn’t want to ruin your sister’s birthday and steal her attention.”
“Oh,shit, no way.” That’s why everyone was so gloomy— theyweregoing to be out of a job. A huge, shit-eating grin stretched across my face, and I added a pep to my step when I started walking toward the elevator again. “Wow. That’s awesome. I guess I’m better than I thought!”
“Calm down, there, Kanye.” Giggling at that, I punched the button on the elevator and rocked back on my heels, a huge relief lifting the weights on my shoulders.Or maybe it’s not relief but gratification. Fuck this place.“Technically speaking, you’re still unemployed at the moment. I have all the paperwork ready, you just need to come in and sign it. Then, you have to find employees, and I doubt you’d want to poach anyone.”
“Hell no, it’s okay. I’m going to contact some of my friends from college. I had a roommate that was a financing major, and I made friends in my classes. Honestly, I haven’t had a lot of time since graduating to hang out. I hope they don’t take it personal.” Stepping onto the elevator when the doors slid quietly open, I thumbed the ground floor button with a slight huff. College seemed like it happened so much longer than a year ago. “Especially after all the crap with Sarah, I stopped partying and stuff and never had any time.”
“I have faith that things are looking up for you, May.” Leaning on the wall, I smiled at the fondness in his tone, as if he really believed that. “Are you going to head back to the hotel room and search for apartments with Sarah?”
“Ah, not yet. I have some errands to run, so I’ll be milling around downtown. I also have a list of places that aren’t too out of my way, so I thought I’d go be nosy and look in windows and creep and stuff.” The elevator jostled to a stop, and I glanced up only to freeze like a deer in the headlights when Jackie stepped into the metal box. “Uh, I gotta go.”
Hanging up on Oran before he had a chance to reply, I clutched my phone to my chest as Jackie crossed her arms over her chest and gazed steadily at me. I hadn’t talked to or seen her since I yelled at her, and now that I wasn’t upset, I felt really bad about it. My mouth dried the longer the silence buzzed in my ears, and I was going to force it open until she suddenly started giggling hysterically.
“Oh . . . oh man. You . . . you look so nervous, ah . . . ” Flames licked up my neck, and I let out an embarrassed squeak as Jackie reached to nudge my arm. “Relax, May. I don’t hold what happened last week against you. Honestly, I would yell at me too if I had to go through that circus bull. It’s not easy, working in such a toxic place.”
“You’re not mad?” Shaking her head as we went down, Jackie smiled fondly, and I scrunched my face in confusion. “Why? I said some really nasty stuff.”
“You were right, though. I didn’t do my job by not checking into those messages, and I knew there was no way you’d have a response because you didn’t write them. I knew you didn’t. And you were right, May— unless someone wanted me to have them, they would’ve never come across my desk.” Awkwardness clenched my gut, and I only nodded at that. At least, when I was angry, I didn’t resort to personal attacks and stuck to facts . . .sorta.
“I am. I’m sorry that I called you incompetent. I was just really mad and tired, and you were doing your job.” Jackie nodded, and relief slumped my shoulders as I sighed dramatically. “Okay, good. I actually am starting my own design company. If you don’t have any concrete job, maybe we could talk about working together?”
“I would be honored, May. Here . . . ” Digging in her purse, Jackie pulled out a business card and pen to scribble her personal number on the back. “Here’s my number. I don’t know how good a boss you’ll be, but you were a great employee. I’m actually on my way to an interview, but text me. I’ll answer.”
“Yeah, for sure.” Taking the card, I smiled at that very blatantly neutral answer, and the elevator stopped again. The doors slid open, and I gestured her out first before stepping into lobby. Our company only owned two floors of this twenty-story building, smack in the middle, but, pretty soon, those floors would be empty.
Jackie and I parted ways, and I quickly swiped around on my phone for Oran’s number to call him back. The line rang once, twice, three times before he picked up, and I heaved a massive sigh on my way onto the street.
“That was really awkward. I just had an elevator ride alone with the person from HR on my case. I actually asked for her number in case I wanted to hire her. That’s the weirdest . . . ” The wind nipped at my cheeks, and I held my light jacket tighter to my bust as I strode down the sidewalk. “Sorry for hanging up on you.”
“It’s alright. I have a meeting in a few minutes but have fun with your down time. I’ll see you later, May.” I offered a noncommittal response before we hung up again, mutually, this time, and I swept back my hair absently.Celebratory shopping, here I come!
