"And HR gave her permission to work remotely on the days I did, but you seemed to have given her the impression that she is required to come into the office five days a week."
"This isn't the time or place for this conversation," Barnes bellowed. "It's completely unprofessional."
"Sort of like your behavior since I came to work for you?" I asked sweetly.
I wouldn't have thought that his face could turn a darker purple, but it did. He opened his mouth, probably to fire me on the spot, but I didn't let him finish.
"Consider this my two weeks' notice. Though I intend to use what little that's left of my personal time to ensure I don't do your job for you any further than today," I said to him. "Good luck finding someone to make you look good."
Barnes pointed a finger at me. "You will never work in this field again, Watkins. You'll be blackballed. I'll make sure of—"
"I've heard enough, as has everyone else in this office," Peter Connolly called, getting to his feet. "Thomas, I'd like to speak to you privately." His eyes cut to me and the affable man who had greeted me earlier was gone. In his place was a shark who smelled blood in the water. "I'd still like to speak to you after, Ms. Watkins. Would you mind?"
"I'll be in my office," I answered. I intended to pack up all my things, even if I had to use garbage bags to do it. I wasn't coming back to this building after today. I was done. And it felt good.
As everyone filed out of the room, I got a few nods and even a couple of thumbs up. It was clear that my peers liked Thomas Barnes as little as I did. I wondered how many of them had been stuck working under him as he claimed their efforts and felt they had no recourse.
Trudy waited for me by the door, her eyes huge above her pink cheeks. She was also trying to hold back laughter.
"You have to hold it in until we get to my office," I muttered to her as we left the room.
"It's hard," she whispered. "Because that was the best thing I've seen all year."
"Try."
Trudy made a muffled sound but her bright, shiny eyes were the only giveaway of her amusement. When we were back in my office with the door shut, she burst into gales of laughter.
"Oh, my God," she gasped. "I thought his head was going to explode and instead of brains, it would be vegetable mush. Like beets. Or turnips."
Okay, that was a strange analogy. Though I guess I could see why she would think he had turnips instead of brains in his head.
"I can't believe you did that," she continued. "I overheard some other people talking as they were walking out and apparently there have been several of them who wanted to call him on his behavior before but everyone was afraid that they'd end up fired and unable to get another job." Her face grew stricken. "Shit, Sierra, what are you going to do if you get fired?"
"I quit, remember?" I pointed out.
"Are you going to be okay? I mean I know you make a lot more money than me, but what if Barnes actually manages to get you blackballed?"
"I doubt anyone in Farley has ever heard of Thomas Barnes and I'm pretty sure they won't give two shits what his opinion of me is even if they have."
"Who's Farley?" Trudy asked, obviously confused.
"It's a small town about two hours from here," I answered. "I'm moving there."
Trudy gaped at me. "Moving to a small town?" She took a step closer. "Maybe you should sit down. I think maybe you had a microstroke due to rage."
I laughed. "No, it's where I've been staying while I was gone. My best friend lives there and I've been a silent partner in her business for several years now. I worked with her during my time off and I really liked it. It's interesting work. I like being around her every day and, and...I met someone."
Trudy's eyes lit up. "Someone?"
I shrugged one shoulder. "It's complicated but I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him."
"Pretty sure?"
I had a human parrot in my office. "Will you please stop repeating everything I say?"
"Sorry, sorry," Trudy apologized. "I just can't remember you ever having a boyfriend since I've worked for you."
"I haven't. Not really," I admitted. "But this guy snuck past my guard."
