“It is,” she says. “I had a strong feeling I should hang out here for a while.” She walks past us and takes a seat on the bench in the centre of the lobby. Picking up a brochure for the Island of Eden, she gives Leo a smug grin and then starts casually leafing through the colourful pages.
“Brianna, can I see you in my office, please?” Harrison, who is standing at the entrance to the back offices gives me a grave look.
Mrs. Bianchi brushes past him into the lobby and points at me. “You! You ruined my second wedding!”
Harrison touches her forearm. “Mrs. Bianchi, I’d prefer to deal with this matter in private.”
“Why?” she yells. “So that your other guests don’t know what terrible place this is?”
“She ruin our second wedding.” Holding one finger up, she yells across the lobby at me. “You have one job! She make barf of my butterflies! She is cycle!”
Mr. Bianchi pats her hand, speaking in a soothing voice. “Bella, the word ispsycho, not cycle. She is psycho.”
Nodding at him, she says, “Si, si.”
Turning back to me, she sets her glare in my direction again. “You are a…come si dice…”
“Psycho,” her husband offers.
“Yes, psycho, and your boss say he’s going to fire you.”
My entire body feels numb, and I have the sudden compulsion to vomit. I grip my desk, holding myself up as humiliation courses through me in violent waves.
“You can’t fire her for making a mistake,” Leo says, his voice angry.
Ignoring Leo and the Bianchis, Harrison gives me a look of regret. “Brianna, please come back to my office for a minute.”
Forcing my fingers to let go of my desk, I cross the silent lobby toward my doom. I feel the eyes of everyone on me as my skin prickles with shame. Even the pair of troupials have stopped singing as they peer down from their nest.
I’m about to get fired. For the first time in my entire life. My mind races through everything that has happened. First, the big fight with my mom, then Rosy caught me studying, and based on Harrison’s face, I’d say my career as a concierge is ending tonight.
“You should fire me. It was my fault.” Leo’s voice comes from behind me. “Brianna told me at the start of our shift to take care of the butterflies, and I completely forgot. She thought I had taken care of it, but I didn’t. It was my stupid idea to blow-dry them, I’m the one who vomited in the box. So if someone must be fired, it should be me.”
I turn, seeing Jolene in my peripheral vision before I come to face Leo. He’s standing tall with an air of authority, staring at Harrison. Panic fills me as I realize that if he gets fired, he’s giving up his entire future.
“That’s not true,” I say, glancing at Jolene, who’s staring on with wide eyes. Turning to Leo, I lower my voice. “Don’t do this. I’m not going to let you give up everything for me.”
He stares at me for a moment, but his expression gives nothing away. “I’m doing it because it’s the truth, and I wouldn’t be much of a man if I let you take the fall for me.”
Turning to Harrison, I raise my voice. “He’s lying. I’m the one who forgot. He tried to help me, but I messed it all up.”
“Fire them both!” Mrs. Bianchi barks out, her eyes wild with excitement.
“That won’t be necessary,” Harrison says to her before turning back to me. “Brianna, who’s responsible for this?”
“I am.”
“Only in as far as she’s my supervisor.” Leo takes a few steps so he’s standing in front of me now. “You don’t really believe this ultra-responsible woman who hasneverlet you down could possibly be responsible for a disaster of this proportion?” He shakes his head. “Come on. Isn’t it far more likely the chronic screwup you’re quasi-related to, and whom you gave a job to out of pity, did this? The answer is obvious.”
Nodding, Harrison says, “It’s big of you to take responsibility, Leo, but I’m afraid I do have to fire you.”
Giving Harrison a deep nod, Leo says, “Of course. Thank you for the opportunity.” Turning to the Bianchis, he says, “I’m very sorry about your butterflies. And Mr. Bianchi, I’m very sorry that you are going to spend the rest of your life with this awful, awful woman.”
With that, he turns and walks out of the lobby, shoving his hands in his front pockets and disappearing down the steps without looking back.
CHAPTER 30
Definitely NOT Depressed
