“Frank, Justine hasn’t gotten me the files I need to get ready for Monday’s meeting with Anweiss. And I can’t figure out…”
She tuned him out while he continued to complain.
Is this what I want? To always be catering to someone else who will take all the credit? To continually stress out because I’m not putting myself first? Why the hell do I need Frank’s validation? Or anyone’s?
Her more practical side chimed in.Well, you do need the money. Your savings will only take you so far.
Yeah, but I’m my father’s daughter, my aunt’s niece. And I’ve been saving up forever. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to give me breathing room. Especially if I do a great job on Elder Care 4-U,the new client she’d picked up from Kenzie.
Justine’s heart raced. Could she do it? Should she? Aunt Rosie would have told her boss to screw off months ago, even before Justine’s “promotion.” Her father would tell her to ride it out but make provisions to secure a better work environment while her mother would tell her to just get along and not make waves.
Xavier… He’d be practical yet supportive, as he’d been from day one. And then he’d tell her to take responsibility for herself because no one but her could make the decision for her future.
“Justine, are you even listening?” Frank sighed. “This has become a real problem, you know. You?—”
“I quit.”
Frank and Nash stared.
“I’ve been underpaid for the past year. I work harder than anyone in your department.” The dam had burst and she couldn’t stop. “You use me all the time to help you onyourwork while taking away time to finish mine. So I work long days and nights and never get paid for it or comped time.”
“But—”
“I’m talking now,” she said over Frank. Nash just stared, his mouth open, and she continued on a full head of steam. “You told me I’d be getting a raise, one I deserved. Instead you gave me another job for no pay. Yeah. No. Pay. And that’s…bullshit.” Her heart threatened to explode from her chest. “I’m done. No more doing your work for you. No more doing work I’m not even getting paid to do. Not even a thank you for everything I’ve done to help ‘the team.’” She scowled. “So take my job and Laura’s job and your own and shove them up your ass.”
She turned on her heel and flew back to her cubicle, where she dialed Katie. “I did it. I quit and told Frank to shove it up his ass.”
“Holy shit! I’ll be right down.”
Justine hastily packed up her things, using an empty cardboard box from the supply room. She didn’t have much. A plant, a few sketch pads, some watercolors she’d brought from home.
“Justine, I don’t think you’ve thought this through,” Frank said as he came to her cubicle, walking gingerly, as if expecting a bomb to detonate.
She ignored him.
Katie arrived with a huge grin. “Finally!” She turned to Frank. “You’ve used my buddy for the last time, bucko.”
Breaking into hysterical laughter would make her look doofy, so Justine kept her mouth shut and continued to pack. A small glance at Frank showed him looking ill.
“Justine, I think you’re just under a great deal of stress.”
“Ya think?” Katie snarled. “You shoved Laura’s work on Justine instead of hiring a new employee. And you stiffed her on the raise you said you were giving her.” Katie’s voice continued to rise, and a small crowd gathered around them.
“That’s not true,” Frank huffed. “We’re downsizing, and I?—”
“Got a new admin assistant,” Justine had to say. She turned to glare at him. “You have a big office with plenty of time to sit around and chitchat while I stay until seven or eight just trying to get through my day. You have used and abused this employee. I’m reporting all this to HR too. I don’t give a damn if they don’t care. I do, and I’m tired of not being appreciated for all I do for this company.” She said over him, “And to all of you who I’ve helped for months on end, you’re fucking welcome!”
She grabbed her box and her purse. Katie grabbed her plant. She headed straight for the door, glad Frank had moved and the crowd had parted because she would have walked right through them out of the building.
Once at her car, after stowing her things, she turned to Katie, still not believing she’d done it. “I quit. I cursed. I’m done here.”
Katie pumped her fists in the air. “Fuck, yeah.” She glanced at a beep on her phone. “Shoot. I have to get back for a meeting and tie things up. Then I’m quitting too!”
“No, you like your job.”I quit. Oh my God. I quit.
“Not really. I just like it a lot more—but still less—with my new boss. But the work isn’t challenging, and I’m tired of having to fit myself into the corporate mentality. Did you know Kenzie wears jeans to work? Sometimes shorts? And Rachel and Lila take turns getting energy smoothies and donuts whenever they want and start their days whenever they want.”
“Huh?”
