MY WIFE
You asked me to!
ME
Tomato, tomahto
MY WIFE
Go make my day and fire that asshat.
ME
Yes ma’am
Pressing the button for the security office, I call down to make sure they’re ready for what could be a massive explosion if the day I suspended him was any indication. It’s the end of the work day, and I’ve summoned Mark to the office. I felt bad thatGabby was running around like a madwoman trying to keep all the balls in the air, but I couldn’t tell her Mark was absent because he was suspended and on his way out for good. His contract was a bit more complicated than I’d hoped, and it took some time to finalize the paperwork.
Ricardo’s was easy. I fired him last week before the press conference.
A knock sounds on my office door, and I grin. Showtime.
“Come in,” I call out, standing and buttoning my suit jacket as I round the desk.
“Mr. Davenport. Mark is here for you.” The receptionist who escorted Mark up from the lobby closes the door and scurries away as soon as Mark enters my office. I fight back a laugh at seeing the small woman rush away so quickly, but my smile quickly falls. He’s ruined the morale in this office so much that the receptionist is scared of him. I wonder how many others were scared of him right under my nose.
“Grant, good of you to come around,” he says, jovially, crossing the room and heading straight to the bar cart. I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask when he lifts the crystal canister filled with my best bourbon.
“Don’t be a prude. It’s the end of the day and no one is here.”
“This isn’t a social call, Mark.”
“Okay then.” He slams the canister back down on the cart and the glasses clatter.
“Have a seat.” I motion to the chair in front of my desk and turn back to take my seat behind it. I need the barrier before I pummel him. How I hadn’t seen what a piece of work this guy is, I’ll never know. But I see it now, and he’s never stepping foot in this office again.
“What’s with all the formality, Grant? You made a mistake in suspending me. I’ll happily come back. Water under the bridge.” He waves his hand in the air and sits down.
“You’re right, I did make a mistake.”
“Atta, boy.” He slaps his knees like the conversation is over.
“I’m not your boy,” I seethe. “The mistake wasn’t suspending you. It was hiring you in the first place.”
He blusters. “What are you talking about? This place wouldn’t have made it off the ground without me.”
Ignoring him, I continue, “You are being terminated from your role as general counsel, effective immediately.”
Mark’s face turns a deep shade of red. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You can’t fire me!” he bellows.
“On the contrary, I can.” I open the file folder on my desk and retrieve the severance agreement and confidentiality agreement. “These are the terms of your separation. You’re welcome to have your lawyer look them over if you wish, but you are prohibited from speaking to anyone else about the terms.”
“Lawyer? Iama lawyer. Who do you think you’re talking to, boy?”
I grit my teeth and take a deep breath to keep my composure. He makes it very hard to stay calm, but I’ve learned over the years that a calm demeanor hits deeper than rage in these situations. “Again, I am not your boy. The package is more than you deserve in my opinion, but it’s money well spent to get you away from my organization and out of my sight.”
“And who’s going to run this place with me gone?” he spits out.
