I look around and see nothing out of place. In fact, his desk is empty apart from the keyboard and a can holding pens. Sliding open the drawers of the desk, I again see nothing amiss. This means it is all on the system, and that’s a good thing for me.
Heading back to my office, I poke my head into Annabelle’s. “Annabelle, grab us both a coffee and get to my office.” I don’t wait for a reply. I hurry into my office and fire up my laptop.
Checking my appointment schedule, I see Saturday has been added once more. I took a screenshot of that. Then do the same for Sunday. Clicking through screens, I look up as Annabelle walks in. “Close the door, Annabelle,” I say but quickly get my attention back to the scheduler on my screen.
I point to the issues I found, and Annabelle stiffens at the side of me. She takes notes on the pad beside me and in front of her. Getting our heads together, we check everything regarding my schedules and Annabelle’s vacation time.
“Okay, it’s obvious he’s messing up my schedule and trying to make it look like you’ve done an inadequate job. Let’s look at Dillon's schedule and see if his is fine! Check out Mr. Wallis’ as well.” I look at Annabelle as I speak, and she nods in agreement.
“I’ll fetch my laptop and we can check one each.”
That is how we spent the next hour. Going through all schedules. Looking over appointments for individuals, office meetings, and the tech downtimes that we have each month.
“Dillon has free time in the next fifteen minutes.” I tap my finger on the desk and give Annabelle a serious look. “I’m going to fry Fabian’s ass.”
I wait fifteen minutes then head over to Dillon’s office. Tap on the door and open it. “Can I have a word?”
“Of course, come in,” Dillon looks at me curiously because this is an unusual occurrence. I’ve never sought himout previously, and it is easy to see that it has piqued his curiosity.
I step to the side of him and his desk, rather than in front. I hand him the printed screenshots of the issues I have found. “I don’t know how to rectify what Fabian is doing to Annabelle. This is wrong, Dillon. It’s bullying, and he’s victimizing her.”
Dillon wades through the evidence, then turns to his laptop. I keep quiet while he goes through the schedules for everyone, just as we had. Then he turns to me with a disgusted look on his face.
“Maylee, I’m a senior partner, and I’m not sitting on this. Leave it with me and I’ll have this stopped. I’ll make sure Annabelle doesn’t suffer anymore of this,” Dillon states, and he has his cold lawyer face on, which tells me he’s taking this seriously.
Later in the day, Annabelle walks into my office and has obviously been in tears. “What’s wrong?” I ask, standing from my seat behind the desk.
“Nothing is wrong. I’m just relieved.”
“About what?” I step closer to her and take hold of one of her hands.
“Fabian has been moved to work at the new office. He’s not to come here apart from one time to pick up his personal things. A new tech man is being hired to work here. They found more than we did I think, Maylee.”
Nodding, because I can imagine they did. It would be unusual to move someone just for re-arranging schedules. “Any idea of what they found?”
“Something about switching schedules and causing trouble. His dislike of me was irrational, but now he’s not here it will be fine.” Annabelle walks out of the office, and for once she has a spring in her step.
Dillon walks into my office a while later and gives me a huge smile. “Well, it’s sorted, Maylee. He is lucky that he still has a job. If it had been up to me, we would have removed him from his position. Mr. Wallis likes him for some weird reason, so Fabian was moved rather than being dismissed. He was messing with schedules, making it look like Annabelle wasn’t doing her job. But, it went back to before she worked for you as an assistant. All the small things we thought Annabelle was doing wrong with the system were all due to Fabian. But he’ll not be coming back here, so all is sorted.”
Dillion looks so proud of himself that I can’t help but smile. “Well, that is it then, all done, sorted. Thank you so much. I didn’t want to lose my assistant, and Annabelle is a great person. She didn’t deserve all the trouble he gave her.”
“No, but she’s good now.” Dillon gives me a tip of the head and leaves the office. I’m thankful that this mess is resolved but hope Annabelle will speak up earlier if anything like this ever happens again.
Arriving home, I climb out of my vehicle and turn to look over at Mrs. Bradshaw who lives across the way from me. Now, she is a pain in everyone’s ass with her nosy and complaining ways. Thankfully, she has not pushed us as we’ve purposely remained polite toward her.
“That boy of yours needs to be quiet. He’s disruptive,” Mrs. Bradshaw says in a loud voice.
I look around and see only myself and Mr. Kendrell who is in his garden sweeping his yard. “You talking to me, Mrs. Bradshaw?” I ask as I grab my purse, closing and locking my vehicle’s door.
“Of course I’m talking to you. That child of yours makes far too much noise…”
Oh, I cut her rampage off quickly. “When is he noisy? He’s at school all week, and when he comes home, he has been inside the house with us. Not in the street making a noise. You are the one who makes all the noise, shouting at neighbors with your ridiculous complaints. Now, let me inform you that if you complain one more time, I’ll get everyone together and send a legal cease and desist to you from my office. You know I’m a lawyer, right?”
I see that she doesn’t, as she tries to back into her house. Mr. Kendrell has walked to the front of his home and pointsat Mrs. Bradshaw. “We’ve all had enough. Mind your own business, and if you don’t enjoy living here, move; nobody is making you stay.”
The door slams behind her as she rushes into her home. I turn and look at Mr. Kendrell, who is grinning broadly. “That told her Maylee, maybe she’ll be quiet for a while now.”
I laugh at the look of delight on his face. “For sure. We may get two months from her now.”
