Giselle clenched her jaw and trudged on.She didn’t have the means or willpower to find another job right now.Despite her inexperience and youth, she had gotten lucky earning this position at the dealership.The work paid fairly well, and she used the extra income as an excuse to stick around.She also desired to focus on healing her body and not add additional stress by quitting.From personal experience, several weeks or even months would pass until another source of income presented.She just didn’t have the foundation to place herself in that situation.
Unfortunately, keeping her head down failed to avert the expected.On a Tuesday morning, she started her morning routine at the office and sensed somethingdifferent.The other employees glanced at her from around the lobby or in the breakroom, their faces worried and full of silent empathy.Whispers sounded from around corners and side offices, the conversations hushed and abruptly halted when Giselle walked close.
“Ralph…do I need to ask?”she mumbled, stepping into his office right before lunch.
He didn’t say anything at first.Ralph gazed at her wearing the same concerned expression the other employees had.He then wrapped his arms around Giselle, his hold firm and emanating comfort.“If you don’t ask, I won’t answer, sweetheart.But the rumors have been flying all morning.Nigel has this stupid, smug look on his face.He’s also been quiet in his office.Based on past experience, when Nigel is like this he’s about to—”
“Fire someone,” Giselle finished.“Me.I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.It’s been building up for weeks.”
I suppose this had been coming.But damn, it still hurts.That pig butt gets the last laugh?Losing a job is tough, but imagining that jerk’s face as he wins is the worst sensation of all.
Ralph pulled back from the embrace and held her hands.“Hey, listen,” he said softly.“Have you been saving all the nasty emails and documents he sent you on a separate thumb drive?”
She nodded.“Just like you advised me.The USB is safe and sound in my purse.”
“Excellent.The second he lets you go, he’ll order IT to delete everything.And I mean everything.Shared drive, desktop folders, cloud files, you name it.That’s Nigel’s way of covering his tracks and wiping your existence from company record.”
“What should I do with the data, Ralph?”She closed her eyes, fighting back the sting of tears.She suddenly felt dizzy and sick to her stomach.
Ralph read her distressed features, and his reassuring hands settled on her shoulders.“That data will be ammunition for a lawyer.Because of your injury, I see wrongful termination written all over this situation.Do you know anyone that can help?”
“No,” she said, her voice glum as she looked at the floor.“I don’t even know where—”
Something Janice said popped into her head:You were offsides, bitch.My mom is a lawyer, and evidence is everything.Your case against the line judge just imploded.
Giselle brightened the tiniest bit.That’s right.Janice’s mother studied law.Maybe I can ask for advice.
“I may know someone,” she stated, then threw herself into Ralph’s arms.“Thank you so much, my dear friend.I wouldn’t know what to do without you.”
He gave her a supportive squeeze.“Like I said before, Giselle, I got your back.When you take that fool to court, I’m your star witness.”
Encouraged, she returned to her office and sat behind the desk.A dreaded email awaited, a cutting message that teased and caused her fists to clench:My office.Now.
Those haunting words represented Nigel’s entire draft.No other comments, instructions, or warnings accompanied the curt note.Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Giselle converted the email into a PDF and saved it on the thumb drive.She didn’t bother writing a reply.In five minutes, I won’t be an employee anyway.
She stood and smoothed out her clothes, more from anxiety than trying to appear presentable.Despite the foreknowledge of her termination, the act and circumstances pierced her heart and tore her soul.She didn’t deserve this.A tyrant had won the day.Giselle closed her eyes and took several more calming breaths.
I won’t run away and simply look for another job.I’m going to fight this and put Nigel in his place.Like the saying goes, I’ll have my day in court.
Not liking the sweat on her palms or the butterflies rioting in her belly, she swallowed and marched toward Nigel’s office on the opposite end of the showroom floor.Her shoe sounded loud on the hard floor, the ankle-boot a muffled thump.She passed shiny models of the latest, high-end sedans, SUVs, and trucks.Giselle also strode past grim-faced employees.Some glanced down while others offered an encouraging or supportive nod.
She entered Nigel’s spacious office.Dusty, fake plants sat crammed in corners.Dealership awards for sales metrics and other company honors hung on the wood-slatted wall behind an oversized desk.Plush furniture and a coffee table rested on a colorful rug.Giselle started to close the door, but Nigel barked from his leather chair.
“Leave it open.”
Giselle’s eyes widened.Oh, hell no.The stinking dung pile wants everyone to hear this, even customers in the showroom.I will not give him that pleasure!She closed the door and watched his face redden in anger.
Wait.All the blinds are open, too.Nigel planned this to be a show.He wants to further humiliate me.Giselle took her time closing the blinds over the huge glass panels facing the main lobby.She heard Nigel sputtering from the desk, his rage preventing coherent words from forming.With privacy now established, she walked before him and smiled through her own frustration.I’ve got to hold it together.Don’t let him control the situation.Make it quick.
“The nerve!”Nigel finally spat.“This ismyoffice.I—”
“Did you have something to say?”she cut in.
Nigel took several calming breaths, and Giselle felt immense relief and satisfaction.She had just gone through the same meditative exercise before coming here.Glad to see I’m not the only one whose emotions are in a twist.
“I have plenty to say,” he began, “and you’ll do the listening.”He pierced her beneath a harsh glare, but Giselle refused to look away.After a moment, he launched into an obvious practiced speech.
“Since being hired, your record here has been poor, Giselle.”
