He held out the envelope and I took it.I glanced at the front.My name was printed across the front in neat block capitals.
Well, not my full name.
JustMr.Harvey.
It was a resignation letter.
I handed it right back to Keaton without opening it.I looked back at my computer screen as if nothing had happened.
“Um, sir,” he said.There was a hint of frustration in his voice.“Sir, this is a letter for you.”
“Fine,” I said.I held out my hand again.He placed the letter into it carefully.
I turned and deposited it into the feeder for my shredder.Keaton yelped in indignation but I had already turned it on.It disappeared into shreds in a matter of seconds.
“Sir!”he exclaimed.“That was an important letter!”
“You’ve only worked here for a couple of weeks,” I said calmly.“Is that all you’re going to give me?”
“I…” Keaton hesitated.He opened and closed his mouth.“I didn’t have a probation period, so I had to decide for myself when the right time to leave would be.”
“Can you not cut it at this level?”I asked.I knew I was allowing him to get to me too much.Rising to a level I shouldn’t.Antagonizing him on purpose.But if it paid off…
“It’s… it’s nothing to do with the level of the work,” Keaton said.“I just – I’m not really – I don’t want to –”
“If you cannot give me a good reason to leave,” I said.“Then you should reconsider your decision.”
“I have a good reason to leave!”Keaton exploded.“I wrote it down!It’s in the letter!”He gestured at my shredder with such sudden ferocity that I almost laughed.Why was he so much cuter when he was angry?
Why did I feel like I had just discovered a very dangerous piece of new information?
“I haven’t seen your resignation letter,” I told him dismissively.“You can’t resign without a formal letter.”
“I-!”Keaton stared at me furiously.“I wrote you a letter!”
I spread my arms wide and looked around my desk as if confused.“I don’t see it.”
“That’s fine,” Keaton snapped decisively.He lifted his chin.“I’m going to write and print you another one.”
I leaned over casually and grabbed the cable for the printer.I pulled.It came out of the wall.
“The printer’s broken,” I explained to his incensed look.
“This is ridiculous,” Keaton said.He pressed a hand against his forehead.“Look, if you’re worried about being left in the lurch, you don’t have to be.I spoke to Helen – your last secretary.She said she would be happy to come back at any time.I know you fired her, but at least you can have someone to fill in the gap before you find a new candidate.You’ll be fine.”
I looked at him and knew that I would very much not be fine if Keaton Dunbar quit and I never saw him again.
“I cannot accept your resignation without a formal letter,” I repeated stubbornly.“You have to give notice in writing.”
“No, I don’t,” Keaton huffed.“I don’t have to do anything.I could just walk out of here right now.What are going to do about it?Fire me?”
I looked at him evenly.“You wouldn’t break protocol like that.”
Keaton obviously knew I was right.He made a frustrated sound and yanked his bag up over his head.“What do you expect me to do?I don’t want to work here anymore!”
Those words were like a dagger to my heart.I didn’t let it show on my face.I had earned my reputation as a negotiator for a reason.You didn’t let the other side see how weak you were.How close you were to folding.
“You’ll have to resign tomorrow,” I said.I hesitated.How much did I dare allow to creep into my voice?“Give me until tonight.”
