She swung open the door.
"I don’t understand," I said uncertainly. I felt as if everything that was good in my life had become unmoored and was floating away, and I didn’t know why.
"My contact sent me more information about the article," Bronwyn announced to the room.
I wanted to collapse on the floor. Instead, I set the coffee down in front of Garrett. My hands were shaking so badly, I was afraid I would drop the cup.
Twisting my hands, I said, "Garrett, please, this isn't what you think. I can explain."
"Famous last words," he said, staring at me, gray eyes flat.
I swallowed.
"Congratulations," Garrett said, standing up from the table.
"What?" I was confused.
"You pulled one over on me. Not easy to do, but you did it. Now that I have my emotions under control, I can admire the thought you put into developing such a complex scheme. If you weren’t trying to destroy my family and potentially have the half siblings I have remaining in my father’s cult compound hidden away where I can't find them—or worse—I would say I was impressed."
"Garrett, I would never!" I begged. "I told them not to run it!"
"Bronwyn gave me the article snippet that you wrote and sent to your mother." Garrett set the printout down in front of me. "Did you write this?"
"Garrett, please let me explain—"
"Did you write this, yes or no?"
"Yes." Tears pricked in my eyes.
"Did you send it as an email, yes or no?"
"Yes," I croaked.
He set another sheaf of papers in front of me. "Are these your notes?"
I nodded. My nose was running. I couldn't speak because I was going to start sobbing.
"And did you send this email, yes or no?" Garrett asked in a clipped tone.
The sobbing started.
"Stop crying," he said coldly. "You’re not sorry you did it. You're sorry you were caught."
I fished in my purse for a tissue.
"Normally I would find some sort of suitable punishment, but now we are in damage-control mode. Needless to say, you’re fired. But do keep in mind that I’m probably going to sue you." He scowled at me. "Which admittedly isn’t going to be worth much. But I can make sure you never find a job anywhere in the Northeast again, so there is that."
"Garrett!" I sobbed out. "I didn’t mean to."
"But you did."
I reached out for him.
Bronwyn slapped my hand away. "He said you’re fired. Get out, or I’m calling security."
Her smile was triumphant as I started the walk of shame to collect my things. I didn’t have much—just my Halloween decorations and the rest of my latte. I swept it all into the trash can and picked up my purse.
I was crying so hard as I left the building that I could barely text Morticia and Lilith.
