“This is a surprise.Are we meeting for an early lunch?”Miranda asked as the elevator doors closed.
“I need you to stop me from committing a felony, and I need that backdoor job at Wulf Enterprises.”I jabbed the button for the ground floor.“And I need a friend.”My voice warbled on that last bit, and I hated that fucking bitch-Lianna and losing my job were what might break me.
“Talk.What’s happening?Where are you?”
“I’m at Steele Corp, riding the elevator down to the lobby because I was just fired.I got a call this morning that my mom was in a car accident, and I left without telling anyone.I wasn’t thinking, Miranda.The EMT called, and I just bolted.What kind of shit place fires someone when their Mom is in the fucking ER?”
Anger was doing a good job of swallowing up my need to cry.
“A job that’s looking for a lawsuit,” Miranda said firmly.“Is your mom okay?”
“Yeah.A concussion, broken forearm, and massive bruises are the worst of it.They said she should be able to go home tomorrow.”
“I’m so sorry that happened to her.And for the bullshit happening to you.Who fired you?”
“My boss.Lianna.”
“Walk your ass to HR and tell them what happened.They’ll back you up.That’s what they’re there for.And while you’re doing that, I’m going to make some calls.”
The doors opened, and I stepped out onto the main floor, feeling so lost.
“Wait for my text,” she said.
The call disconnected, and I looked at my phone, curious who Miranda would call.Did she actually have connections at Steele?Probably.How else could she know the job was open?Obviously, the connection wasn’t that close, or I wouldn’t have been fired.
I frowned, realizing she hadn’t agreed to get me in at Wulf Enterprises.What happened to solidarity?I was willing to throw my pride to the curb to ensure I had the livelihood Mom and I needed to keep her house while she recovered.
Feeling close to tears again, I hesitated only a few seconds before walking to the HR department.The same woman I’d talked to about the computer issues, Gail, listened to what happened this morning, handed me tissues when the dam broke, and hugged me.Her phone rang several times during our conversation, but she steadfastly ignored it.
She reassured me that Steele Corporation would never fire me for leaving work to attend to a family medical emergency.She agreed that the way Lianna spoke to me was out of line and did not embody Steele Corp’s “Building Community, Inside and Out” motto.She promised to discuss Lianna’s behavior with her and suggested I take the rest of the day off to be with my mom.
“Thank you,” I said, standing to shake her hand.
“If you need Monday off, call me directly.Tell your mom that everyone at Steele Corp is wishing her well.”
“I will.”
I left a little calmer than when I’d gone in, but I still wasn’t sure where I stood.Having HR say I wasn’t fired was well and good, but no one in my department actually wanted me there.Did I want to work in a place that was constantly trying to shove me out the door?
On my way to my car, I remembered to check my phone and saw a message from Miranda.
Miranda:They can’t and won’t fire you.What Lianna did goes against everything Steele stands for.Her boss will talk to her.
Me:Does that mean I have to stay here?
Miranda:Don’t you want to?I thought you liked it.
Me:My mom is going to be out of work for at least eight weeks now.I need a stable job.With all the shit that’s been happening at this one, it’s not stable.
Miranda:Mrs.Wulf said you’re welcome here.No resume or interview needed.Just say the word.
Even though I hated the idea of using connections that blatantly, money was currently a higher priority than my pride.Yet…
I stared at that message for so long that she texted again.
Miranda:It’s an open invite.I know how you feel about the “back door,” though.Keep fighting at Steele and know you have a safe harbor here.
Me:Stop trying to make me cry.
