“Yeah, I had to finish closing on the house and whatnot.”
He huffed, blowing out a long breath. “Well, the shit really hit the fan, dude.”
“How so?” I asked, weaving through the crowds. Luckily Syracuse wasn’t as busy or large as Chicago or Tampa, so I didn’t have to worry about it taking forever and a day to get to the parking garage.
He let out a nervous laugh. “What do you mean? You don’t know?”
“What?”
“You and the girl?” he asked.
Fuck. “Who?” I muttered, playing dumb. If it reached Corporate, they already pulled Elena aside. While my history might protect me with Preston, she was unarmed.
“Really? We’ve been friends for years. Don’t fucking lie to me, Jason.”
“Like you didn’t lie to me about what a shithole this branch was?”
“I left out some details, okay. I knew you wouldn’t bite if I mentioned them, and it made you look great in the long run by taking the gig, so don’t give me that shit.”
“So maybe I operate the same now? I learned from the best.”
His voice was deathly serious. “Not funny, Jason. This one is big.”
“How so?” I asked, ignoring his tone, refusing to show weakness.
“You and that girl there. Ellie? Alyssa? Whatever. The Board received some news about you two and a list of demands.”
I made a beeline for a seat, feeling faint. “What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked, falling into it. My mind was going a mile a minute, every scenario playing out. Maybe I could move on sooner than expected and whisk her away with me to Chicago. It’d be a win-win. Policy or not, Preston wouldn’t fire me. He couldn’t. He needed me. He’d always need me.
“A package came addressed to the Board of Directors with pictures of you and a little hottie.”
“What pictures?” I demanded, bile rising in my throat.
“Pictures of you two locking lips at some kind of fair.”
I would destroy whatever creep followed us around. That was too far, even for Croft. “Am I not allowed to have a fucking personal life?” I roared.
“Not with people who work for you.”
I could have vomited right then and there. Elena had to face that alone. No wonder she was furious. She was rightfully mortified.
Nate was full of more bad news. “There’s a scanned photo of her work ID for reference.”
“And? She doesn’t work for me directly.”
He signed. “It’s the optics. Preston is fuming.”
“Let him.” I didn’t give a damn about him or what he thought.
His voice fell. “This isn’t good, man.”
I let out a shaky laugh, ready to smash someone to pieces. “Not for whoever followed me around, no.”
“That’s the thing. That person also works for you. They’re claiming unfair treatment.”
I could have exploded right then, rage reaching monstrous levels. “Who?” I demanded, ready to destroy anyone and everyone involved. Monica? Marty? Melvin?
“A chick named Monica. You kicked her from your chick’s unit because they don’t get along?”
“Because she’s a terrible employee!” I growled. “I wanted to fire her, but Marty begged for one last chance for her!”
“Jason, what were you thinking? You know not to mess around at work.”
“She doesn’t work for me!” I exploded, frustrated beyond belief. I needed to get to her, to talk her down, to assure her that everything would be okay. This was not supposed to be how the day went. “I oversee her idiot, boss who also needs to be fired!”
“That’s another thing...” he muttered.
I groaned. “What now?”
“Preston spoke with him about this. He said you’ve been hard on him, and that a relationship between you two could explain it.”
I laughed, shaking my head. He was unbelievable. Talk about a coward. “Get the fuck out.”
“I wish I was kidding.”
“Now what?” I asked, knowing I’d be on countless calls that day kissing asses.
“Well, that’s kind of why I’m calling,” he began, clearing his throat. “The Board has an offer for you.”
“An offer? I repeated.
“You keep the national role here in Chicago with a generous bonus for your hard work in New York. You also start tomorrow.”
“What’s the catch?” I asked, knowing there was one. There always was when dealing with them.
“Fire the girl and cut off contact. Croft will write it up as insubordination, and she’ll receive a nice payout for her troubles. It should be all the damage control needed to mop up the mess. You’ll both sign NDAs, and this whole thing will be over.”
“And if I refuse?” I asked. I would never fire her or sign a false statement. We hid our relationship; we hadn’t lied. I always had my word to fall back on. I wouldn’t compromise that.
“You’re fired, effective immediately.”
Jason
After the longest drive of my life through bumper to bumper traffic in sleet, I pulled into Elena’s complex. It was risky, seeing that someone had been watching before, but I didn’t care anymore. The truth was out. Let them snap away.
Monica was probably tucked away in HR on a conference call with Corporate, not snapping photos in her complex. She had what she wanted. The spineless morons were likely buttering her up with promises trying to soothe the overgrown toddler. I should have fired her on day one.
Despite the coating of icy slush, I ran across the lot and up the stairs to her door. I listened before knocking, not hearing a sound inside. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I was dreading what I’d find on the other side. The poor woman was probably curled up in bed sobbing.
It was my fault. I should have been more discrete. I should never have laid a finger on her in public. I knew better.
I knocked and listened again, hoping for some kind of stirring on the other side. I would have settled for a Hank yowl or scratch. Anything. But there was silence. Complete and utter silence.
I knocked a little harder and waited.
Harder.
Nothing.
Harder.
Still nothing.
In the end, I was pounding on the door, desperate for a response. “Elena, please open up!”
Silence.
“Baby, listen! It’s fine now! We’ll
