One of the HR reps extended a document toward her.
“Nancy, this is your termination agreement. Please gather your belongings and exit the company.”
Feeling the eyes of her co-workers upon her from the larger office, Nancy took the document with gritted teeth.
“I understand.”
Twenty minutes later, she reappeared from her office, gripping a box of her personal items so tightly her knuckles went white.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtA N G E L A ‘s L I B R A R Y
“Millie, our business isn’t settled.” As she passed Millie’s desk, she left a lingering statement in her wake.
As Nancy walked away, Millie looked down, puzzled. Had Nancy really just walked out like that?
Reluctance had gripped her when faced with the absurd bucket-drinking bet, yet she left Thomas Group without any hesitation.
The others were just as bewildered.
“Did she actually just leave?”
“Do you think the bet had anything to do with this? The one where the loser would have to quit?”
“It’s got to be more complicated. A couple of days ago, I saw HR call her in. They don’t do that for nothing. They probably already talked about her leaving, and we were just in the dark.”
“In my opinion, her departure is a relief. She exploited her role as chief designer, favoring those she Liked by giving them easier yet more valuable tasks. People like us, who didn’t cozy up to her, were left with the thankless, grueling design assignments. I don’t know how much more I could take if she was still here.”
“I couldn’t agree more. The past two years have been insufferable.
She always assignedprojects from the irritable Mr. Shaw, and I was almost driven to depression by his ceaseless berating.”
“I understand your frustration. Every twe tried to push back, she’d say we were incompetent and remind us we could always quit…
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut those tough days are finally over.”
Someone chimed in, “The entire vibe of the design department has changed.”
Head down, Emerie felt the loss of her allies, Rosie and Nancy. The group they’d led was now fragmented. If she wanted to keep her job, she’d need to tread lightly in everything she said or did.
Just then, Millie’s phone buzzed. A call from Mrs. Fairclough flashed on the screen.
“Hello, Mrs. Fairclough.”
“Miss Brown, would you be available for lunch today? We’d like to extend an invitation. We’ve had smisunderstandings in the past, and we’d like to apologize.”
“You’re too kind, Mrs. Fairclough. Your daughter is getting married soon; you must be swamped. There’s no need for a Lunch.”
Mrs. Fairclough insisted, “Not at all, it’s no inconvenience. We’re incredibly grateful you’ve allowed my daughter to wear the famed Sky Heart for her wedding. We’ve booked a table at Gray’s Restaurant, and it would be our privilege if you could join us.”