7. The Final Audit （Or How to Lose a Job in One Bite）
7
The Final Audit (Or How to Lose a Job in One Bite)
An hour later, I was standing in Richard Pennington Jr.’s office, staring blindly at my boss while trying to shut my nose down against the overwhelming stench of his cologne. The scent was clearly trying to mask something. Probably fear mixed with a hefty dose of smug satisfaction.
“I’m what?”
“You’re fired,” Pennington said flatly. “The auditors wrote a damning report about our accounts. You didn’t even turn up for the meeting.” He fixed me with an accusing look.
I glanced beseechingly at the ceiling and bit back a scream.
Between the craziness that had been the last eight hours and this fresh hell, I wasn’t sure which one I was most pissed about. There was no way I could explain to my boss the extenuating circumstances that had led to my absence.
Sorry, a werewolf bit me last night and I spent the morning growing fur wasn’t exactly going to cut it.
“No one informed me the meeting time had changed,” I said in a hard voice.
“Really?” Pennington leaned back in his chair and sneered. “My secretary tells me otherwise.”
I looked to my right and spotted his secretary through the glass wall overlooking the open work area that occupied most of the floor space inside Pennington & Graves.
Tina Compton studied me with a faint smirk where she sat in her cubicle. Mark Little, my ex, was leaning over her pretending to show her something. I could tell they were both listening in on the conversation through the open door. I narrowed my eyes.
Tina was the one Mark had gotten couple massages with.
Pennington spoke again. “I’d love to hear why our most reliable accountant decided to skip a meeting with Audit or Die.”
I shifted my frown at my boss. “Who?”
“The auditing firm operating out of that renovated Victorian building next to the park, in the business district.”
I’d never heard of them before.
Pennington picked up a file from the stack on his desk and shoved it toward me, a muscle jumping in his jawline. “They were very thorough. Claimed our software was unreliable and our methods bordered on illegal.”
I took the damning report and leafed through it, my hands shaking slightly with suppressed rage.
The injustice of it rankled.
I refrained from pointing out to my boss the number of times I had expressed my concerns about the new accounting suite that had been forced on us three years ago.
There was no point. I had been judged and found guilty in my absence.
I clenched my jaw.
It was obvious what was going on. I was being made to take the fall for the firm’s failure at passing the auditors’ inspection. And it seemed my ex and his new girlfriend had conspired with my boss to get me fired.
A knock on the door made us both look up. Mark stood in the doorway, Tina hovering behind him. They were both wearing expressions of fake sympathy that made my newly turned inner wolf want to pin them down and rip their throats out.
“Are you okay, Abby?” Mark said awkwardly.
A threatening sound rumbled through my chest before I could stop it.
Pennington startled. Even Mark took a step back.
“That was just my stomach,” I said through gritted teeth.
Pennington squinted. “You sure? Your eyes look a bit strange.”
I caught my reflection in the mirror above the fireplace in his office. I was looking distinctly feral.
I swallowed hard and fought back the urge to show them exactly how strange I could look. The wild thing under my skin was itching to come out and play. It was fifty-fifty whether I was going to give in to her.
“I’m afraid I had no choice, Abigail,” Pennington said curtly, clearly eager to end this meeting. “Your employment is terminated, effective immediately.”
“But—”
“Please clear your desk.” Pennington wasn’t even looking at me anymore. “Security will escort you out.”
I fisted my hands so hard I almost broke my nails.
“Fine,” I ground out.
I shoved past Mark and Tina.
“Hey!” Tina protested.
“Let her be, Tina,” Mark murmured.
I stopped, turned, and gave my boss, my ex, and Tina the middle finger.
Ted from security helped me pack my desk into a cardboard box. He looked uncomfortable as he escorted me through the premises, the other staff keeping their heads down and avoiding my eyes.
I wasn’t especially close to any of them, but the lack of support still stung.
“For what it’s worth,” Ted said as we waited for the elevator, “I always thought you were the only one here who knew what they were doing.”
My throat tightened.
“Thanks, Ted.” I shifted the box in my arms. “By the way, you might want to check the cameras in the break room. Kevin from Accounts Receivable has been stealing people’s lunches.”
Ted’s eyes widened. “Is that why my tuna sandwiches keep disappearing?!”
The elevator dinged. I nodded and stepped inside.
“That monster,” Ted said hoarsely.
If only he knew about the real monsters in Amberford.
“Take care, Ted.”
I walked out of the building and into the late morning sunshine, my career in shambles and my personal life heading for the supernatural dumpster.
I couldn’t help but scream a little then.
The people walking by jumped and shot wary glances my way as they circled around me.
My phone buzzed. I moved the box to my hip and slipped my cell out of my pocket.
It was a text from Ellie. How did it go?
I pursed my lips and typed back. Remember when you said being turned into a werewolf was a legit excuse to call in sick?
Yeah?
It was a legit reason to get fired too.
A series of shocked emojis flashed across my screen.
OMG! Three dots appeared as she typed. Don’t do anything crazy.
My best friend knew me well.
Too late. I already gave my former boss the finger.
Shit. Stay there. I’ll bring ice cream.
I looked at my box of desk supplies and sighed before messaging back.
I have a better idea. How about we go check out that new cafe you were telling me about? I need caffeine and sugar. Lots of it.
Sure. I’ll be there in fifteen.
I was sitting on a bench opposite my former workplace looking at the sky and pondering how my life choices had led me to this moment when Ellie turned up with Bo on a leash. She was oblivious to the admiring glances she was drawing as she bounced along the sidewalk like a bunny.
My gaze dropped to Bo. “What’s he doing here?”
“He looked bored,” Ellie said.
“I was bored,” Bo panted. “Also, I wanted to make sure you weren’t planning any revenge murders. Though if you are, I know where to hide bodies.”
I frowned. “Have you been watching the true crime channels?”
Bo wagged his tail. “They’re fun. I didn’t know humans could be so dastardly.”
It was beginning to dawn on me that my dog might have a more extensive vocabulary than my best friend.
“What’d Bo say?” Ellie asked curiously.
“Nothing you want to know.” I decided to change the subject before my dog could offer more criminal suggestions. “So where is this place?”
Ten minutes later, we were standing in front of Bean Me Up. The coffee shop occupied the ground floor of a converted Victorian townhouse in Sycamore Grove, Amberford’s artistic district. Macramé plant holders and dream catchers decorated the bay windows. A hand-painted sign on the sidewalk promised Ethically Sourced Coffee and Good Vibes.
I squinted at the building. Something about it felt different from other coffee shops.
“There’s a vampire at the counter,” Bo said helpfully. “And I’m pretty sure that guy with the dreadlocks sitting by the window is a werewolf.”
I grimaced. “So that’s what those smells are.”