43. I’m Done
I’M DONE
TARA
“I know I sound like a broken record, but you know you can talk to me about anything, right?” Aiden murmurs into my hair the next morning when I roll into his arms.
I nod, burrowing into his side and slinging my arm over his stomach. “I know. I just… I’m not used to having someone to turn to when things get rough. It’s always just been me.”
He runs his hand up and down my back and brushes his lips against my temple.
“That’s not true, though. From what you’ve told me, your friends have always been there for you.
Look at Bri and Kylie. You were struggling, and Bri showed up to take you to buy a cat because Kylie reached out to her from half a world away.
You’ve got so many people who love you. You just need reminding of that every now and then, and that’s okay. But you’re not alone.”
I lift my head to look him in the eye. He fixes a beautiful smile on me, causing the butterflies in my stomach to flutter, and I marvel for about the millionth time that he always has my back.
Even when I tried to run, he was just there, refusing to let my own self doubt affect what we have together .
Unable to find the words to articulate everything I’m feeling, I lean down and kiss him softly. He cups the back of my head as he kisses me back, his actions unhurried, like he has all the time in the world just to lie in bed with me like this.
Unfortunately, we need to get up or we’ll be late for work, so I pull away reluctantly, placing a hand on his chest.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He reaches up to push my hair back behind my ear. “Always.”
We arrive at work, and I grip Aiden’s hand tightly when we exit the elevator together. I fight the urge to let go when Celeste’s gaze drops to our entwined fingers, and Aiden gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Hi Celeste. How are you this morning?” he asks, holding her gaze.
She hesitates for a moment before replying. “Um, good. How about you guys?”
“We’re great, aren’t we, Tara?” He smiles at me, and I clear my throat.
“Yep. Couldn’t be better.”
“Oh, and Celeste? I’d appreciate it if you ask Felicity to come and see me when she gets in,” he says, and her eyes go wide.
There’s no mistaking his tone. He wants to have a frank discussion with the leader of the office mean girls. While I want to tell him to let it go, it’s not just me that she’s spreading lies about, and he has every right to step in.
Celeste nods, swallowing hard, and I allow Aiden to lead me through to my desk.
He gives me a quick peck on the lips in full view of everyone before continuing on to his office.
I marvel at how he can just act like he’s unaffected by the weight of so many eyes on us.
I wish I was even half as cool about it all, but right now, I just want to shrink down into a little ball and hide from everyone .
As the morning goes on, it’s obvious that something else is going on amongst the advisers and upper management. They’ve all been pulled into an unscheduled meeting. Felicity hasn’t appeared at all, which has me on edge, torn between relief and anxiety.
By lunch time, I’ve barely been able to finish a single task, and I wonder if I should just call it a day.
Aiden comes out of the meeting with a troubled look on his face, making a beeline right for me.
Alarm bells start ringing loudly in my head. “What’s going on?” I ask as soon as he reaches my side.
“Darryl quit abruptly last night, so we’ve had to spread his clients out amongst the rest of us until his replacement can take over.”
Despite the additional workload for everyone, a jolt of excitement runs through me. “Who’s replacing him?”
Is this it? Is this my chance to move up into a senior role finally?
But the next words out of Aiden’s mouth deflate me entirely. “They are going to train Felicity to take over.”
I freeze, staring at him open mouthed while I process his words. “You can’t be serious?”
Aiden sighs, raking a hand through his already messy hair. It looks like he’s been running his hands through it constantly.
“Apparently she approached Dad first thing this morning when she found out and put herself forward for the role. Made a convincing argument about how there is so little opportunity for the female staff in this office to move up and that it was time there was a female adviser.”
I shake my head. “But… She’s not even an assistant?” I struggle to keep my voice low, anger beginning to overcome me.
“I know. I am going to talk to Dad, but it seems like it’s all already been decided.” His expression tells me that he’s as concerned about this as I am.
Felicity swans past us on her way to the printer, a vindictive smile on her face as her eyes meet mine, and something inside me snaps.
Jumping to my feet, I stalk towards David’s office. I don’t care in this moment that he’s my boyfriend’s father, even as said boyfriend follows quickly behind me.
I knock loudly on the open door before walking in. David is sitting behind his desk, looking at something on his computer, and he glances up with a surprised expression. Aiden closes the door behind us, but I don’t care who has to hear what I’m about to say.
“Why did you give Darryl’s job to Felicity?” I demand, and David’s eyes widen.
“How did you know about that already?” His gaze flicks from me to Aiden, who is still standing behind me.
“She deserved to know,” Aiden replies without a hint of apology in his voice.
David’s eyes narrow before he looks back at me. “I don’t understand why this is such a concern.”
“Because she literally has no experience with clients. You’ve promoted her over several more qualified staff without even giving us a chance to apply for the job.
It was one thing to slide your son in over our heads - sorry babe -” I shoot Aiden an apologetic look before continuing, “but to completely disregard the rest of us in favour of someone who has no experience and a reputation for being a truly horrible human being to every other person in this office is something else.” I’m practically breathing fire at this point, and where I’d normally be trying to reign my anger in, this time I don’t hold back.
“You have repeatedly overlooked everything I’ve brought to this company in the time I’ve worked here.
You’ve refused to acknowledge the hard work I’ve put in and the fact that I have a genuine relationship with the clients.
One thing Felicity had right was the lack of opportunity for the women in this office, but you’ve given the role to the wrong woman. ”
David stares at me, his mouth hanging open. Deflating, I realise that no matter what I say, nothing is going to change for me here. I have nothing more to give, and as Aiden takes a step closer to stand immediately behind me, I know what I need to do.
“You know what David, I quit. I’m giving you my notice. I have so much leave owing to me, because I worked my ass to the bone here, so I will be leaving effective immediately and you will pay me out for every single second of that leave. I’m done.”
Despite his spluttered protest, I have made up my mind.
I turn on my heel and march right back out of his office.
It’s obvious from the looks on my now ex-colleagues faces they heard every word.
A few of the women give me nods of approval, while others simply just stare, openmouthed, while I gather any personal belongings together and throw them into my handbag.
Aiden follows behind a few moments later, his expression wary while I slam my work pass on top of my laptop before picking up my phone to message Chris.
Tara
Just basically told David to go fuck himself. That job offer still on the table?
His response comes through almost instantly.
Chris
Of course. Well done. When can you start?
“I’ll see you at home,” I tell Aiden, who nods before kissing me on the forehead.
With every eye in the office on me, I turn and walk out without another word, unable to believe that this is how it’s ending.
Good luck to them all. I know I’m moving on to bigger and better opportunities than those available to me at Sanderson and Chambers.
For the first time in a long time, I feel confident in myself.