25 #2
“Good morning,” Trudy spoke confidently as she strutted in her six inch heels.
Of course, all eyes were on her, but she loved the attention.
The women and men stared, all for different reasons.
As usual, the whispering started, but that was nothing new.
She was used to being talked about. That was common when you worked with a bunch of jealous bitches.
Trudy ignored it all and took the elevators up to her office.
She wanted to get right to work but she had to see what needed to be done first.
As soon as she stepped off the elevator, her supervisor and his boss were waiting in the hallway.
That was strange seeing as how Mr. Daniels, the man who owned the firm, didn’t even live in Louisiana.
She could count on one hand how many times she saw him in all the years that she’d worked there.
He usually did all of his meetings via Zoom or Teams.
“Hey, Trudy, can we have a brief moment with you, please?” Barry, her supervisor asked politely.
“Sure, Barry. Just let me put my briefcase in my office.”
“That can wait. We need to see you in the conference room.”
Both men turned and walked away with Trudy following close behind. She took the seat that was being offered and looked at both men in confusion.
“What is this all about?” Trudy was curious to know what was going on. She had been out of the office for a few weeks so she knew that she hadn’t done anything work-related. More than likely, it had something to do with the haters who she worked with.
“You’ve been an asset to this firm for many years, Trudy. You’ve helped to build the firm’s immaculate reputation and it really pains me that we’re even here right now. It’s unfortunate, but I’m afraid that I have to terminate your employment, effective immediately.”
Barry looked sad as he spoke but he had a job to do.
“Wait… what?” Trudy gasped in shock. She was not expecting to hear that at all. She felt like the room started spinning as she held her chest.
“I’m so sorry, Trudy but we have to protect not only the firm but we have an obligation to our other employees and clients as well.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“When you were hired, you signed an ethical clause that you violated,” Mr. Daniels spoke up sternly.
“How? What did I do that was unethical?”
“A very sexually explicit video was sent to not only me, it was sent to every employee at the firm. We’re not here to judge your personal life, but the firm’s name is at stake. And I’m sorry but I had to report it to the state’s disciplinary board.”
Unlike Barry, Mr. Daniels seemed more angry than sad. He had a look of disgust on his face, and Trudy was mortified. Tears fell from her eyes as the shock wore off and the reality of the situation finally hit her.
“I don’t want to make this any worse than it already is. You don’t have to pack up your office today. I can arrange for security to meet you here on the weekend, so no one can see you leave.” Barry really liked her but he had a job to do.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that. Thanks so much for the opportunity and for always being so kind.”
Trudy was mortified as she stood up and walked out of the room.
Instead of waiting for the elevator, she took the stairs to the first floor.
She looked at the floor as she hastily made her way to the exit amid the whispers and laughter.
She felt like a fool in front of the same women who she’d belittled multiple times before.
She got into her car and sped out of the parking lot, thinking of a lie that she could tell her husband about her termination.
Tears blurred her vision as she drove home in a daze.
All the late nights and early mornings seemed to be in vain since she knew without a doubt that her law career was over.
Trudy hadn’t checked her work emails in a while but she decided to pull it up when she was stopped at a red light.
Her heart dropped when she saw the email that was sent to all of the employees.
It was the same video that Clover had, so there was no need to wonder how they got it.
Once again, Trent’s bullshit was costing her, but the price was way out of her budget now. She hated Carmelo and she cursed the day they met. That too was something that her son could be blamed for. Had he not gone to jail, they would have never crossed paths.
Trudy pulled up to her house and smiled when she saw both her daughters’ cars parked out front.
She was surprised that they were there, especially on a work day.
She knew that her grandkids weren’t with them because it was also a school day.
More than likely, they were there to spend time with their father since they assumed she wouldn’t be home.
She pulled down the mirror in her car and tried her best to not look the same way she felt.
After fixing her makeup, she got out of the car with a forced smile before walking into her house.
She expected to see everyone downstairs but the living room, kitchen and den were empty.
Trudy made her way upstairs and paused when she walked into her room.
Melvin was pulling things from the closet while their daughters placed them in his suitcases and duffel bags.
Her oldest daughter, Melissa, looked up and Trudy met her bloodshot eyes.
She could tell that she had been crying.
She frowned at her right before jumping across the bed and grabbing her by her suit jacket.
“What kind of fucking wife and mother are you!?”
Trudy was taken aback but she was happy that Melvin and their youngest daughter were there to hold her back. Melissa was always the more vocal and feisty one of her daughters.
“Excuse me? Don’t you dare disrespect me like that.”
“You disrespected your damn self by being a whore.” Her youngest daughter looked at her with hatred in her eyes.
Trudy was hurt. Granted, her relationship with her daughters had been strained lately, but they never talked to her that way before. And what hurt more was her husband standing there letting them do it.
“Melvin? What’s going on? What are you doing?” Trudy asked, even though she could clearly see what was happening.
“I’m getting the hell away from you before I lose my career by murdering you with my bare hands. You’re a disgrace to this marriage and this entire family. How could you degrade yourself that way? Your mere presence disgusts me.”
“I’m making you an appointment as soon as I can. You need to get tested, Dad. There’s no telling how many men she’s been with over the past few years. I told you not to forgive her the first time.
I knew that it was gonna happen again because she’s a selfish bitch who only cares about what makes her happy. And you kissed your grandkids with that same mouth. How fucking dare you!” Melissa spat angrily.
Trudy didn’t have to wonder anymore. Apparently, they had seen the video too.
Clover was an evil, vindictive bitch but she was curious as to how she got her husband’s information.
In Clover’s eyes, she didn’t keep her end of the deal.
Trent was a grown man and it was hard for her to keep up with him.
Her daughters were furious with her when she cheated on their father the first time, and it took a while before they forgave her.
She wasn’t sure if they would forgive her that time around, especially since there was video proof.
“Melvin, please, just let me explain.” Tears fell from Trudy’s eyes as she pleaded with her husband.
“Explain it to my lawyers. Don’t make this anymore difficult than it already is. I’m filing for divorce and never seeing you again would be too soon.”
“Baby, please. I know we can work this out if we just talk.” Trudy reached out to touch him, but the look on his face made her pause midair.
“Don’t you ever in your pathetic life touch me again,” Melvin growled as he looked at her hand like it was covered in shit.
“Let’s go, Dad. Get what’s most important and we’ll get the rest another time. We’ve been here long enough.” Melissa, as usual, seemed to be the ring leader.
Both their daughters helped their father carry out his bags to his car.
Trudy looked out of her bedroom window helplessly as she watched her husband get into his car and drive away.
She fell to her knees and cried until she was all out of tears.
She stayed on the floor so long that it was dark when she finally decided to get up.
In just one day, she’d lost everything. Her job and her husband were gone, and she was almost sure that she was gonna be disbarred.
Unless they said otherwise, she would still be able to practice law until a final decision was made and that could take up to two years or more.
Even then, she could appeal the decision.
She was sure that word was gonna get around and she would be too ashamed to look for employment elsewhere.
Besides the account that she shared with her husband, Trudy had a nice savings account of her own.
She couldn’t live off of it forever, but it would last long enough for her to figure things out.
She was over fifty, so starting a new career at her age wouldn’t be easy.
Sadly, she didn’t have much of a choice unless she decided to put her pride aside and continued doing what she loved most.