ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟜𝟛
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The elevator doors opened with a soft ding. I stepped out before immediately hearing heavy footsteps behind me.
I turned. A security guard.
He offered me a polite nod. "Ms. West."
"Can I help you?" I stared.
"I'm accompanying you."
My eyebrows pulled together. "Uh, excuse me?"
"Mr. Holmes asked that I remain with you while you collect your belongings."
Stupid Ted.
I stare at him dumbfounded. "You've got to be kidding."
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"No, you're not. If you were sorry, you wouldn't be here right now."
He looked genuinely uncomfortable. "I'm just following instructions."
I let out a slow breath through my nose.
Of course Ted did this. I'd become such a threat that I couldn't even pack a cardboard box unsupervised.
Seriously, what had I been reduced to?
I wasn't a little kid.
"I know where my office is." I informed him.
"I understand."
"I've worked here for years. I don't need an escort."
"I understand."
The guy sounded like a literal robot. What type of brainwashing technique did Ted use on him?
I looked at him. "Do you only know one sentence?"
"I can assure you I know several." He almost let out a smile.
"Name another."
"Mr. Holmes asked that I stay with you."
I shut my eyes. "Oh, I hate him."
The guard politely pretended he hadn't heard that. Fine, because I wasn't taking it back.
We walked in silence. The familiar hallway suddenly didn't feel as familiar anymore.
People looked up as we passed, some immediately looked away, the other few noticed the security guard beside me.
It felt like I was being walked to detention. What was I? A seven-year-old child?
By the time we reached my office, I was already exhausted.
I stopped outside the door before turning toward the guard. "Can I ask one favor?"
"If it's reasonable." He nodded.
"I just..." I swallowed. "Uhm..I packed this office. My daughter drew pictures that were hung there, and my husband helped me carry furniture into that room."
"I'd just like these minutes," My voice quieted. "To myself, please."
He looked toward the closed office, then back at me.
"I'll wait outside."
Relief immediately washed over me. "Thank you."
"I'll be right here." He stepped a respectful distance away.
I nodded, then reached for the handle.
Deep breaths. I hadn't been here in a while.
The first thing I saw when opening the door was Georgia.
She looked up from behind my desk.
No- her desk now.
She gave me a smile cold enough to already irritate me.
"Well," She leaned back comfortably. "I was wondering when you'd finally come."
Every muscle in my body tightened.
I looked around the room. Everything had changed. Seemed like she'd made herself comfortable, and all.
All my books were rearranged; my plant was gone.
It looked wrong. Not like Georgia had a sense of style anyway.
Georgia followed my eyes. "I've made a few improvements."
"Did you?" I looked back at her.
"I think it feels more professional."
Interesting word, considering she was sitting in my office.
"I'm here to get my things." I took one slow breath.
"I assumed," She folded her hands together. "Ted finally told you?"
I didn't answer.
"I have to admit.. I was beginning to think you'd never come."
I looked at her for a long moment. Every instinct I had wanted to argue- to tell her exactly what I thought.
Instead, I smiled. "Georgia."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm asking you nicely. Leave."
Her smile disappeared. "I'm working."
"So work somewhere else."
"This is my office."
My jaw tightened. "No, it's your assignment. This office just happens to come with it."
She laughed once. "You still can't let it go."
"I can."
"Clearly not."
"I'm trying very hard to remain civil."
"That's what you people do. Pretend you have manners, but you all are just a big ball of anger!"
I always knew she was jealous of me; this was just another way for her to say it.
I looked directly at her, then I stepped farther into the room.
"I'm asking one last time. Please leave, I'd like to pack my belongings. In private."
Georgia stood slowly. She picked up a folder from the desk.
"I can see why Ted made the decision. It's quieter here now. Much quieter."
Her smile widened. "I'll let you have your little goodbye."
She walked toward the door before stopping beside me. "But you should probably hurry. I've got meetings here after lunch."
She walked out, and the door clicked shut behind her. I stood in the middle of what used to be my office, staring at the room I'd once called mine.
For years this room had smelled like coffee, the peppermint Cameron used to pack for me, and whatever candle Dannah insisted on bringing every Christmas.
A soft knock came from the other side of the door.
"Ms. West?" The security guard. "I'll need you to make this as quick as you can."
I shut my eyes. "Just give me a couple minutes."
"Of course." His footsteps moved a little farther away.
I let out a slow breath before quietly whispering, "Let's just get this over with."
I grabbed the cardboard box sitting on one of the chairs.
Oh, great- they'd already had one waiting for me. I wasn't sure why that bothered me so much. It meant this whole thing had been planned without my knowledge.
I walked around the office slowly. My law books sat on a shelf, followed by the framed certificate Cameron surprised me with after my first huge case.
I picked up a coffee mug sitting on the shelf beneath it.
Cameron had given it to me after I lost my first trial. He'd smiled so proudly while handing it over.
"Nobody starts perfect." He had told me.
Well Cameron, not starting perfect gets you here.
I swallowed. Everything disappeared into the box one item at a time. The office became emptier. Pieces of me were disappearing with every shelf I cleared.
I noticed the bottom cabinet. There was this little cubby tucked beneath the bookshelf. It was shut.
I frowned. I knew I'd left things in there.
I knelt down. The handle stuck slightly before finally giving way.
Basically everything was shoved inside. No organization at all. Someone had cleaned around it and decided they couldn't be bothered.
Georgia. That low piece of filth.
My chest tightened as I slowly pulled everything out.
On the top, saw a crumpled piece of colored drawing. I had remembered it- it was one of Jordyn's first 'artworks' she made in kindergarten.
Across the top, in shaky purple crayon read My Mommy + Daddy.
I could still remember her climbing onto my lap, proudly announcing she'd made us "look skinny."
I laughed so hard I'd cried that day. But now, I was crying for an entirely different reason.
Underneath, I found another picture. This one was Cameron and me. We were at the beach surfing. Our honeymoon. I smiled despite myself.
Another photograph showcased Jordyn asleep on Cameron's chest. His arm wrapped around her protectively while she'd drooled all over his shirt.
The office blurred.
I quickly wiped my eyes.
Another knock sounded at the door. "Ms. West?"
The guard again. "How much longer?"
How impatient could someone be?
"Just a couple more minutes." I sniffled once.
"Take your time, I'll be here."
I carefully stacked every photo together I had found a pressed flower Cameron had picked during one of our anniversary walks, a bracelet Jordyn made from cheap plastic beads, and a movie ticket from our first date.
I tucked them carefully into the very top of the box.
When I finally looked around the office, there wasn't a single trace of me left. I picked up the box. It was heavier than it looked.
I took one last glance around the office, then quietly turned off the light.
The guard straightened when I stepped into the hallway. "You're all set?"
"Yup." I nodded.
He glanced at the box. "I'll walk you out."
I frowned, stopping dead in my tracks.
"Sorry, what do you mean walk me out?"
"Mr. Holmes' instructions."
I stared at him. "Seriously?"
"I'm sorry."
"You keep saying that." I rolled my eyes.
"I know."
We started toward the elevators. The box dug into my arms.
Halfway there I sighed, glancing over. "You know, it's honestly a shame."
"Ma'am?" He looked at me.
"You seem nice." I say.
"Oh, thank you."
"And yet, you work under Ted Holmes. A shame, isn't it?"
He didn't answer.
"I mean..." I continued. "I hope they're paying you well."
"Actually, no." I corrected myself. "I know they probably aren't."
He gave a slight smile. "I do alright."
"Oh, I doubt it. I've met Ted. He probably calculates payroll with a calculator from 1993."
"He probably reuses his paperclips...he definitely still irons his socks." I counted on my fingers.
The guard coughed once. I couldn't tell if he was hiding a laugh or choking.
I waved one hand dramatically. "And don't even get me started on this place, terrible coffee, the copier jamming every Tuesday."
He looked over. "It jams on Thursdays."
"Really? It's Thursdays now?"
He nodded.
"Huh.." I thought about that for a little while. "Probably still Ted's fault."
The elevator doors opened. We stepped inside. I continued talking the entire ride down.
"Also! Another thing, making me pack my own office? What kind of management strategy is that?
"He couldn't even send an email? I mean, I drove all the way here."
The guard simply listened. Every now and then offering a polite, mhm or a I see. It was annoying honestly. I didn't know Ted made his guards act like robots.
Another reason why he's the worst person on planet Earth!
By the time we reached the lobby, I was mostly talking just to hear myself complain. Outside, I walked across the parking lot.
The guard followed.
I stopped, turning around to face him. The cardboard box was hurting my aching arms at this point.
"You're still here?"
He nodded. "I'm to remain with you until you've reached your vehicle."
"What?" I stared at him.
"Mr. Holmes' instructions."
"What? You think I'm going to steal the building on my way out?"
"I'm simply following orders."