CHAPTER FOUR
Mike kept his word and called her on Sunday. He’d gotten busy trying to finish a table for a friend and was lost in his work. He asked to take her to dinner on Tuesday evening and she finally agreed, although in her heart she thought she might cancel.
The entire way to work she felt a heaviness and dread in her chest. The moment she stepped off the elevators, she knew why.
“Everest, I need for you to come to my office,” said Samantha. She followed the woman knowing that this was not going to be good. When she took a seat, Samantha closed the door revealing Abigail in the other chair.
“Today will be your last day, Everest. We’re prepared to give you a severance package and retirement benefits,” she said coldly.
“Why? What did I do?” she whispered in a choked voice.
“What did you do?” scoffed Abigail. “You didn’t show up for two days!”
“I left voicemails for both of you. I was stuck in that damn elevator for hours, nearly losing my life. One call to the fire department and this can be resolved.”
“It won’t matter,” said Samantha. “Your job is being eliminated. The company is going through a reorganization and you are no longer need. We’ve been quite generous. I suggest you review the documents, at your home, and get them back to me right away.”
Everything in her body screamed to argue, to fight for what she loved but something was clawing at her, telling her not to.
“There’s a box at your desk to place your personal items inside. Don’t take too long,” smirked Abigail.
Everest shook her head in disbelief. She wanted desperately to scream and yell but she knew it wouldn’t matter. She took the manila envelope and walked toward her desk. Not one person looked up at her. Not one. Not even the one person she considered her friend, Alice.
Eighteen years with this company. Eighteen years of working nights, weekends, holidays, all to get the job done right. It didn’t matter. A thought filtered through her brain. A saying that she’d heard a long time ago.
“You will always be more loyal to the company, than they will be to you. Your job will be filled before your obituary is written.”
She wasn’t dead but it damn sure felt like a knife in the heart. Placing a few photos from vacations and a picture of the house she’d only recently bought, inside the box, she looked around and laughed out loud.
There was nothing else. Not one damn thing that would be a sign to say, ‘Everest Marshall worked here’. It was intentional by them, not her.
Samantha followed her to the elevator and then took her employee badge.
“I wish you luck, Everest,” she said coldly.
“No you don’t,” she grinned. “You don’t wish anything for me. That would take too much energy and emotion.” The other woman started to open her mouth and then closed it. When the elevator opened, Colt and Jordan stepped off, both smiling.
“Where are we meeting today, Everest?” asked Colt.
“I don’t know. Check with your boss.”
The doors slid closed and for a just a moment, Everest felt a panic attack rising in her chest. Before it could manifest, the doors opened and she stepped into the lobby and let out a long sigh.
It wasn’t filled with grief or sadness of any variety. It was filled with relief. Relief, she thought.
When she reached her car, she took off the high heels and pulled on a comfortable pair of shoes. She drove toward the river and treated herself to Café DuMonde. It was delicious and felt divinely decadent to take her time, not worried about work.
Her phone pinged with a text message.
I hope your day is starting out good. Looking forward to dinner tomorrow night. Please don’t cancel on me. I really like you.
She stared at it a moment, almost tempted to do exactly that, cancel. He was young, handsome, a great job and obviously skilled with wood-working. What did he see in her?
Not a great day. A story for tomorrow night.
She left the café and walked over to the Shops at Canal, treating herself to some retail therapy. It felt irresponsible at first but then she reminded herself of all the times she’d denied herself the new dress or the new bag. She deserved this. Today of all days she deserved it.
Tomorrow, she’d contemplate returning it all.