at his house with a daughter he’s known for fewer hours than the amount of time he’s been fever-free.
Oh, and did I mention that I didn’t tell Gavin yet I’m resigning at Morgan-Beckwith? I’m leaving him a letter on his desk, like the coward I am.
The irony isn’t lost on me that just as he finally won’t be my boss again, I signed a contract to make him my boss in another capacity.
I’m not sure which choices I’ve made are most questionable, but on a scale of one to completely ridiculous, I’m not even on the chart. I’m like a tiny speck in the distance because I’ve been shot out of a cannon straight to Crazytown.
When I walk into Annette’s office in HR and hand her my letter, she blinks up at me in surprise as she reads. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Do you have another job lined up?”
There’s the kicker. I have interviews. No job. Emphasis on the yet. But I figure if I’m going to help Gavin with Ella, it’s not like I can take on full-time work now anyway. She’s more important. And I just can’t walk into this office anymore. Today feels like a walk of shame in the worst way. I can’t meet anyone’s eyes, like if I do, they’ll somehow know that last night, I was in Gavin’s bed. Not like that, but still.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell Annette. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
“Anything in particular you want to talk about?” Annette asks.
“There are multiple reasons for this, but I will say that I think this place needs a complete overhaul of its corporate culture. Working here feels like being chum tossed into shark-infested waters.”
This is probably the most honest I’ve ever been within these walls, and it feels so good not to hold back a single thing. Man, maybe I should have done this earlier.
Annette sputters. “Wow. I … had no idea you felt that way.”
I get to my feet. I need to get out of here and get packed to meet Gavin. “It shouldn’t be all that surprising. I’m sure you didn’t miss the Zoey-Bot remarks. Or the drawings in the break room. Or my cake.”
Annette’s cheeks flush, and she has the decency to look apologetic. “Uh, yes. I might have heard something about that.”
“I’m heading out for the rest of the day. I can fill out any paperwork when I get back.”
Here’s the secret: I gave my two weeks’ notice, but I don’t plan to come back to the office after today. As I’m making my way to my desk to clean out the few personal items I have, Roxana appears, like she’s been waiting behind the potted ferns to pounce.
“I thought you were sick,” Roxana says. “Nice black eye, by the way.”
“Thanks. You should see the other guy.”
Why did it take me quitting to release my tongue? I had no idea how empowering it would be not to hold so much back. Roxana’s face is priceless.
“Gavin and Nancy are the sick ones. So far, I’ve been spared.” I’ve been knocking back those immune support tablets that fizz and dissolve in water, hoping their anti-sick thingies do their job to make the disgusting taste worthwhile.
“You should probably keep your distance though, just in case.” I fake a cough, aiming it Roxana’s way. Mature? Nope. But I’m a woman with nothing to lose, and I’ve been on the receiving end of her ire for long enough. Abby would be proud.
“Are you in a hurry?” Roxana asks.
“I’m headed out of town.”
“Oh, really? That sounds intriguing. Going with anyone special? Maybe with someone who’s ‘sick’?”
The air quotes make me snort. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Wow. Someone’s in a mood this morning. PMS?”
I slam my desk drawer with a bit more force than necessary and plant my palms flat on the desk to give Roxana my death glare. “Maybe I just don’t like you and I’m not in the mood to listen to your passive-aggressive digs. Why do you have to bring hormones into it? You’d think by now women would be the ones to stop making period jokes.”
Roxana follows me to Nancy’s desk. The woman is harder to remove than a tick. Just as nasty too. At least my comments have rendered her temporarily speechless. When I retrieve the keys from Nancy’s top drawer and unlock Gavin’s door, Roxana’s brows hit her hairline.
“Making a special home delivery? Or is Gavin part of your weekend plans?”