to pave the way to reconciliation with some breakfast. I went through a drive thru and ordered two breakfasts before going into the tax firm. When I walked into the office, I noticed a palpable tension. It was worse than ever.
That was to be expected after Monday.
I carried my bag of food to her office. Her office was dark. I checked the time and was surprised to see it was after nine. That was late for her, but I expected she worked late last night. I was disappointed but I wasn’t giving up.
I walked into my office, dodging the daggers that were shooting my way. I dropped the bag of breakfast food on my desk. I sat down and that was when I saw it.
I stared at the envelop with my name written on it. It was her writing. I didn’t have to open the letter to know what it said. “Fuck.”
I’d pushed her too far. I snatched it off the desk and practically tore it open. If Davin was here, he would be shouting “I told you so” as loud as he could. I had a moment when I knew I was stepping over the line. I knew it and I did it anyway because that was what I was used to. I expected people to just put up with my shit because they always did.
I began to read the letter. “I appreciate the chance to work at a job doing what I love. I have enjoyed my time with the firm, and I will miss the people I have come to appreciate and think of as friends. After a lot of thinking and wrestling with what is right for me and my family, I am leaving the firm. My son needs me, and I am putting his needs first.”
“Son?” I said aloud. “A kid?”
I remembered she mentioned a babysitter, but I had thought she was being sarcastic. She sure as hell didn’t look like a mom. At least not my idea of what a mom looked like. If she really did have a kid, I knew it was just an excuse. She’d been working all this time with the kid at home, and it wasn’t a problem, but now it was suddenly a big thing?
I didn’t buy it. She quit because of me. My asshole attitude had pushed her out. I realized the office had been awful quiet when I walked in. I wondered just how many others had quit. I got up and casually strolled through the maze of cubicles. None of them would look me directly in the eyes. I wondered if they knew she quit. Did she try to stage a walkout?
“Hello,” I said to the woman with the sick kid. I racked my brain trying to remember her name. “Lana, right?”
She offered a tight smile. “Yes.”
“How are you?” I asked. I was trying.
“Fine.”
“Have you seen Saige?” I asked casually.
“She was taking a personal day,” she answered tightly. “She’s been working twelve-hour days.”
I didn’t have to question her loyalty. It was evident. “I see,” I murmured. “Has anyone else taken a personal day?”
“Nobody else can afford to,” she snapped.
I nodded. “I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.”
She offered a tight smile mixed with a snort. She didn’t like me. I walked back to my office and closed the door. I picked up the letter and reread it. Lana thought Saige was taking a personal day. Did that mean she was coming back?
I read the words once again. No. She was gone. She didn’t want her people to know, which I was happy for. I would be dealing with a complete disaster if they knew she quit. There would be nothing keeping them at their jobs.
I sat in silence, the smell of muffins and eggs suddenly heavy in the room. I wasn’t hungry anymore. I was staring down defeat. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly worried. My new business was about to go belly up.
I grabbed my phone and called Davin. I was going to vent and then listen to him gloat because he warned me this would happen one day. It turned out that day was today. “Are you at the bar?” I asked him when he answered.
“Uh, it’s nine,” he said.
“I know what time it is, and I also know you go in early.”
He laughed. “Yes, I’m here. Damn, are you checking up on me?”
“No.”
There was a pregnant pause. “What happened?” he asked with a sigh. “Did