Bereft - Jennifer Foor Page 0,4

clients. I’ve taken time away from my family for some of those opportunities. I put my career before anything else, and you think it’s okay to sit me down and let me go after all the years I devoted myself to your company?” I stood, because I simply wasn’t able to sit there with his good-for-nothing grandson smiling back at me. I pointed to the man I’d always admired. “This isn’t you. It’s him. You’re a good man. You’d never do this to the people you care about – to the clients who trusted their name with you.”

I had to walk out, even though Chad had called my name for me to come back. Hot tears were pouring from my eyes. Nothing could save my job, so I, at least, needed to walk away with what little bit of reputation I still had.

Once I reached the main cubicle area, I was met with many emotional co-workers. Women were hugging and sniffling, while I could clearly hear some of the guys talking amongst themselves. Some were even on the phone, possibly with family or clients. They gave me disturbed looks and shook their heads. One guy, a techie, ambled over in front of my path. “Did you know? Did you know everything was going to shit?”

I cocked my neck and gave him a once over. “Did you? Don’t you think I’d have the decency to make it to the meeting if I was aware what was going on? We’re all in the same boat.” I looked around the room and saw others had chimed in on our short conversation. “If I were you, I’d gather your things and leave the building. Take your client list and start making calls. If this is how we’re going down, we’re taking our people with us. Don’t let that little prick take everything from us. We’ve built this company, all of us together. The people we represent will want to stay with us. We have relationships. Use them to your advantage. If the company is going to shit, let’s leave it with nothing worth saving.”

In unison several people agreed. For a second I felt empowered until I got to my desk and understood what had transpired. I was losing my job. Since I’d been in upper management, I didn’t exactly have a huge client list. I’d passed that torch off to someone below me. I’d be shit out of luck, without a paddle in a very deep pool. They didn’t say how long we were expected to continue, but from my standpoint I was done. Without regard for anyone else, I threw nearly twenty years worth of memories into a small paper box, including some office supplies they’d no longer be needing, and exited on the elevators.

Chad came running toward the closing doors. “Rachel, wait, please. We need to discuss this like adults.”

I closed my eyes until I felt the machine operating. There would be no goodbyes, mostly because I couldn’t handle them. I wouldn’t want to. Looking in the eyes of the people who would struggle, lose homes, possibly everything, made me want to commit acts of murder on the little asshole upstairs. I hoped he choked on the large amount of money he’d be receiving for his grandfather’s hard work. Guys like him made me ill. He’d probably invest it all in some gym that would be out of business within a year of opening its doors.

Because of my shock, I was unable to ask about my benefits, my retirement funds, and any kind of severance, not that it would matter. With a daughter still in college I’d have to struggle to find something else that would pay enough to get me by. I couldn’t let this break me; or end her hopes of graduating from a four year university.

This was devastating – the end of living comfortably. At my age I’d be fighting people the same age as my daughter for a position. Companies weren’t going to hire a washed up employee when they could pick up someone for half the money as a starting salary, and teach them the basics to get by.

This was a travesty. All I could think about was going home, putting on a pair of sweatpants and crying until my husband got home, which would be late in the evening. I thought about him holding me; somehow making my fears go away. Grayson was always good about that. He took care of us - of me. He