Don’t be stupid, Raina. Save for the first few months, then you can get those Louboutin sandals this summer.
Plan in place, I strolled into the lobby of the building.
“Hey, Raina!” the security guy greeted me.
“Hey, Greg. How’s it going?” I pointed to his polyester pants. “How are your knees?”
“Oh, I can’t complain.” He patted his leg. “Got my replacement coming up soon.”
“I hope that knee replacement doesn’t make you lose your weatherman power,” I teased, as he often predicted rain when his knees ached.
“Ha-ha. We’ll see.”
“All right, Greg. Talk to you later. Gotta go grovel to the big bosses!” I made a sad face that I knew would bring a smile to his face.
“You’ll be fine. You’ve been missed.”
I rushed to the elevator, my skirt swishing around my ankles. Once the doors slid open to the office, I strode to the front desk. “Hey, Sheila!”
A grin spilled across the receptionist’s chestnut-brown face. “Hey, lady! It’s been so boring without you around. Glad you’re back.”
“Girl, I’m happy to be back! A sista has bills to pay.”
“Right!” Sheila laughed and then leaned over to grab the phone. She cleared her throat and transitioned from homegirl to professional. “Mr. Rossi, Raina just arrived.”
My heart petered at the name. I knew I’d be meeting with Rhonda and Franklin, the pain-in-the-ass GM, but I didn’t realize the station owner would make an appearance.
Sheila gave me a smile and wink. “I’ll send her back.” She replaced the phone on the cradle. “Go on back to conference room F.”
Nodding, I concentrated on walking to my destination and breathing. The breathing part was difficult. It felt like someone had pricked a small hole in my lungs and slowly let the air seep out, giving way to quick, panicked breaths. Rounding the corner, I finally arrived. The pristine glass doors gave me a glimpse of my sentencers. Seated on the same side of a rectangular table were Rhonda, Franklin, and Tony Rossi, the owner.
Pushing open the door, I walked into the room and put on my warrior face. “Hello, everyone.” I sat on the opposite side of the table. Bottles of water and cups as well as bags of my favorite green tea were placed in the middle of the table.
Has to be a good sign, right?
Hands shaking, I grabbed the hot water decanter, poured the liquid into the plastic cup, and then settled into my seat.
“Good evening, Ms. Williams,” Tony greeted me. Tony’s slicked-back hair brushed the collar of his gray sharkskin suit. A small round emblem pinned to his tie matched his glinting pinkie ring. All he needed was a cigar and two broad-shouldered guards to complete his made-man persona. But instead of hardened soldiers, he had soft civilians.
Franklin, the GM, had on his usual uniform—a blue button-up shirt with a lanyard that held his employee ID. He looked like an asshole assistant manager at Kmart. Franklin, who never liked me, cleared his throat and simply said, “Raina.”
Rhonda fidgeted with the antique-looking bracelet on her wrist. Her face spasmed between drug-induced happy and drug-raid nervous.
I dunked my green tea bag into the water.
“Let’s get right to it, shall we?” Tony smoothed his tie. “While we appreciate your hard work, we,” he gestured to Rhonda and Franklin, “feel it’s best that you part ways with the station. You have to understand that you put us all in a tight spot when you verbally attacked a loyal listener.”
My cheeks blazed. “He cheated on his wife and gave her an STD.”
“It’s not for us to judge.” Franklin’s voice was hard. “You had a job to do, and you screwed the pooch, girlie.”
“Raina,” I replied back, my voice tight.
“Huh?” He twitched his head like a cocker spaniel.
“Not ‘girlie,’ Raina. And this girl, as you love to call me, brought you thousands of listeners, major sponsorship deals, and an offer for national syndication. Now you want to drop me because I told an asshole the truth?”
“The decision has been made, Ms. Williams.” Tony’s squinty brown eyes held no remorse.
I squeezed the cup in my hand so hard the lid popped. They made me drive twenty miles to get fired? Hell, they could’ve called or sent an email. And fucking Rhonda could’ve given me the heads-up. I shouldn’t be surprised that her by-the-book ass hadn’t bothered to call.
I threw a poisonous look at my ex-producer and took a deep breath to control the angry pulse thundering in my ears.
“We aren’t leaving you empty-handed.” Rhonda finally spoke