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Relief was already setting in. “Thank you, Barb. I’ll remember all of this at bonus time.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Sidney, I don’t have your back because I want more money. You pay me extremely well. You’re dear to me, Sidney, and we’ve worked together for a long time. You’re a very good woman. I tell my daughter all the time that you built this all on our own. No handouts. She’s in college, and I want her to know she can do anything she sets her mind to. Just like you.”
My throat tightened with emotion. “That means a great deal to me. I needed your honesty. Thank you so much, Barb.”
She nodded and stood, saying, “I’m not going to say another word about this. It’s between you and me.”
“Thanks, Barb. Now let me get this over with. Please, send Nicole in.”
I closed down my email while I waited for Nicole to arrive. When I had to fire someone, I liked to have time to think about what I’d say beforehand. I’d have to wing it this time.
Nicole’s expression was impassive when she walked in. I gestured at a chair and she sat down.
“This is never an easy conversation,” I said. “We got off to a rocky start and things never seemed to get better. I have to let you go, Nicole.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Fired? I’m fired?”
“Yes. I’ll pay you two weeks severance and any holiday pay we owe you.”
“This is bullshit,” she muttered. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“We’ve talked about this before. Failure to perform the duties assigned, a poor attitude, unwillingness to follow rules—”
“What rules?” she demanded.
“The dress code. You were recently written up for inappropriate dress at a work function. And now Henry Walsh is angry because he’s left multiple messages for me and has not received a call back.”
“I figured if he knew you that well, he’d have your cell number.”
I cringed inwardly over how long I’d delayed this decision. This girl was completely clueless and there was no point continuing the conversation. “This has not worked out, Nicole. You have to leave.”
“Can I get a letter of recommendation?”
“No.”
She rolled her eyes and glared at me across my desk. “I know what this is about. It’s because I caught you getting felt up by Killian in here the other day.”
“His hands were on my shoulders. That’s hardly him feeling me up.”
“Please. I know you’re sleeping with him. He comes to your office every day.”
“So does Sam the janitor.”
Her face became a mask of fury and spit flew from her mouth as she spoke. “You’re a joke. You tell me the players are hands off and then you take the captain of the team as your personal sex slave.”
“I have nothing more to say to you,” I said. “We’re done here.”
She folded her arms over her chest and gave me a smug look. “I want six months severance and the best letter of recommendation ever written. Otherwise I’m telling everyone I got fired for catching you two in your office going at it.”
My killer instinct was boiling just below the surface. “That would be a lie, Nicole. And nothing would compel me to write a letter of recommendation for you. You are, hands down, the worst employee I’ve ever had, and you are your own worst enemy.”
“Everyone’s right about you,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “You are a bitch.”
“Go clean out your office, hand in your keys and leave the building.”Killian
Sidney’s words from last night still echoed in my head. She wanted me to take the call to Indy, pure and simple. Actually, I didn’t have much choice because my contract required it. Up until recently, I’d managed to avoid getting the call with my reckless behavior. But she’d forced the issue by making a call to her hockey scout friend. To give her credit, she probably did it with the best of intentions, but I didn’t need her interference. I could manage my own career my own way.
I’d been silent all morning at practice. The guys knew I was in a mood and avoided me. I figured a hard practice and weight lifting would work my anger away, but I was still every bit as pissed off as I had been first thing this morning. I had to do something about it.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I thought about the confrontation I was about to have with Sidney. It was a bad idea to do this right now, but I had to. The resentment had built to a level I couldn’t keep inside anymore.
I opened the main office door and found Sidney leaning against Barb’s desk. They were talking, but stopped to look over at me.
“Hi,” Sid said, smiling.
“Hi, Killian,” Barb said.
“Good morning, ladies. Sid, have you got a minute?”
“Sure, come on in.”
She opened the door to her office and I followed her in. She closed it behind us and I sat in my usual seat in front of her desk.
