My supervisor was a short, thin, squirrely man who liked to manage by attempting intimidation. It had never really worked with me, even if I’d let him think so on occasion. Keeping a steady job was more important than getting into it with the powers that be. So I was calm and smiling as I sat across from his desk, my knees bending ridiculously. He liked to have low chairs on this side, so that he was taller on the other side. Another intimidation tactic I didn’t care for.
Roy didn’t say a word, just stared at me while twirling a pen through his fingers. He probably hoped I would break and ask what was going on. But I was done playing his games so I was content to sit there until he spoke.
He cracked after a few minutes. He tossed the pen on the desk, clasped his fingers together, and leaned forward, gaze never wavering. After another few seconds, he sighed. “Lawrence, something concerning has been brought to my attention.”
I always hated the way he said my name, the emphasis he put on it. No matter how many times I told him I preferred “Law.” Another mark for attempted intimidation that only irritated.
“Oh?” That was it. Nothing more, nothing less. He would have to spell it out.
Roy waited, but when I didn’t push either, he sighed. “Are you considering leaving us?”
Fucking Carl. I always knew the man was a brownnosing narc. “No.”
Roy’s expression changed to anger, for just a second, before he schooled his features again. “Is that so? Because I’m under the impression that you are.”
“I’m not considering it,” I said as calmly as possible. “The decision has been made. I will be leaving.”
And just like that, the anger was back, and Roy couldn’t disguise it fast enough. I understood it, to a degree. Not only was I one of the best techs, but he liked to have complete control over everything. And he didn’t. I did.
“That is unacceptable.” His skin mottled, like his anger was rising, though I had to give it to the man. He was doing his best to keep it out of his voice.
I shrugged one shoulder. “Sorry, Roy. You don’t get an opinion here.”
“You can’t quit, Lawrence,” he sneered, not even trying to keep it out of his tone anymore. “The detriment to the company—”
“Is not my problem. Please consider this my resignation.” I’d been planning to tender my resignation tomorrow, to give a full two weeks. I’d pack and make arrangements during the evenings, and then have a full week to drive east with Cait and the kids. But this was better. “Effective immediately.”
“You can’t do that! Two weeks’ notice, at least, is required.”
I stood, ready for this to be done. “Arizona is a work-at-will state. I can, in fact, do that. Are we done?”
Roy stood so fast his chair rolled back and hit the wall. He slammed his hands down on the desk. “You’re done, all right. You’ll never work in this field in this city again!”
I wanted to roll my eyes, but since I was trying to be the bigger person, I refrained. He didn’t have that kind of pull, just an overinflated sense of ego. But even if he did, it wasn’t a problem. “I’ll just go pack my desk.”
With a breath, Roy pulled on a sleazy smile. “Now, Lawrence, why don’t you sit down and we can talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. And it’s Law. You can’t even give me the courtesy of using my preferred name, and you wonder why I’m so quick to leave.” I headed for the door but before I opened it, I glanced over my shoulder. “I’m just the latest in a long line of people leaving this job, and there will bemany more after me. Perhaps you should consider why that is, Roy. I’ll give you a hint; it’s not the people who’ve left.”
“Security will escort you out,” Roy ground out.
Since security was an elderly guy named Tom who always smiled at me and asked after my children, I wasn’t worried about that in the slightest. It would take me all of sixty seconds to pack up my personal belongings, which consisted of a picture of my kids, my lunch, and a few pens. I’d probably make it down to the lobby before Tom even got up from the security desk.
I was grinning as I walked back to my cubicle, and just as I predicted, I was on my way out a minute and a half later. What I didn’t expect was the sense of freedom that surged through me. My future awaited, and I couldn’t be more excited to watch my kids flourish in a new environment, away from all this negativity.
The kids were thrilled when I picked them up early from after school care. Normally, they were there until about five, but I was there at three-thirty. Tristan ran so fast he nearly face planted on the tile. He managed to catch himself before he did though and threw himself into my arms. I was glad for it, not only because he gave the best hugs but because we’d avoided another trip to the emergency room. His arm had only just healed.
The girls were just as happy, and all three chattered brightly as we headed out to the SUV and got buckled in. As I headed toward home, they kept it up, though every time I glanced in the rearview mirror, Harper was staring at me.
She knew something was up. I hardly ever picked them up early unless one of them had an appointment, so she was fully aware something was going on. I sent her a reassuring smile and she seemed to relax a little.
When we got to the house, I sat them down with an after school snack. Juice for Harper, along with some carrots and ranch dressing to dip in but chocolate milk and cookies for the other two. Tris squealed and dug in, Marlie grinned and started chomping, but Harper stirred her dip with a carrot without eating anything.
I pulled out a chair and joined them at the table, knowing I needed to cut to the chase to ease my anxious child’s mind. “I’ve got something to talk to you guys about.”
“Wha?” Tris asked with his mouthful, but a look from me had him grinning apologetically and chewing quickly.
“I knew it,” Harper said, hand going to her hair. She immediately started twirling one brown lock.
