Page 126 of The Golden Scoop

Her voice is flat, which means she’s angry but trying to hide it. She does a terrible job. If I close my eyes, I can practically see her pacing, fists clenched at her sides. The half of her hair turning white, and one of her expensive heels seconds away from becoming collateral damage.

“Am I getting fired?”

“Come in, Emma.”

The line goes dead.

My phone keeps buzzing, but none of them are him.

It’s disheartening, but I know I have to keep going. One foot in front of the other. See this through.

I don’t rush. In fact, I take my morning routine with an extra dose of care. My overalls and Vans are clean and ready to go. The cardboard box sticking out of my recycling pile gets a second life as the future home of everything currently sitting on my desk.

I never thought I’d be this calm when I’m about to lose my livelihood.

Kate’s an early riser. I already have a dozen messages waiting for me when I open our chat. I tell her to keep an eye out for incoming disaster and meet me outside.

I decide to let the internet do what it’s going to do and turn my phone off. It’s too overwhelming, and as much as I appreciate every single person who’s taking a second to engage, my mind needs a little quiet before facing Martha.

“Martha’s pissed,” Kate says as soon as she spots me in the building lobby. “Golden’s execs were waiting for her first thing this morning. Quite a spectacle, actually. Two suited men standing calmly in her office while she flapped around like a lost bird trying to defend herself.”

I chuckle, more pleased than I probably should be.

You’re not supposed to rejoice in someone else’s misery, but I can’t help loving a good dose of karma. A little anger and stress hardly feel like enough of a consequence. Not compared to getting fired. Except that would never happen to her. Guess that’s the problem. The people making the rules rarely have to live by them.

“She’s going to chew me out for sure,” I say with a shrug. “I’m kind of surprised she didn’t catch on. You’d think after so many years she’d know me better.”

“The whole office had a feeling something was coming,” Kate agrees. “Can’t say they’re all supportive, though. I think some have taken it personally.”

As they should. Either you do the work, or you make shit up. There’s no secret third option. If they fall into the latter category, then they’re as much a part of the problem as Martha is.

“Honestly… I couldn’t care less.” I cross my fingers. “Let’s hope being called out forces them to take a good look in the mirror.”

Kate exhales. She gives me a smile, but it doesn’t shine like it usually does. I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze.

“Have they been giving you a hard time?” I ask, the entire weight of this finally settling over me. It never occurred to me the fallout might land on people who are simply standing too close to me. And around here, everyone knows Kate’s basically the only one I get along with.

Kate shakes her head. “No, but everyone’s holed up at their desk, trying to stay clear from Martha’s wrath.”

“What’s with the frowny face, then?”

“You’re going out with a bang,” she says, “but I don’t want you to go at all.”

Our friendship hasn’t developed much outside of work, aside from the occasional dinner or night out. I always felt a bit weird about it since I spend half my time out on assignments. I never stopped to wonder whether Kate wanted more than a couple of beers a month.

She would be an excellent addition to our girl dates.

“Nothing will change around here. You’re still going to do great, and me…” I shrug. “I’ll become one of those annoyingly available friends who answer texts in under thirty seconds.”

“You already do.”

“I’ll get a cat then. Fill your inbox with pictures and unnecessary facts,” I joke. “And you’re in luck. Guess what today is.”

“Tuesday?” she asks with a frown.

“That’s right.” I swing an arm over her shoulders as we walk toward the elevator. “Taco Tuesday. Keep lunch light because congratulations, you just made dinner plans.”

Her face lights up, worry lines disappearing.