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I nod and return the greeting, my smile growing even wider. "Good morning, Randy. I'm so excited to be here today."
He clears his throat and looks at me, then down at the papers in front of him.
"Amelia, let’s cut to the chase.”
“Yes, let’s!”
He still doesn’t look me in the eyes.
“I'm afraid I have some bad news.” Randy is normally gregarious. But his eyes can’t even find me.
My stomach drops. “Bad news?”
"I'm sorry to say that we're going to have to let you go."
I stare at him in shock. This must be a joke, I think. “Are you kidding?”
“I’m afraid not.”
My eyes unfocus and a rush of adrenaline hits me. “B-But I do great work. I've brought in new clients and always exceed my sales targets. I’m a net positive for the company. If this is about me forgetting my weekly reports that one time, I can assure you I was busy with—”
He cuts me off. “That was an oversight noted. But, look, we appreciate all that you've done. This isn’t coming from me. It’s from the top. The company is facing some financial challenges and we have to make some difficult decisions.”
From the top.
Which means, from Jack Wellington.
“This is utterly ridiculous. You didn’t explain to him that I’m your best employee?” I protest. “You just said it to me two weeks ago. ‘We wouldn’t have won the NCAA tournament campaign if it wasn’t for you, Amelia.’”
“I did my best, unfortunately…”
Randy prattles on, and quite frankly his explanation feels like complete B.S. to me.
“Did they just go down the line and fire random employees? I don’t understand.”
“Your weekly reportsweredelayed.”
“I forgot the weekly report that one time…”Because I was reeling from my stupid breakup with Jansen.
Tears prick at my eyes as I try to process what's happening. I came in here thinking I was getting a promotion. Instead, this.
Randy hands me a cardboard box. "I'm sorry, Amelia. You can use this box to pack up your things. Turn in your security card on your way out. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. If you need a reference, feel free to use me. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about you. And, trust me, this was as difficult for me as it was for you. I’ve really appreciated working with you. But, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end, right?”
I shoot Randy a look. “Please do not fire me and also ruinClosing Timeat the same time. I actually like that song.”
“Sorry.”
I block the tears momentarily and resolve to gather my composure.
* * *
I'm sittingon my couch and staring at the blank screen of my laptop when Nora bursts through the back door of my apartment, a bottle of wine in one hand and a bag of food from my favorite Costa Rican restaurant in the other.
"Hey sis, I'm so sorry," Nora says, setting the food down on the coffee table and opening the wine. “Come in for a hug.”
“It’s okay.” I nod, still in shock over getting fired from my job of five years.
Nora pours us each a glass of red then connects her phone to my bluetooth and puts on Nora Jones. My sister used to like her just because they had the same name. But it fits our occasion well tonight.
