AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Avery lightened the moment with a touch of humor. "You know, I'm starting to think I'm your personal guardian angel. Where would you be without me?"
I chuckled, appreciating her ability to add levity to any situation. "Lost, probably. I'd be endlessly wandering through life's maze."
As our laughter filled my office, a sudden knock on my door pulled my attention away. I turned, and my laughter died down as I saw Dave standing there, a grave expression on his face.
Avery, perceptive as ever, picked up on the change. "Hey, what's going on? Everything okay?"
I sighed, realizing I had to go. "I need to go, Ave. One of my coworkers just entered my office."
"Alright. Take care and update me, okay?"
"Absolutely. Talk to you later." I hung up the call and turned to face Dave, who looked frustrated.
A resigned sigh escaped him. His expression held a mix of worry and sympathy, making my anxiety spike.
"Dave, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice laced with apprehension.
He hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"Griselda, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the boss is asking for you," he replied, his tone serious and almost apologetic. My heart sank. The heaviness in Dave's voice was infectious.
"Thank you for letting me know," I managed.
He offered a sympathetic smile. "I hope everything turns out well."
I forced a weak smile in return, appreciative of his concern.
As I walked toward Mr. Gilbert’s office, each step felt heavier. I arrived at his door, knocked, and entered when he told me to come in. To my dismay, Carmella was standing beside the boss with a smug grin on her face. I immediately knew what she was up to, and my apprehensions intensified.
Mr. Gilbert wasted no time. “Griselda, I need your group's research on the Johnson case.”
My suspicions were confirmed, and my eyes flicked briefly to Carmella. Suppressing my frustration, I maintained a professional demeanor. "Could I ask why you need it?”
Mr. Gilbert raised an eyebrow, looking unamused by my inquiry. "Since when did you start questioning me, Griselda? Just get it."
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I nodded and apologized.
"I apologize, Mr. Gilbert. However, Mr. Gilbert, I must inform you that our group no longer possesses the research. After being reassigned, we deemed it unnecessary to keep the files, and it seems there was a mix-up during the transition, resulting in the unintentional disposal of the materials, following the company's standard protocol for such cases."
His face twisted in disbelief and annoyance. "Disposed of it accidentally? Are you telling me you accidentally got rid of important research materials?"
I met his gaze evenly, maintaining my facade. "Unfortunately, yes. It was a regrettable mistake given the circumstances."
Carmella chimed in, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Seems like they had better things to do than handle critical research."
I could see the disapproval in Mr. Gilbert's gaze, but I didn’t care. "I stand by the decision, Mr. Gilbert. It was done according to protocol."
He scoffed, clearly frustrated. "This is not the kind of mistake I expect from someone in your position."
"Maybe some extra training would do her good, teach her about the importance of project research," Carmella interjected.
I tried to ignore her words, my attention fixed on Mr. Gilbert. "I assure you, Mr. Gilbert, this will not happen again."
He leaned back in his chair, an expression of frustration on his face. "Oh, it won't happen again for a while, Griselda. You're being suspended."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Suspended? What do you mean?"
Carmella looked all too pleased with herself. She must have been the one to push for this.
