Page 4 of In a Pinch

The large, oval table is full of three familiar faces. Most of them are staring blankly out the wall of windows, including Patricia and Pam from HR. Pam usually works on the risk management side. So, I’m not sure why she is here.

“Hello, everyone. It is great to see you all. Thank you for having me.” My smile is tight, and I make sure to stand at my tallest. Confidence is key, even if I’m faking it.

“Please have a seat, Adaline. We have some things we need to discuss with you.” The whole room has empty, tight-lipped smiles.

With that sentence, my pulse flickers a little. This is sounding much drearier than I had anticipated. I assumed everyone would be excited to hand out a promotion.

“Please, call me Addie. We are all colleagues here.” The three of them sit on the other side of a long table, leaving one, lone chair on the other side for me. I take my seat and wait to be wooed.

Pam starts the conversation off with: “Addie, as you know, it has been a difficult year for us. We have had different staffing issues and lost a few key clients. Because of that, we are having to downsize some of the team.”

I nod my head in understanding.

Okay, so, they are going to need help running efficiently with less staff? No need to be Debbie Downers. I could handle that shit in my sleep.

“With that being said, we are sorry to tell you that we no longer have a position for you here,” Pam says.

The whole room tenses, and my heart drops.

“I’m sorry, what?” My eyes bug out of my head as I try and process what I am hearing. Surely, I misheard her.

“We have to let you go. We are terribly sorry, but we are making some critical changes in the company, and your position is no longer available.” She plasters on a fake smile that fills me with a bit of rage.

How in the hell is legal assistant number…what, four or five, no longer a position?

“Wow, and here I thought I was getting the office management position.” I blink slowly, while reality sets in.

Mark avoids my eyes. Pussy. Patricia’s smile is genuinely sorry. I have always liked her.

“Oh, I am so sorry we put you under that impression. That position was filled by Maggie at the end of last week. She is finishing off the pay period where she is now, and then will be transitioning roles. She brought a lot of fresh ideas for ways we can maximize our productivity with less staff and improve overall morale to lessen our turnover rates. We are sorry that you made the wrong assumption,” Pam says.

My mouth opens and closes. My brain is apparently lagging from the quick redirection my life is taking.

Maggie.

That two-faced bitch. She listened to me go on and on this morning about getting a promotion, when she knew I was getting laid off today.

“You have got to be messing with me? Maggie? Miss hasn’t shown up on time since she graced the world with her presence thirty-one years ago? That same Maggie? The one who takes an hour and a half lunch. Every. Single. Day?” With a shake of my head, I realize I am wasting my breath.

Looking around the room at the empty faces, I know it is no use. My anger rises and I try my hardest but fail to keep my mouth shut.

“That’s about on par for your decision-making skills, actually. Also, she got every single one of those ideas from me becauseshe has been up my ass for the last couple months, which makes perfect sense now.” They all stare at me with blank, bewildered stares.

Pam starts to talk and do her annoying risk management bullshit.

“Pam, I'm going to kindly ask you to stop talking.” I hold up my palm, just in case my words aren’t clear enough. “Thank you all for doing me a favor and setting me free from your dumpster fire. I hope you enjoy crumbles because this office is about to do just that. I will go clean out my desk.” I get up, not waiting to be dismissed.

Was going out like that a good idea? Probably not. I really should be more professional, since this is the longest job on my resume, and they will have to be a reference. But I just don't have it in me. Actually, I feel like I am holding back. They could get the entirety of my wrath.

Storming out of the office, I turn around to look at Mindi.

“Well, my friend, they fired me and promoted Maggie. They must have had a little get together this morning about my firing, which is why she was here.” With this, her mouth pops open.

“You’re shitting me. Maggie? Are we talking about the same Maggie? I thought she was your friend.” I’ve never in my life heard this woman curse, and her slip brings a small smile to my lips. At least someone here was on my team.

“She was. Now, I have to go pack up my office. And potentially slash some tires.” I start to walk off, but then remember the mini meltdown I just had. Turning to face Mindi again, I say, “Also, I am going to be using you as a reference for this office. I think I just burned the majority of my bridges here.”

“You know I have you covered. Good luck with the vengeance,” she says and waves back as I skitter down the hallway.

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