Page 144 of Tell Me What You Want

“Listen ... You have to talk to him,” I insist. “Miguel, there’s unemployment left and right. Have you talked to my supervisor? You get along well with her ...”

“She’s the one who told me they weren’t renewing me,” Miguel says.

That chaps my ass. How can that witch not renew his contract after she’s been his lover?

“And you’re not going to do anything to help her change her mind?” Miguel just stares at me. “Listen, Miguel. I know you’ve been sleeping with her. Hell, I was in the archive room a few of the times you did it in her office.”

Miguel blanches.

“Are you kidding me? You knew?”

“Yes, which is why I don’t understand why she doesn’t do something to renew your contract.”

Miguel leans over his desk.

“Look, Judith. All I can tell you is your supervisor and I haven’t been together in about a month. She’s found someone new. Óscar, the security guard.”

I’m shocked by the news.

“I’m going to talk to Zimmerman.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Just let me do it, OK?”

Miguel sits down at his desk and keeps on packing while I head for Eric’s office. I knock first. “What can I help you with, Miss Flores?”

“Mr.Zimmerman, why haven’t you renewed your admin’s contract?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Miguel is packing his things. My supervisor told him they’re not renewing his contract.”

He’s as surprised as I am.

“If your supervisor has decided not to renew his contract, she must have her reasons, don’t you think?”

“He’s your admin!” I insist.

The man with whom I’m in love stares at me.

“I’ve never liked him; you know that,” he says.

I’m flabbergasted.

“I’m sorry, Miss Flores, but there’s nothing I can do.”

“What do you mean you can’t do anything? You’re the boss, goddamn it. That idiot—and I could call her worse—has found herself a new lover. That’s why she’s firing him. For the love of God, Eric, do something. Relocate him. He was your father’s admin for years, and yours too.”

“Miguel’s that important to you?”

His question makes my blood boil.

“He’s not important in the sense you’re referring to, so don’t twist my words. God! Is what I’m saying really that hard to understand?”

“Fine.” He sighs. “I’ll talk to personnel. They’ll renew him, but they’ll transfer him to another department. I don’t want to see him here. Understood?”

“Thank you.”

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