Page 6 of Butterfly Sisters
Leigh’s shoulders were tightening already at the thought of the tension that would be in that cabin with all three of them under one roof. “Thank you,” she said, trying to be the bigger person. “What day do you plan to be there?”
“I’m not sure. I have to tie up some loose ends.”
“Well, just let one of us know.”
“Okay. Hey, I’ve gotta go.”
“Yeah, me too.” After all, Leigh was napping on her sofa when she should be at work, and while her boss had called and not reached her. She definitely needed to go.
“See ya,” Meredith said.
Leigh hung up the phone and immediately pulled up Phillip’s number. She’d probably totally misread things and he’d most likely called to apologize personally for having moved the meeting. She’d tell him that he could always call her out of hours and she’d happily get there early, stay late—whatever it took. No need to ask anyone else. Like Rebecca. Leigh would have it all under control at any hour.
He answered on the first ring, and she felt instant relief. Time to set this little misunderstanding straight.
“Leigh,” he said directly.
“Hi, Phillip,” she said, squaring her shoulders, as if he were in the room with her.
“I’m sorry…” he began.
A smile spread across her face and she opened her mouth to tell him there was no need to apologize, when something entirely different came through her phone.
“We’re tightening up our talent and moving in a different direction,” he said. “I’ve been talking with senior management, and we’re reorganizing departments. Rebecca will be our new lead.”
Her mouth fell open. Was she now workingunderRebecca?
He cleared his throat. “We’re dissolving the current team.”
What did he mean? “Am I going to assume a new role under Rebecca?” she asked outright, her stomach turning.
“No… We’re letting you go.”
“What?” The word fell out like a slack bag of heavy rocks. She’d given McGregor Consulting every waking minute of her time since she’d been hired. He’d said she was “capable.”
“We feel Rebecca will be a real go-getter. She’s a star.”
His last sentence hit her like a wrecking ball. While she’d always thought Phillip Russo was light on praise, had he only been light on praise forher? Her hands trembled as she held the phone, unable to utter a single word. All this time, she’d thought she was doing a stellar job, when her boss clearly had a different opinion. It instantly made her question her abilities and even her relevancy in her chosen career.
“You’ll have a severance package,” he said. “And any further questions, feel free to email me directly.”
“All right,” she said, feeling like she was under water, the words coming out in almost a whisper.
He ended the call, and she sat there in the silence of her apartment, unable to move, the phone still clutched in her grip. With shaky hands, unsure of what to do but wanting to talk to someone who’d understand, she called Julie’s cell. It rang four times before her friend picked up and she told her what had just happened.
“Sorry, Leigh,” she said, as if she were preoccupied with something else. Shewasat work, after all.
“I can’t believe it,” Leigh continued. “But I can tell you’re busy. Want to get a drink tonight and we can talk then?”
“I…” Julie trailed off. When the silence had stretched a little too long for Leigh’s comfort, her friend finally spoke. “I’m sorry, Leigh. I can’t.”
“On a Thursday night? What’s up?” she asked, trying to sound like someone who wasn’t on the verge of a total mental breakdown.
“Rebecca and I are going out tonight.”
“Oh,” she said, trying to ignore the betrayal. “Maybe we can catch up after?”
“I don’t know… I’m kind of busy.”
