Page 5 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
“Whatever.” I flipped to the last page and scrawled my name on the signature line. My eyes were full of rage as I glared at Martin. “I doubt you’ll need to see my ID to notarize this.”
Martin shook his head. It was a small victory, but it was all I had left.
“If that’s all, gentlemen,” I said with all the scorn I could muster. “I’ll pick up a few things from my office, and you can have the rest of my belongings sent to me.”
I stood, hoping my legs would hold me long enough to walk from the room.
“But—” Terrence began.
I spun toward him and pointed. “No! There is no but. There’s nothing more for you to say to me.”
As I marched from the room, I heard him say, “One day you’ll thank me for this. Maybe you won’t turn out like I did.”
I didn’t justify his comment with a response.
CHAPTER 3
I pushed my shouldersback and held my head high as I walked from Terrence’s office. No way would I let anyone see the thoughts and emotions churning inside of me. They wouldn’t get the satisfaction of mocking me behind my back.
As I passed Dora’s desk, she smiled at me. Was it sympathetic? Did she know?How many others were aware of my humiliation? My downfall? I wanted to ask her what she knew, but I kept walking. If I behaved badly, it would only give them justification for what they’d done to me.
I suspected the color had drained from my face.Shit.I didn’t need everyone I met in the hall to tell tales about how ghostly pale I was on my walk of shame. I made a conscious effort to smile and nod at those I met, willing the color to return to my cheeks.
A pimply faced intern, who couldn’t be over twenty, greeted me with a smile.Did he know?
Of course, he didn’t. Paranoia didn’t suit me. Sweat rolled down my stomach, so I subtly ran my hand over my blazer, hoping my undershirt would soak up the worst of it. I said a silent thank you to my past self for having the foresight to wear the protective layer. If I hadn’t, they could add repulsive sweat stains to the legend of my dismissal.
Nope.No way would I give any of them satisfaction, especially the boys’ club who’d hated me for years. They could laugh at my pain, but they wouldn’t see it. Whatever stories they told would be made up because I’d give them no ammunition.
Shit.The universe was testing me. Grant and Philip stood down the hall, jawing about something. Probably their latest conquest. Business or female? With them, it could be either. I scanned the area, looking for an escape, but I found none.
I could do this. They looked at me as I approached. I smiled and said the most provocative thing that came to mind. “It’s gonna be the Mets’ year. Thirty and ten, while the Yankees haven’t broken five hundred.”
Grant scowled. “Fucking Mets. They’ll crash and burn.”
I kept walking. Despite it being the second-longest walk of my life, I’d about made it to my office. Thoughts of my longest walk flashed in my mind, but I couldn’t go there. I steeled my jaw as I pushed open the door to my suite.
Nancy looked up from her desk and gave me a huge smile. It soon faded when she saw my expression. She opened her mouth to speak.
I held up my hand. “I need to speak to you in my office.”
She glanced around the empty room. “Uh, okay.”
Much to her credit, she didn’t bother to ask why we couldn’t talk here. Instead, she stood and followed me into my office.
My office.Which was no longer mine or at least wouldn’t be soon. My gaze swept the room. It was spare, decorated in my aesthetic—minimalist. Not exactly bare, but the decoratorhandled the décor since I didn’t have time. It would take little to erase all traces of me from my office. Except for my shelf full of awards. My proudest being fromForbes,recognizing me as a female executive to watch out for.
The thought was a gut punch. Fifteen years of my life—erased. Someone else would soon occupy this space, and no one would remember I existed.
Exhaustion overtook me, so I dropped into my desk chair. I pointed to the seat in front of my desk, knowing I couldn’t have this conversation with Nancy if she stood. I felt powerless enough without her looming over me.
“What’s the matter?” Nancy asked as she sat.
It wasn’t my style to sugarcoat things. “Fortitude is being sold, and I’m not part of the package.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.
Shit.Guilt washed over me. In my haste, I hadn’t asked what Terrence intended for Nancy. Wanting to correct the problem, I said, “I’ll make sure Terrence treats you fairly.”
