Page 94 of Breaking Conviction
Not a blonde hair was out of place in Gail’s severely coiffed French twist bun. Her bow tie silk white blouse was steamed and she sat with her blunt, manicured red nails folded on her desk. But her normally warm smile was more brittle than Naomi’s, stealing any reassurance Naomi could gain from her boss’s appearance.
Naomi sat in the high-backed seat Gail used for clients and visitors across from her desk. She smoothed her black pencil skirt, even though she knew she’d ironed the life out of every possible crease.
After a moment of intolerable silence, Naomi cleared her throat. “What can I do for you, Gail?”
Her boss closed her eyes and swallowed. “Naomi, my dear, you’ve been with me for a while and I’ve appreciated your dedication to the job—”
“Yes ma’am. I love working here. You’ve taught me so—”
“—However...”
Naomi’s chest deflated and Gail must’ve seen because she squirmed in her seat.
“However.. it seems as though you’ve been rather preoccupied as of late. Unfortunately, today is the first day you’ve been back in weeks—”
“Gail—”
“Ms. Haynesworth will do, thank you.”
Naomi jerked back like she’d been slapped. Never in her years of being there had she calledMs. Haynesworthanything other than by her first name. Schooling her face, she made sure Gail wouldn’t see how much her slight had affected her.
“Ms. Haynesworth... I know it was last minute, but I took company-allotted personal days—”
“Yes, well… those days shouldn’t have been taken so closely together.”
“But… you authorized them?” Naomi couldn’t help but argue back. “I’m sorry, Ms. Haynesworth, I’m not sure where this conversation is comin’ from.”
“I understand your fiancé, someone CTI contracts for security, was just arrested for domestic violence?”
Naomi stilled, unsure of what direction she should navigate her next sentence. But every avenue felt an awful lot like crashing into a ditch.
“Yes ma’am. But… he’s no longer my fiancé. Hasn’t been for a while.”
“That’s unfortunate, Naomi. I’m sorry you’re going through that, but we can’t have homelife issues affect the company—”
“Gail, they were earned paid time off—”
“And CTI can’t afford to have negative press tied to it.”
Naomi stopped, registering exactly what she’d said. She didn’t care how much she admired Gail Haynesworth. No way in hell would she let yet another person make her feel shame for what Dean had done to her. She’d done that enough on her own for way too damn long.
Steel resolve straightened her backbone and sharpened her voice, destroying her accent.
“Are you saying that because I have been physically assaulted by someone whom I trusted, and have since separated myself from, that I should be held accountable for his criminal actions against me?” She narrowed her eyes at her boss, who at least had the ability to look contrite. “I’ve heard of landlords and some jobs punishing the survivor for the sake of removing the drama, but are you really telling me that thisglobaltech company is afraid of press about my little ol’ relationship?”
Gail shifted in her chair, refusing to look Naomi in the eye and a thought entered her mind.
“What is this really about Gail?” After a moment of silence, Naomi tried again. “Could this possibly be about the pressure the company is receiving over being involved with several known human traffickers? And even helped fund an annualpartyfor these men where the trafficking occurred?”
“A party about whichyouleaked important information in violation of a nondisclosure agreement you signed.”
Understanding washed over her, burning inside like acid. She collapsed back against the high back, crossing her arms and shaking her head in pure disbelief.
“So it is about them.” Her former boss and friend was still refusing to meet her eyes, instead writing something on what was no doubt Naomi’s termination papers. “I never pegged you for a coward, Gail.”
Gail finally lifted her head and narrowed her eyes. “There are many things at stake here. You’re punching above your weight, Naomi.”
She leaned forward, pressing her hands against the desk, zero fucks given at this point. “Is that so? Well, I think you’re rolling withpigs, Gail. What’re you doing? Why are you letting these men run over you? Especially since they’re steadily getting picked off by whoever is pulling their strings?”
