Page 14 of Hellcat Barbies: Imani
“I don’t want a long-drawn-out suit or anything. I don’t have the time or the energy. They offered six months severance. I countered for a year and they are creating the paperwork. I need you to look over it and make sure it says what they tell me. It’s a year’s salary, a year of medical, paid out PTO, and a stipulation. I can’t talk about what happened that day in the operating room. If I do, I have to pay it back. I need you to check that and make sure that’s really the only stipulation because I need to do something before I leave.”
“What do you need to do, E?” she asks.
“Beat the doctor ass,” I admit. I can’t leave here without putting my hands on him. “
“E!”
“What, Draya? I’m getting fired because of his ass and he doesn’t seem to be getting reprimanded in anyway. I can’t leave here without fucking him up. I just need to know if I hit him will that revoke the severance.”
“It shouldn’t but it could lead to your ass in jail and then you will really need me.”
“They’re not going to press charges. They want this whole shit to go away. They are scared of me talking more than anything,” I say with fake ass confidence because I really don’t know what they might do. I just don’t think they want a scene with calling the police and me having to explain. “They gave in so fast to my one-year counter; I think I’m good.”
“My legal advice is don’t hit him. My Hellcat Barbie advice is fuck him up and call me if they lock you up.”
I look up and see Bryan walking in the hall towards me. “He’s coming back with the severance paperwork.”
“Okay take pictures and send. I’ll read over it. Don’t sign shit until I call you back.”
“I won’t and thanks, boo.”
“You know I got you.”
I end the call just as Bryan opens the glass door and walks in. He sits then places his padfolio on the table. He pulls out the agreement and passes it over to me.
“The changes have been made. You’ll sign, I’ll sign, and then you’ll be good to go,” he says with a smile.
“What about my locker?” I ask although there isn’t any shit in it. I cleaned it out the day they suspended me because I know how hospital politics works.
“I don’t see why you can’t clean that out today. I’ll make sure we get you a box or something.”
“Thanks. And I’m going to need the signed, completed one emailed to me and my attorney before I clean out my locker today. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do and we can do that as well.” He pulls a pen from a pocket in his padfolio and pushes it across the table to me.
“Give me a moment,” I say then nod. I spread the three pages out then pull out my phone. I snap the pictures and send to Draya. When I’m done, he’s staring at me. “It’s going to be a few minutes. She has to read the document,” I say. Then, I try him to see how far they’ll go to rid the hospital of me. I know there’s a limit; there’s always a limit. “A cup of coffee and maybe a banana walnut muffin from the café would be nice while I wait,” I state.
“I’ll leave you to read and sign,” he says then stands. “Cream and sugar? My assistant is making a trip to the café.”
Got ‘em. I’m definitely fucking up the doctor before I walk out of here.
“Three creams and four yellow packets. Thanks.”
He leaves and while I wait on Draya, I start to read the agreement myself. It seems to be pretty straightforward. I see the salary and medical benefits for one year as well as the paid three weeks of PTO. I’m reviewing the revocation of the agreement section when a pretty sister with a laid bob walks into the conference room with my coffee and muffin.
“I’m glad you asked for more time,” she says then winks.
“Thank you,” I sincerely say. While driving in this morning, I had a cup of my lemon zest tea and one of my croissants. I’m not hungry at all; I truly just wanted to test Bryan and I won. I have a little smidge of regret now for sending her on the fool’s mission. “I’m actually too nervous to eat or drink now. Maybe someone else wants it? Sorry.”
“Pete, definitely will take it. You’re good,” she says before walking out.
As soon as she does, Draya calls. “Hey. So?” I answer anxiously.
“So, it looks good. What you wanted is clearly there. You will get paid this Friday, the entire lump sum. Taxes are going to kill you; you know that right?”
“I do,” I sigh. “But it’s still going to be a nice ass amount. I might even take some time off before looking at other jobs. This was my dream one and now…this shit,” I admit. The realization that I am losing my dream job at my dream hospital hits me like a ton of bricks. Sadness, disappointment, and rage flood my soul at once and I fill my eyes tearing up. Loudly, I inhale and exhale to keep my tears from falling.
“E, don’t let them see your crown tilted.”
