Page 199 of Things We Left Behind
Carl’s eyes went wide behind his thick tortoiseshell glasses. Hastily he gathered hisWorld’s Greatest Dadcoffee mug, phone, and—inexplicably—the photo of his three bucktoothed children.
Petula needed to remind Carl that his benefits included dental insurance.
“You’re definitely fired,” I said to Lina when she shut and leaned against the door after Carl’s hasty retreat.
“Good. Because I didn’t sign on to work for a grumpy manbear. Broody man bear, yes. Grumpy, no. You’re being a dick to everyone.”
“Did it ever occur to you that everyone is too fucking sensitive?”
“Malik did two tours of duty in Afghanistan, and he was very close to his grandmother.”
“I didn’t know she died yesterday.”
“You made Holly cry Monday.”
I scoffed. “Holly cries when she watches Olive Garden commercials. And she rear-ended my security vehicle in the parking garage with the SUV I gave her,” I reminded her.
“Holly is a lousy driver. She’s rear-ended four people in the last month, but you’re the only one who made her cry,” Lina pointed out.
“Then either get someone to give her driving lessons or have security drive her to and from work. Or better yet, fire her,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Yesterday, you told Nolan to get his ass out of your office until his presence wasn’t a waste of oxygen.”
In my defense, Nolan had taken it upon himself to question whether my mood had anything to do with Sloane.
“That statement stands for all employees,” I said.
Lina squared up and put her hands on her hips. “Let me lay this out for you in language you’ll understand. You’re being a fucking asshole. People don’t like working for fucking assholes. So unless you have time to deal with a mass exodus, unemployment claims, hiring a fresh team,andtraining them, I suggest you shut up and listen.”
I sat on the corner of Carl’s desk. “I’ll listen for one minute, and then you’re fired.”
“You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat others when things aren’t going well.”
She let that hang in the air between us, meeting my eyes.
“You’re going through a rough time, and that makes you feel out of control. But you don’t get to take it out on other people.”
Her words landed like hammers on my skull. “Leave. Now.”
“Oh, I am. But just so you know, Nolan and Petula told everyone to spend the rest of the day working from home.” She headed for the doorway. “Get your shit sorted out, Lucian.”
“I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”
She paused in the doorway and batted her lashes condescendingly. “That’s what friends are for. By the way, if you’re this messed up in the head over her, maybe you’re not as done as you think you are.”
And with that, Lina strutted out the door.
Beyond her retreating back, the cubicles were a flurry of activity as employees put on coats and packed up, all while shooting nervous glances in my direction.
I ignored them and stormed to my own office. I’d run this company alone once. I could do it again if necessary.
I’d get more done without the distraction of needy employees lurking about, I decided, slamming my door, then cursing the soft close mechanism. I wasn’t upset about Sloane, the stubborn pain in the ass. It wasn’t like I saw her face every fucking time I closed my eyes.
I was behind my desk, scowling through the latest vague report from the FBI, when I was interrupted by a knock at my door.
“Unless the building is actively on fire, I suggest you leave,” I barked.
Petula flung my door open. “If you don’t lighten up, IT is going to have to replace your down arrow key again.”
