“Ms. Tuffield, you’re fired. Go process your termination right now.”
I nodded calmly.
“Sure. I’ll need the company to pay the required compensation.”
He exploded.
“Compensation? After the damage you caused? Just wait—our legal department will sue you!”
Sadie shot me a hateful look.
“Bitch, I’ll make sure the whole industry blacklists you.”
I smiled faintly. “Alright. I’ll wait.”
Quietly, I packed up my things and walked out of the company I’d fought for a whole year.
Every ounce of my passion and smarts had gone into this company. I didn’t lean on connections or favors; I built it up on my own.
And this was what I got in return: fired. My heart felt like it’d rolled over on an ice blade—cold, sharp, and aching.
Colleagues came up one by one to see me out, muttering words of comfort.
Meg, tears in her eyes, said, “Phoebe, you’re amazing. You’ll shine anywhere. Don’t let what Sadie said get to you; you’ll find another job for sure.”
I smiled but said nothing. Sadie? She wasn’t capable of understanding.
Once outside, my phone buzzed. It was my uncle, who had been out of touch for half a month.