I looked at her coldly. "You want me in that car? Fine. Fire Douglas Gilbert right now. Tell him to pack his things."
The color drained from Cheryl's face.
Douglas lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if he were fighting to hold back some deep well of hurt.
"Drew, that's enough!"
Cheryl shoved the car door open, her heels striking the pavement hard.
"Have you lost your mind? What has Douglas done wrong? What gives you the right to fire him?"
She stormed toward me, jabbing a finger in my face. "You're being completely unreasonable!"
"Everyone can see how capable Douglas is. Who are you to dismiss him with a single word?"
That was when Douglas finally "couldn't hold it in" anymore.
He stepped out of the car with reddened eyes, moved behind Cheryl, and said softly, "Ms. Delgado, please don't fight with Mr. Dickerson because of me..."
"If my being here makes Mr. Dickerson uncomfortable, I... I can resign on my own..."
A second later, actual tears slid down his cheeks, and Cheryl's heart shattered on the spot.
She spun around and grabbed his hand. "Douglas, you've done nothing wrong. The only one at fault here is a certain petty, small-minded person!"