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The human resourcesdepartment was on the first floor to make it easier for them in terms of new applicants coming in for interviews and testing. There was no worrying about people sneaking on to elevators and wandering around departments they shouldn’t be in.
It was the longest elevator ride of my life. As the light flashed for each floor, I recounted the big moments of my career at Courtland Enterprises. I could remember the very first time I saw Sebastian, the first time I’d received a raise, the first bonus based on outstanding performance, the friends I’d made. Hell, the last time I’d even come to HR had been to interview Kaylan. Other than needing to fill out some forms for myself or Kaylan, I’d had almost no interactions with HR.
When I stepped off the elevator, my knees tried to give out, but I pulled myself together enough to straighten my spine and give off the appearance of being an intelligent human being.
I poked my head into Sebastian’s office before leaving the top floor to tell him that HR had summoned me, but he was pacing behind his desk, shouting into his phone. It was not a good time to interrupt him. With any luck, he was talking to either his father or someone from HR already.
Everything was going to be fine. Sebastian had promised it would all be fine.
I was going to be reprimanded, and a warning would be put on my record that might impact any future pay adjustments I received. It was going to be fine.
I stepped through the glass door and entered the HR office, which was sizable. There were at least eight people in the HR department for the downtown location, but Janice was the head of the department. We’d had a few interactions over the years, but I couldn’t say that I knew her well.
“Thank you for coming so quickly, Byron,” she said, meeting me at the front desk. She was an older woman with light brown hair streaked with gray. Her wrinkled face was pleasant and friendly, professional in every way. She managed to be welcoming while still being firm about where the line was for the company and its employees. In short, she was good at her job, particularly with firing someone.
“You’re welcome,” I murmured, following her to the end of the corridor to her office. She shut the door behind me, and I took a seat.
Janice sat, and her smile disappeared. While I couldn’t say that her demeanor became cold, it was detached and serious.
“I’m sure you know why you’ve been called in here today.”
“The picture,” I stated.
“It’s not the picture. Courtland Enterprises has a strict policy of nondiscrimination against people of all color, religion, and sexual orientation. The problem is that you were seen romantically involved with your supervisor, which is forbidden by the company’s policy.” She paused to open a file on her desk and take out a sheet of paper. She turned it toward me to show that I’d signed the document, acknowledging that I’d read and agreed to the terms of the company’s policy. “This is your signed agreement for said policy.”
“Yes,” I choked out.
In a matter of seconds, my entire body had become a block of ice. I couldn’t move. I could barely even drag in a breath. Blood rushed past my ears in a roaring torrent like a tidal wave plunging through a narrow gorge.
This couldn’t be happening. Sebastian had promised that this wouldn’t happen. He’d promised to protect me. To protect my family. Where was he? Why wasn’t he calling to stop this? Why wasn’t he barging through the door to halt this tragedy?
“Because of your actions, Courtland Enterprises has decided to let you go effective immediately. We are grateful for your three years of exemplary service. I?—”
“Wait,” I forced past my constricted throat. “Mr. Courtland said…”
Said what? Promised that I wouldn’t be fired because I was his boyfriend? Wasn’t this what the company policy was trying to protect against? It was trying to level the playing field for all employees; there were no favorites. That everyone had a chance to rise. But that also meant that everyone had to have a chance to fall.
Except it wasn’t level.
Was Sebastian in danger of losing his job? No. No, he wasn’t. His father was the chairman and founder of Courtland Enterprises. John Courtland wasn’t about to fire his son and hand the reins of the company off to someone else outside of the family.
Someone had to take the fall for breaking the rules to show that the company stood by its rules and policies. That someone had to be me.
I could only stare dumbly at Janice, watching as her detached expression cracked. After a couple of seconds, she leaned forward. “I shouldn’t be saying this,” she whispered, “but I’ve already received several phone calls from other executivesvouching for how wonderful you are at your job. They’ve all spoken on your behalf, but the chairman was firm on this. However, I negotiated a nice severance package for you. You’ll receive two full months’ pay…”
She continued to talk, but I couldn’t understand a word of it. Her words were white noise in my ears.
Sebastian didn’t rush through the door to save me.
He didn’t stop the one thing he’d promised wouldn’t happen.
I was fired, and now my mom and my brother would pay the price for my stupidity.
20
SEBASTIAN COURTLAND
Shit.Shit. Shit.