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“Over the years, we’ve had plenty of women obsessed with Mr. Calloway. If this was an attempt to meet?—”
“It wasn’t,” I snap, not allowing him to finish that thought as my cheeks burn hot.
I disassociate halfway through his explanation. He discusses the optics, the business they’d lose, and the gossip that would spread around elite circles that continue to support the W.
Meanwhile, I’m only concerned about how I’ll pay my bills. Our rent is due next Friday, and I won’t have enough money to cover it if I get fired. I want to believe it will be okay, but I’m living to work and working to live. It’s a vicious cycle, the rat race we’re all participating in. Right now, I feel like I’m stuck in a hamster wheel as I wait for something good to happen. Unfortunately, I’ve only had bad luck.
“Because of the reasons discussed, I have no choice but to terminate you, effective immediately. News that our housekeeper took afamily heirloomof the Calloway dynasty could destroy our reputation, and you know that’s what the W was built upon.”
“Reputation or the Calloways?” I ask. I’m already fired. It doesn’t matter anymore.
I meet his cold gaze, telling myself I won’t show any emotion. It’s a replaceable job, one of a million, but it doesn’t stop the emotions from rushing through me. The tears I’ve held back for months threaten to spill, but I won’t give this man the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I’m an actress, for fuck’s sake, and I put on the performance of a lifetime as I tuck my emotions and lock them away.
“Please turn in your uniform and return your badge.”
“Yes, sir.”
There is no reason to argue. I knew when I left the Tower floor, I was fired. I hoped I was wrong.
He clears his throat. “You have fifteen minutes before you’re escorted from the premises.”
I stand. My heart might burst out of my chest as I go to my locker and grab my bag. After changing into my street clothes, I go to security. I wish I had never taken that watch, but I also wish the beautiful bastard had a conscience. It’s too bad. Perfect man, shitty personality.
As I round the corner, I nearly crash into Carlee. She sees the gray dress and white apron neatly folded in a stack in my hand.
“They’re firing you?” She’s as pissed as me. “What the fuck?”
“Yeah. Text me when you get a chance. Otherwise, I’ll see you at home.” I don’t want to cause a scene, and I know I have three minutes until I’m trespassing and escorted out. I need to disappear.
“Okay, I will. I’m so sorry, Lexi,” she says. “We’ll fix it.”
“It will be fine,” I say, but it’s more for myself than for her.
I slide everything across the counter and leave without telling any of my other coworkers goodbye. This wasn’t on my bingo card today.
When I’m outside, I stare into the street as people pass me. The warm summer breeze surrounds me, and I’m at a loss as to what I should do. I’m twenty-nine, and I have never been fired, not even from the shitty jobs I half-assed as a teenager. This is an experience I will never be able to put on my résumé.
The pessimistic internal dialogue begins and I question if I can do this or if I need to get over my pipe dream and find a real career. Like the dead-end teaching job I held back in Valentine for a few years. While it was respectable, each day I walked into that classroom, I died a little inside.
When someone bumps into me on the sidewalk, I’m jerked back to my reality. I’ll pick myself up off the ground and tryagain, like always, even when life has beaten me down. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. Or at least that’s the lie I eat daily.
I fall into the crowd and follow the direction of traffic, needing to shake the funk. I almost don’t feel my phone buzzing in my pocket.
Carlee
I can’t believe this.
Lexi
You should. Calloway contacted Mr. Martin about his watch, and, well, the rest is history.
Carlee
I’m in shock!
Lexi
I’m pissed.