“Apologies Violet. This is Peter Dench at MicroTeknique.”
“Oh. Hi Peter.” Whoa. My heart is thudding really fast.
“By chance, could you come to the office this afternoon? I’d like a few minutes with you if that’s possible.”
Tara! Did she go in there and say something? She kept saying she was tempted. I told her to feel free, not sure if she actually would or not.
“Peter, I was on my way to an appointment with a lawyer, actually.”
“A lawyer?”
“An employment lawyer about wrongful termination. Sexual discrimination.”
“I see,” he says softly. “That’s what I’d like to see you about. I’m afraid things have been mishandled and I’m incredibly unhappy about it. Tara came into my office five minutes ago with a lot to say. I’d like an opportunity to talk to you if that’s possible.”
“I think I have time before my lawyer’s appointment,” I say, face super-hot.
I have never been a good fibber. I’m certainly having trouble doing it right now. Even though I was planning to go to a lawyer today before the appointment got rescheduled, it still feels like a fib. Or I guess it’s a bluff. A poker bluff isn’t exactly the same as lying and I guess I am playing a little bit of poker here.
“I appreciate that, Violet. How long before you can come in?”
“About fifteen, twenty minutes,” I say.
“See you then. Thanks, Violet.”
“Okay, Peter. See you soon.”
Holy cow!
I send a text to Wes, who is still parked behind me to tell him I need to stop by my old office for a few minutes before heading home.
He replies that it’s fine, he’ll follow.
***
When I walk in, Tara straightens up and winks, then gets on the phone.
“Shara, there’s a package here for you.”
I want to burst into gales of laughter, but I miraculously hold it in. She wants Shara to see that I’m here.
Tara picks up a FedEx envelope and sets it on the edge of the reception counter with a flourish, then punches buttons on her phone. “Peter? Violet Coulter is here for you. Right. Will do.” She puts the phone down and says, “Follow me, Mrs. Coulter.”
“Never underestimate the receptionist,” I mutter.
“I see all, and I know almost all.” she says, winking, then leads me toward Peter’s office. We see Shara coming toward us. She stumbles, then halts when she sees me. I smile wide and keep my head high as I pass her.
Tara raps on Peter’s door and then opens it to let me in. She winks again, then shuts it behind me.
I’ve always liked Peter. He’s a hands-on CEO and very down-to-earth. And I have the evidence of the paper trail from Tennille for that order with me. I’ve also saved screenshots of the text trail between me and Shara where she regularly commended me on how I do my job and suggested I work from home more than once as well. Out of kindness to her, though she doesn’t deserve it, I’ve blacked out the personal stuff she shared about her ex.
He asks me what happened from my perspective and then I explain, being professional and tactful about it, showing him phone screenshots as well as show the paper trail of that order.
“What are these blacked out areas?” Peter asks, looking at my phone.
“I’m the kind of person who keeps the friendship vault locked tight even if someone intentionally hurts me, Peter. That’s personal stuff Shara shared that’s not relevant here.”
He gives me a smile that reaches his eyes, which says he respects that. He asks if he can have the paper trail about the questionable purchase order. I tell him I haven’t had a chance to make copies and he suggests we do that. We walk to the photocopier together.
There’s a buzz around the office now with people seeing me and Shara’s door is not only closed but her blinds are drawn. And that’s never the case with her office. She likes to have a view of what’s going on through the cubicle farm layout.
When we’re back in his office, Peter sits down with his copies of the KIT Peripherals order. He sighs as he taps the papers into a tidy stack.
“I’d like you to consider coming back. I’m terminating Shara’s employment this afternoon and I’d be prepared to offer you her job on an interim basis, meaning you’d be acting Distribution Director. If it’s too much, it’ll be temporary until we can find the right fit. If it’s not too much, we’ll offer it to you.”
It takes me a second to reply. And he shows all the patience in the world.
“Um…”
“You’ve got the qualifications based on your education and with your track record here, I’m convinced you’ve got it in you.”
He smiles kindly and I finally find words.
“Peter, I’m six weeks pregnant and I’ve been having brutal morning sickness. It could go on for the next six weeks or longer.”