“Olivia, so you are a party girl now? Where are my kids?”
Delete.
“I am serious, Olivia, who the hell has my kids while you are out whoring around?”
Not like he cared about spending time with them before now.
Delete.
“You think you’ve won, but you haven’t. It’s far from over.”
Delete.
“Clear all messages? Press one for yes, or two for no,” the voice on her cell phone asked.
She quickly pressed one. It was a waste of her time listening to the rest.
She’d had one heck of a weekend with Richard. Travis was the last person she felt like listening to. Richard made her feel brand new, and she was on cloud nine.
Looking up, she saw Brandon heading her way to blow her high. If she hadn’t just come from break, she would have gone on one to avoid him.
“Olivia, we need you in a meeting right now,” he said with a cheesy grin on his face.
“Okay.” She gave him the side eye as she slowly rose from her seat and followed him to the conference room.
Everyone’s attention was on her as she walked passed. Something was wrong. She scanned Anita’s area to see if she was at her desk. Nope.
Brandon opened the small conference room’s door and ushered her in. Mr. Hanley, the regional director, and the VP were sitting on the other side. Brandon was the token sent to get her. She swallowed hard. This couldn’t be good.
“Have a seat, Olivia,” the VP said.
Reluctantly, she did as instructed. She was nervous but confident at the same time. Her track record was flawless for the company. Olivia had gone over and beyond all of her duties to include doing most of their work.
“You do know the companies policy on working two jobs, right?” Mr. Hanley said.
“Yes.” Instant moisture formed under her armpits.
“So, you know that you are required to bring it to our attention, and we have to approve it,” Mr. Hanley said.
“Yes.” She nodded.
“It’s come to our attention that you have a second job,” the regional director said.
Olivia remained silent. She wasn’t going to answer until she could fully comprehend the gravity of the situation.
“Not only a second job, but one that is distasteful,” he spat. The CEO’s green eyes bore into her skin. “We received a pretty serious email this morning. Actually Mr. Hanley did and it included graphic photos of someone who looks very similar to you.” He slid a manila folder across the table to her.
Olivia almost laughed when she opened it. She’d braced herself to see naked pictures, but they were her profile pictures from The Playhouses, nothing graphic at all. She was in lingerie, no more than what you would see in an advertisement. But still, how did they get them? Attached to the photo was a statement that read: How well do you know your employee?
“How do you explain these?” the regional director asked.
“Pictures I took for my husband.” It was a believable. If they were still married, he could’ve taken them.
“That is strange because he’s the one who emailed us, saying you work on this site, The Playhouse.”
Refusing to let another untruth pass her lips, she rubbed her temples before answering. Olivia knew she was already finished. She could’ve told them that her husband put the pictures on there without her knowledge to get back at her but wouldn’t give these old bastards the satisfaction of her pleading. “Well, I guess he got them off the site then.”
“So you are admitting that the pictures are you,” Mr. Hanley said.
“Yep, and that I do less work on it and make way more. As a matter of fact, I don’t have to kiss anyone’s ass or do their work.” Her face was a stone.
All four of them sat there, glaring at her as if she’d lost her mind. She had, for working the past decade for them.
“Are you saying you quit?” the regional director asked.
“Not at all.” Nope, you are going to have to fire me, bucko. And give me my severance package. I wasn’t that crazy.
“Well, in light of these circumstances, we cannot keep you on board. We have a reputation to keep,” the VP said.
“Oh, I understand. We can’t have that, can we?” She raised her eyebrow, looking him directly in the eye.
“Mr. Winston, I think she is mocking you.” Brandon gasped.
“I think she is mocking you. Don’t you have anything better to do? Why are you even in here? You are not in charge of me, or have any authority over me?” she snapped.
“I am here because I was told to be.” He crossed his arms in defiance.
“You’re in here because of your skin color. So what, the three of you couldn’t handle me?” She looked across the table at each of them. “You can’t handle the woman you sent out to all of your corporate meetings, because you either had no clue what was going on or could care less. The woman who has to sit with you on a conference call and hand you highlighted files or notes. Did you actually think that he could help you out? All he can do is keep kissing your ass.” She laughed.
“Get out, leave the premises now!” the VP screamed at her like she was a criminal. His bald head had turned red; sweat beads formed around the crown.
“You’re regional director friend won’t be able to help you with this one,” Mr. Hanley said with a smirk.
“I’m not the one who will need the help.” She stood up. “I’ll leave. Just don’t forget my severance package. And please don’t try to screw me over. I have more dirt than you know, on all of you. I would gladly help bring about a class action law suit. Remember, I’m…I was the HR manager.”
She let the doors of the conference room slam behind her. Then she went to her office. No need to give her a box and have security over her shoulder. There was nothing of theirs she wanted.
“Olivia, oh my God. So, it’s true. I just heard about it. I can’t believe they are firing you,” Anita said as she made her way back to her floor.
“No worries, I have always had a backup plan. Call me later, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Olivia brushed past her to get to her desk. She snatched up the picture of her boys and her thumb drive, along with her certificates off the wall and stormed out. Olivia had to laugh to herself. She’d yet to forward the final report compiled from the Eastern Offices to the ones on the West Coast. They could try their best to find them on her computer, which it wasn’t on. It was on the thumb drive she’d just dropped in her pocket.
“Hold on!” Anita was running down the hall, trying to catch her.
Olivia stepped on the elevator and didn’t bother to hold it open.
Anita slid in just in time. “What are you going to do?”
“Stay black and die,” Olivia spat. The words she’d heard all her life had no truer meaning than now. As a black person, the only guarantee one had was they’d stay black and eventually die.
“Olivia, I am serious. What are you going to do?” Her mouth hung open.
“I am too. I’m sick of people like them. I have money saved up. I’ll be okay.”
“Well, I’m rooting for you.” She gave Olivia a hug.
The elevator opened on the first floor. She stepped off, leaving Anita and People’s Insurance behind.
Chapter Twenty-seven
A week had passed. Olivia had fallen into a funk. She wasn’t answering the phone or checking her voice mail. Her purpose in life was to get up and get the boys ready for school, make them dinner when they got home, and staying in the bed the rest of the time.
Olivia felt brave when she walked out the building, but the next day, reality hit her smack dab in the forehead. She was terrified. She had no clue how to start a business.
Ding dong, ding dong.
She wasn’t in the mood for company. The door could be ignored, just like her cell which had been ringing nonstop. The only reason it was on now was in case the school called. The ringing stopped. Olivia rolled over and got back comfortable.
/> “Get up! Get your ass out the bed. Go wash your ass. Get up!” Angela screamed, waving the spare key.
“Go away.” She pulled the cover over her head.
“We are not going anywhere,” Devon said.
“We have been calling you for days. We’re sick of this.” Angela snatched the covers off her. “Go, get in the shower, brush your teeth, and get back out here. If you don’t do it, I will drag you in there and wash you up myself.”
Olivia gave her the death stare and marched to the bathroom. She wasn’t that far gone. Olivia had been taking baths but getting back in her pajamas when she finished. Glancing in the mirror, she saw how terrible she looked. Her eyes were puffy, and her hair was all over her head. She turned on the shower, took off her clothes, and stepped in.
Angela opened the door. “Hurry the heck up!” She slammed it shut.
Olivia wasn’t going to take too much more of that. She quickly lathered up and rinsed off. She was tempted to put on another pair of pajamas. Thinking better of it, she slipped on a workout outfit. Olivia brushed her teeth and gargled before coming out to see them standing in her room like it was after school, and they were on the playground waiting to kick her ass.
“I’m up. Now I’m clean. What do you want?” She glared back.
Angela put her hands on her hips. “Oh, hell no, don’t even get funky with us.”
“Angela, baby, calm down. Liv, we are here ‘cause we love you, girl. You had us worried. I understand what happened, but dang. We have your back,” Devon said.
“Yeah, sis, snap out of it. You’re not missing out on anything, leaving them folks. They are the ones hurting.” She walked over and hugged her.
“You guys don’t get it. I walked away from my job, my career. What am I supposed to do now?” She was on the verge of crying—again.
“You walked out on a bad situation and into your new life. It’s a fresh start. Besides, you hated that place. You always said you did all the work. This is your chance to show them,” Devon moved in for the group hug.
They held her tight until she felt smothered. She backed up, wiping away her tears. “What’s that in your hand?” Olivia asked.
“Your mail,” Angela said.
“I know that; I’m talking about the red flyer sticking out on top.”
“Didn’t notice it. Here.” Angela held it out.
Olivia took the mail from her. The flyer was for a small business seminar starting at two o’clock that day. It was only ten now. She had plenty of time. This had to been some sort of omen.
“You guys are right. I’m about to take back control of my life, starting now.” She waved the flyer at them.
“Now, that’s my girl. Me and Angela will get out of your face now that our job is done,” Devon said.
Before the door closed all the way, she had one last thing to say to them. “When did you guys become a couple?”
Angela smiled at her and gave Devon a quick peck on the lips before leaving her in silence.
Olivia was glad they came by. She needed the wakeup call. What the heck was wrong with me? It wasn’t just about the job. It was everything, including her leaving Travis.
***
She’d always wanted her own business. Olivia had been running one for years but the temporary agency would be her baby. This was her chance. With $25,000 from The Playhouse, $72,000 in her savings, a nice 401K, and her severance package, she was going to be more than okay.
The seminar was just what she needed. They had a complete start-up kit, along with a guide. She’d met some great connections. One of them owned some real estate and offered her a downtown, historic office space at a nice rate. Other small business owners needed experienced office staff, which she was eager and ready to provide. Olivia ran an advertisement on Career Builder and Monster.com and ended up with a response way larger than anticipated.
The online office testing Olivia provided weeded out a lot of the nonqualified. The interview process got the rest. One of them included the girl she’d seen Travis with. Olivia had no clue it was her until she showed up for an interview. She had a great resume and scored well on the tests, but the fire-engine hair along with the stars and stripes on her extra-long fingernails were not for the corporate world. Olivia had no choice but to pass on her. There was no way she was putting her company’s name behind that. People needed to learn to dress for success and to stop looking like a hot mess.
“Miss Parker,” her secretary buzzed in. “You have someone who has been holding for you on line two.”
“Put them through please.” Olivia leaned back in her leather chair.
“Olivia, this is Ann Gable. How are you?”
“Ann, what are you doing calling me?” She smiled.
“Remember at the last conference I told you to look me up, and I would support you. I knew you were too good for People’s Insurance and were on to something. Georgia was intimidated by you for some reason other than that man she left a long time ago. I was wondering if we could meet and discuss me becoming a partner. I have been dying to get away from this place for years but never had somewhere I wanted to be.” Her voice sounded genuine.
Olivia almost dropped the phone. Ann had money, deep-rooted money going back to her ancestors. What did she need Olivia for?
“I know you don’t know me well, but I have been watching your career for years. You should have been the assistant regional director a long time ago. I feel that, together, we can take your new company nationally and help other women make it in the good ole boy system. I have personally witnessed some of your employees first hand. Brandon would have had a heart attack if he knew the new employee he was gloating over had come from the company you own. She was highly trained and ready for the position from day one,” Ann gushed.
“Wow, I don’t know what to say. We can definitely get together, because I can use a great partner. Business is booming way more than I could have ever anticipated. An office in another city is way more than I could’ve envisioned this soon. Let’s set something for later in the week.”
“Great.”
“Good, now if you will excuse me, I have a lunch meeting.”
Olivia disconnected the call and smiled at the handsome man standing in her doorway. Richard was true to his word with them being in a relationship. He’d stood by and helped her through a rough time and watched her business come to fruition.
“I brought Japanese.” He held up the box of food.
“Hm, I had something a little spicier in mind,” she purred. “Please come in and shut the door. This is for your viewing pleasure only.”
The End
*****
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