73 - QUITTERS AREN'T ALWAYS LOSERS

The elevator ride to the boardroom above seemed to go on longer than it normally would, the timing ticking like it was a countdown to doom and anarchy. I balled my fist at my sides, trying to quell the rapid thudding of my heart. I tried to stop, to calm myself but I couldn’t help but worry. What was going to happen? Where was Kyle? Was he going to show up and actually save me if it came down to it? I had my reservations, Kyle didn’t have the best track record of coming to my rescue in the past, why did I think it was going to change now?

I could feel their eyes on me even before I reached the door and pushed it open eyes that were normally indifferent or polite in passing, now cold and assessing, their eyes drilling deep into my soul and drawing out my insecurities that I’d rather stay hidden. I paused for a moment to compose myself, smoothing down my skirt and taking a steadying breath.

I pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped into the room. Suddenly, the air became thick with tension. The polished table gleamed under the harsh lights, the chairs arranged like a jury box around it and with each member of the board seated in judgment. Then, there was Mr. Hart – Kyle’s father seated at the head of the table, his eyes drilling into mine in a manner that I couldn’t explain. I froze when I saw him, more like in an helpless shock. The last time I had properly seen him up close was years ago, on the night of my father’s burial. He had the same look on his face as off that night when I drove off with Kyle after the ceremony, the same night Kyle had dumped me.

“Please take a seat Ms. Thorne” his voice sounded well measured, lacking a little bit of the croakiness that usually tainted his tone.

I nodded, forcing my legs to carry me forward despite the leaden weight in my chest, each step feeling like a step closer to a cliff, the edge of which I couldn't see then but I feared deeply still. I took the chair that was reserved for me, plopping on it and feeling small and exposed at the other end of the table. I could almost hear their unspoken questions in the air, their upturned like they’d smelled something foul and I was to blame.

“So Ms Aria, do you understand why you’re here?”Mrs Blackhorn’s voice cut through the silence, she was sharp-nosed looking woman, her voice flat like her forehead and she was seated just on the right of Mr. Hart.
I nodded again, words caught in my throat like shards of glass. The gravity of the situation threatened to overwhelm me, but I knew I had to stay composed.

“So we’re just going to head straight to the point” she started “There’s a blog post going around about an alleged sexual relationship with yourself and Mr. Kyle Hart who is by all means your boss therefor above you in the corporate hierarchy. It is seen that this kind of outrageous information reflects poorly on our company and our vision statement. To keep our company’s reputation free from such kind of rumor, it is the normal to separate both individuals involved in the situation. Therefore, your employment with this company has been terminated effective immediately”

My brain scrambled as her words muddled through my brain, I could hear her speaking, I could see her mouth move but the words escaping them sounded foreign to me like a shook continuously till it’s content are shattered.

*Your employment with this company has been terminated effective immediately

It didn’t make any sense, I was getting fired? In that moment, my eyes met with Mr. Hart and it was that same unconscious triumphance in eyes, like it was there but it wasn’t there at the same time. He looked like a nine-year old with an impatient glee.

“I – I – I – ” I fought to find my words, they stuck to my throat like stale gum. My vision blurred and my eyes watered

“I’m getting fired?” I finally spat the words out

“I’m afraid so Ms. Thorne” she responded and immediately the door flung open and Kyle walked in immediately, his wild eyes instantly scanning the room and they landed on his father followed by a deep scowl etching on his face.

“She’s not going anywhere” Kyle said loudly.

“Mr. Hart – ” the woman but Kyle raised an interrupting hand stopping her before she said any more words and he kept his eyes fixed on his dad who in turn looked back at him with the same intensity.

“What’s going on dad? It is my company, you don’t get to run it for me with board of directors I have never met – who the hell is he?” he angrily pointed at an awkward looking man with an ugly looking tie that had tomatoes on it.

“You’re going to run your company to the ground with your baseless scandals, and don’t forget you’re not completely on your own yet” his father delivered his words in a calculated tone that caused Kyle to grit his teeth in anger.

Kyle scoffed now, running his hands through his hair, his face reddened like his words were burning at the tip of his tongue and he could no longer spit them out.

“She’s not going anywhere, I don’t care” he said instead.

“Kyle Rufus Hart!”

But Kyle already grabbed my hand, preparing to lead me out of the room but I pulled back and his confused stare shot back at me and I met them with a resolute one.

“Aria?” he raised a brow and I shook my head. It was enough that he defended me, that he came to my rescue and had my back opposed to the previous times he had left me hanging on my own. It gave me everything that I needed to know, it consumed with a new found insurance.

I looked straight at Kyle’s father as the words fell out of my mouth and I said “I quit”