Chapter 4

4: 4

The next day I stood up the client Jerome had lined up.

When Jerome saw me still at my desk, fury churned in his eyes.

But he forced it down.

I ignored him. I just looked at the transfer-approval notice that had come through and let the corner of my mouth curve.

I only wanted to work my last day the right way.

But by that afternoon I got a company-wide disciplinary notice.

The first line read “Beth Summers, emotionally unstable and uncooperative with management's work assignments, is suspended for six months.”

Jerome set a coffee on my desk, milk and sugar measured just the way I liked it.

“Beth, don't blame me for not being considerate.”

“It's just that the company has its rules. I can't play favorites simply because you're my girlfriend.”

“You're emotionally unstable. It wouldn't be good if you caused more losses.”

“I have to be responsible to the company too. You understand, right?”

The words sounded warm. In truth they were a death sentence.

Forget six months. Even a one-month suspension made a smooth return nearly impossible.

Seeing no reaction from me, he seemed to think I'd caved.

“I know you can't sit still at home.”

“As it happens, Claudie needs a driver. In the meantime, you can shuttle her around.”

“She's only just started dealing with clients. Having you beside her, you can give her a few pointers.”

Only then did I understand.

He wasn't just sulking and holding me down.

He wanted a legitimate reason to demote me into being Claudia's helper.

I'd loved him for eight years, and today was the first time I saw him clearly.

He wasn't rational. He was selfish.

So I wasn't going to work this last day either.

I picked up my box and walked out.

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Henson, but I no longer plan to work under you, so there's no need to go to all that trouble arranging a position for me.”

Panic flickered through his eyes for an instant, and the hand that grabbed my wrist clamped down hard.

“Beth, you're too emotional right now.”

“Every decision you're making right now is irrational!”

I shook his hand off.

In front of every coworker, I threw it back at him.

“Did I argue with you? Did I make a scene?”

“What gives you the right to judge me instead of the actual matter?”

“The one running on emotion is you, not me!”

The coworkers pretended to work, but their eyes kept darting over.

He couldn't save face, and the rationality he was so proud of was starting to crack.

“But it's a fact that you caused the company losses, isn't it?”

“I didn't dock your bonus, didn't call a staff meeting to denounce you. What more do you want?”

He said it like he had every right.

It only made me colder inside.

I took two steps closer and looked him dead in the eye.

“You think I don't know about the little tricks you pulled?”

“You think you're really as high-minded as you claim, without a selfish bone in you?”

His brow knit deeper.

I flung the copies at him.

It was the client-analysis chart he'd made.

Difficulty ranked from five stars down to one.

After it, his special note “Three-star and above clients go to Beth Summers.”

“Two-star and below go to Claudia Mason.”

With a further remark: anything Claudia can't finish, Beth Summers covers.

I'd stumbled on it by chance that day after he left, when I went to switch off the light in his office.

I let out a scoff.

“I actually thought I was just unlucky, that the clients I got kept getting harder and harder, and I even tried to go to you for comfort.”

“Now I know all this trouble of mine was trouble you handed me.”

His throat bobbed a few times, and he took two steps toward me.

I backed away with a frown, as if afraid of getting something filthy on me.

Before I turned to leave, I said “Jerome, let's break up!”

“Beth Summers!”

He called out to stop me, his voice a little hoarse.

My steps paused, and I looked back.

I tilted the corner of my mouth up at him.

“Oh, right. I wrote all of this into a complaint and sent it to headquarters.”

“No need to thank me.”

With that, I turned and strode off.