He glanced toward the door.
“She knows what she needs to know.”
I felt something inside me become very still.
I didn’t argue.
I simply turned and left.
By early afternoon, rumors were spreading throughout
the building.
Apparently, Celeste had been telling employees that I’d behaved inappropriately toward Julian and attempted to take advantage of my access to the executive dining room.
One colleague quietly warned me that Celeste was determined to have me dismissed.
I thanked her.
Then, shortly before three, I received a message summoning me to a conference room.
When I arrived, Celeste was already waiting.
Two security officers stood near the door.
On the table lay a termination notice.
Celeste pushed it toward me.
“Sign this.”
I looked down at the document.
It accused me of harassment, theft, and inappropriate behavior toward the CEO.
Every allegation was false.
I slowly looked up.
“Who prepared this?”
Celeste smiled.
“Human Resources approved it.”
“Did they?”
She leaned forward.
“You really thought you could come into this company and compete with me?”
I remained silent.
She continued.
“Let me explain something. I’m the woman
Julian goes home to emotionally, whether you like it or not. We’re practically married.”
Then she raised her left hand.
A diamond ring sparkled beneath the conference room lights.
“Julian gave me this last month.”
I recognized the design immediately.
I’d seen it before.
Not on her hand.
On a jeweler’s invoice connected to Hartwell Industries’ executive spending account.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
At the time, I’d wondered why an expensive piece of jewelry appeared among questionable corporate expenses.
Now I was beginning to understand.
Celeste mistook my silence for jealousy.
