Protect & Serve(146)

“Well, if I had any say in the matter, you’d already be in one of those big offices upstairs, young lady. Sometimes I wonder if they even know what they have in you.”

“Thanks Clara.” It was the first time I’d smiled in ages. It felt strange.

“I’ll tell you something else, too,” she leaned close to me, keeping her voice low.

“I was happy to see that little weasel get his nose broken. He seems to have everyone else around here fooled but not me. I say he got what was coming to him.”

“He deserved it. That’s for sure. I just wish it wouldn’t have happened at work.”

“What was his name?” she asked.

“Who?”

“What do you mean ‘who?’ I’m talking about the strapping young guy who smacked some sense into the boy. I like him.”

“His name is Luke. But I’m not really sure if we’re going to work out...”

“Mmm. I don’t know why. He seemed absolutely crazy about you. The only time a man reacts like that is when he has something important to protect. Plus, he had that great butt.”

“Clara!” She had me laughing now.

“Listen, I may be old but I still know a good man when I see one. And that was a good man… And a great butt. You need to patch things up!”

“Thanks, Clara. I’ll think about it. For now, I better go down stairs before I get myself into more trouble.”

She waved me off, returning to her crossword puzzle.

My foot barely hit the last concrete step before the records room phone started to ring. I hurried over to it.

“This is Bria Hudson,” I answered.

“This is Christine Soto with Mr. Jones’ office.”

I hated that she started all of her phone calls that way.

“Mr. Jones would like to see you in his office this morning.”

“Oh… okay.”

I’d been wanting another chance to talk to him but now that the opportunity had presented itself, I wasn’t so sure.

“Did he say what time? Or…”

“If Mr. Jones had specified a time, I would have told you,” she said, rudely.

“Oh. So, I guess I’ll come up now.”

“No, no, no. That won’t do. If you had read your email as I’ve asked of you multiple times, you would know that Mr. Jones is in a partner’s meeting until nine-thirty.

“Oh. Is his schedule open after that?”

“Mr. Jones’ schedule is never open. He’s a very busy man. I would have thought you would have realized that after spending so much time here.”

“Uh…”

“Yes. Nine-thirty will be fine. He said he wouldn’t take much of your time.”

“Okay.”

“Also, I’d like to remind you, again, that it is company policy to familiarize yourself with all work related emails and memos. It is very important for the efficiency of our practice that each and every team member utilize their time and resources effectively. Please take the opportunity to get with a senior team member so you can have them show you how to properly use the email system.”

“Uh, sure.”

Was this bitch serious?

“And Miss Hudson, one last thing… Mr. Jones requested that you bring all of your personal belongings with you to his office.”

The phone clicked and she was gone.

What the hell?

He wants me to bring all my stuff with me?

This couldn’t be happening.

There’s no way he would fire me after what he’d put me through. I wonder if Kevin’s family had leaned on him to do something about me. I wouldn’t put it past that sniveling little jerk to have his daddy swoop in and exact some revenge.

I couldn’t think straight. The anticipation was going to kill me before I even made it to his office. The big mechanical clock ticked on the wall. I sat there and stared at it for the next hour and a half.

When nine-thirty finally hit, I scooped up my things and ran back upstairs. There was nothing worth keeping from my desk. The only picture I’d had was one of me and Kevin at some street fair a couple of years back. I’d already trashed that thing months ago.

Christine’s beady little eyes peered over the monitor at me as I ascended the last few steps. There was no doubt in my mind she was enjoying this.

“Miss Hudson, please have a seat over there. I’ll call you when Mr. Jones is ready.”

I blew past her without a second thought. I threw the door to his corner office open and marched inside.

“Miss Hudson, he’s not ready for you yet.”

I slammed the door just as she was about to follow me through the door.

Jones had the phone cradled between his shoulder and ear. There was a look of concern on his face.