5
618 Words
5“So what’s Ramsey got in mind for Caprock?” I asked.
“Rebranding to emphasize our military-grade capabilities.”
“I get that. We have a new man in the White House. More US security contracting funds are going to Defense and CIA. Synergy’s positioning Caprock to compete for that money.”
I made my own brush-off gesture. “But State’s still awarding diplomatic protection contracts.”
Jeff grunted. “The projected number of new State contracts has shrunk dramatically. Synergy is eliminating your position. I asked them to find room for you elsewhere. Ramsey made it clear you can’t continue working here. Dhaka is the reason.”
I huffed. “You agreed that I had no choice in that situation.”
“My view is irrelevant. Ramsey speaks for the board of directors.”
I could’ve pushed for more info.
But I heard the stoniness in Jeff’s voice. Saw the expression hardening on his face
He was shutting down on me. I wouldn’t get more from him today.
I did my best to look amiable. Put a good-sport lilt in my voice.
“Fair enough.”
Acting all-casual, I stretched my arms above my head and got more comfy on the chair.
“When’s my last day on the job?” I asked.
“I understood that Ramsey was considering a date four to six weeks in the future. But when you didn’t show up last night, he advanced his timetable.”
Jeff glanced at his wrist watch. “Your termination is effective right now. Twelve-thirty on the first of July.”
Fired, effective immediately.
Like I’d been caught strolling out of the facility armory with stolen Glocks stuffed in my pockets.
My spine stiffened. My damn fists were curling again.
I forced my fingers to relax.
I wasn’t a good loser. Posing as one strained my acting ability.
Jeff reached behind him, lifted a sheet of paper off the desk, and passed it to me.
It was the standard checklist of two dozen items all employees were supposed to surrender when terminated.
I wasn’t surprised by Ramsey’s petty cruelty. But I was startled that Jeff was sticking to the man’s script.
I glanced through. Item number six read uniform.
What kind of bullshit was this?
I raised my eyes to Jeff’s face. “Pretty harsh, demanding the shirt off my back. You really want me to walk out of this room wearing only a bra on top?”
He sighed. “You can keep the shirt.”
“Very considerate.” I tapped the paper.
“I don’t have everything on this list with me,” I added. “I leave my office keycard at home when I’m on the road.”
Caprock is headquartered in the Dulles Technology Corridor just outside of Washington, DC. Both Jeff and I are based there.
I live nearby in Chantilly, Virginia.
I scratched my original plan. I wouldn’t spend the weekend at the facility.
When we finished this termination crap, I’d leave.
If I drove straight home, I’d be in Chantilly by five o’clock. I’d have peace and quiet to analyze Jeff’s behavior.
I stuffed down the urge to unload my anger onto him. Folding the checklist, I tucked it into my bag.
“I’ll bring the rest of this stuff to the office on Monday,” I said. “Collect my personal things at the same time.”
Jeff shook his head. “We’re closed on Monday. I won’t be in the office until Wednesday.”
Of course he wouldn’t. Tuesday was a holiday, Independence Day.
“I’ll have your things packed up,” Jeff added. “They’ll be delivered to you by noon Wednesday. Pass me what you have with you now. Anything else, you can hand to the delivery person.”
He wanted me off these premises. And he didn’t want me setting foot in my office.
Standing, I fumbled my hard plastic corporate ID out of my bag. Handed it over.
“This is all you have with you?” Jeff asked.
I shrugged. “I travel light.”
Clutching my bag in one hand, I tossed him a wave with the other.
Two minutes later, I sailed out the main gate.
I buzzed all four windows down.
The local farm-stink poured into the cramped subcompact.
I welcomed it.
Shit from pigs who’d end their lives as gourmet ham smelled far better than the way I’d been fired.
- Writer
