CHAPTER 14
Amelia
The next morning
I can’t keep my eyes open at work. All I can think about is lying there in his arms in that big, wonderful bed of his as we’re surrounded by the scent of those tulips. I feel safe, protected, respected and…loved.
It scares me to think about it at first. I realize this man means everything to me, and just as important I can see that I mean just as much to him.
When lunchtime comes I take the elevator down to the floor below us and enter their ladies room. There are no tenants on that floor so I set my alarm and promptly pass out in the stall for twenty-five minutes. The alarm seems to sound just seconds after I set it, but I check the time and it’s right. The nap does nothing to help.
I take the elevator back up and put some dry eye droplets in my eyes as soon as I reach my office. I still can’t believe I have an office, then again I can’t believe any of this, but the best part is that I’m not dreaming…it’s real.
I pull up my personal email and message him. Can’t wait for today to end so we can pick up where we left off. I hit send and watch my screen for a minute, hoping for a quick reply. It doesn’t come, but it’s not a surprise. He said he had a big meeting this morning, and I haven’t seen him around. Knowing management and how they do things his meeting probably turned into a conference, which turned into a committee, which turned into a vote, which turned into needing approvals, and sign-offs, and who knows what else. The blind leading the blind was never more appropriate, but knowing him he’ll find a way to rally everyone and get things sorted out quickly and efficiently. I love how stern he is, but so practical that you had no choice but to fall inline with his very persuasive suggestions.
He convinces without trying to be convincing. He sells you on an idea without being salesy. His lack of people skills was possibly his secret to having people skills, in his own unique way. His no B.S. straight shooting approach disarmed everyone. And being around me was softening his edges, further refining the overall effectiveness he had when dealing with people.
I continue working as hard as I can until I hear my name called. I look up and see Janice from HR at the door.
“Hey, Amelia. Can you come with me please?”
“Sure, just let me finish this real quick?”
“Don’t worry about it. This won’t take but a second.”
Here we go, I think to myself. Either some form to fill out or some new restructuring information. Maybe all those decisions are about to result in some action.
I hit the submit button on the month end close report and push my chair back before standing up and walking toward the door.
I know I look like hell, but at least I did manage to get some important things done today. Tonight is going to be all about a movie on the couch and then straight to sleep…no matter how persuasive his bedroom seduction skills are.
Janice steps out of the doorway and extends her arm as if to say, “right this way,” as if I don’t know where the HR offices are.
My foot breaks the plane of the doorway and I immediately notice something is off. My eyes dart from cubicle to cubicle. I can’t see over the tops, but I can see the ones that open up to my passageway. As I pass they’re empty. I look towards the open room and see they’re empty too. I look up at the clock on the wall and see it’s barely 4:32. No one is allowed to leave early, unless maybe they allowed it since we just finished a grueling month end accounting close. Actually it was a quarterly close requiring a lot of hard work so maybe they are showing some generosity. I smile hoping my people skills have softened up Carson into wanting to reward the finance and accounting teams.
That idea, and the smile on my face, are quickly wiped away the minute I see two long faces inside the HR room. They’re looking straight out, with a paper on the desk in front of them, facing my way. There’s a pen next to it, and in big bold letters against the top reads: SEVERANCE AGREEMENT.