Ten Years Later

“You’re fired,” my boss, Will, says.

My mouth falls open a little. He’s got to be kidding. He can’t fire me. I’m his best employee. The company wouldn’t survive without me.

“This is a joke, right?”

Will gets up from his large oak desk and walks around to my side. He sits on the edge of his desk as he looks at me with sad eyes.

He’s not joking. That much is clear.

“I wish I were joking.”

He crosses his arms over his chest as he looks even more distressed. I don’t care how he feels right now. He’s the one who made the decision to fire me.

“Are you sure? I mean…I thought I was doing a good job here.”

I thought I was doing the best job here. I’ve worked at the company less than a year, but I am already heading three different PR projects. When I take over a project, I live and breathe for my clients, making sure that no obstacle goes unnoticed. I’m completely prepared for every negative aspect of every situation and know exactly how to spin it in a positive light.

“You were, Victoria. It’s really not about your job performance.”

“Then, why am I getting fired?” My whole body shakes as I speak much too loudly for this office.

I glance behind me at the glass doors that look into Will’s office. The office was built for transparency so that we could all feel close, like a family. I used to enjoy how open the office felt, how light and airy it was. But, now that I’m getting fired and the entire office is staring at me, I wish it looked more like a dungeon I could hide in.

Will rubs the back of his neck. “Because the company is struggling. Decisions that were made long before you came here have left the company failing. We have to lay someone off, it’s the only way we can afford to keep running.”

I nod. I understand the need for layoffs. “That still doesn’t explain, why me? I bring in more income than most of your employees, combined.”

Will smiles a little at me. “You do. You’re terrific. But being as good as you are also comes with a price. You negotiated the highest salary. And you were our last hire. Those two things mean you are the first one out.”

I bite my lip to keep from saying what I really want to say. I want to chew him out. I want to say that it doesn’t even make sense to let me go if I’m the best. But I don’t. I just keep my mouth shut. I learned long ago that saying what I want to say usually just makes things worse.

“I’m sorry, Victoria.”

I glare up at him. He doesn’t get to be sorry. He’s the one who can’t lead a competent team. He’s the one who doesn’t make enough money so that he doesn’t have to fire his employees to keep the company afloat.

“Are we done then?” I snap. I can’t be in here any longer.

When I was first hired, I thought all my dreams were coming true. I got my dream job, in my dream city. But, now, I know it was too good to be true.

“Yes.”

I get up and turn to walk out.

“But just know, Victoria”—Will lowers his voice—“that this is really for your benefit. Unless a miracle happens, the company won’t survive the year. When this company goes down in flames, you will already be working your way up the ladder at your next company.”

I stop at the door and smirk. “You’re an idiot, Will, because you just lost your last chance to save your company. Because I was that miracle. I would have stepped up and started working a hundred hours a week or more for the same pay to ensure that this company survived. I would have done anything because I believed in this company. I liked my coworkers. I loved my job. But, instead of reaching out for help, you’re getting rid of the only shot you had left. But you’re right about one thing. I will already be at a more successful company while your company is ripped apart and sold piece by piece to try to give something to your investors.”

I push the glass door open and walk out with my head held high to my desk. I keep a large fake smile plastered on my face as I glide across the room, pretending like I just quit instead of getting fired. I gather my laptop and things into my briefcase. And then I walk out, like my life is fine.

But, instead, my world just fell apart. I don’t even make it to my car before the tears drop. Tears I would never let anyone else ever see, but in the darkness of the parking garage, they descend.

This was the absolute worst day for me to get fired. I just bought a new house last week. There are still boxes everywhere. My sister, niece, and I haven’t even fully moved in yet. Putting down the down payment practically emptied my savings. I need a new job and fast.

I hit the steering wheel over and over, trying to get my frustration and pain out. This is the third time I’ve been fired in five years. None of them were my fault. I’m good at fixing people’s problems. Everyone’s, except for mine.

* * *

By the time I get to the house, the house that I thought we would live in for years to come but is now threatened, I have lost the tears and returned the fake smile to my face. I won’t let them know that I just got fired. I can’t. I won’t let them worry. Ever.

I open the door, and before I even get inside, I’m tackled by two dogs and my ten-year-old niece.

I laugh as we all fall to the floor while I try not to bump into any of the boxes that are piled high everywhere.

“You’re home!” Sailor squeals. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be home until five.”

I tightly hug her, loving that the second she’s in my arms, I feel ten times better—but ten times worse at the same time. I try to focus on the happy feeling of getting to spend more time with my niece today.

“I got my work done quickly so that I could come be with you this week.”

“Yay! Does that mean we can go to the beach?” Sailor’s little eyes light up as her blonde curls hang down around her cheeks.

I smile. I’m not sure I could ever tell her no. I’d do anything for her. I’ll do everything I can to make sure that she is taken care of. This is her home now, and I will make sure it remains her home, including flipping burgers, waitressing, or serving coffee. Anything. Let’s just hope I don’t have to resort to that.

I’m a generally positive person. But I do know how long it took me to find my last position. Six months. I had been offered several jobs before the last one, but none of them paid enough. None gave me the flexibility that I needed.

I look back at Sailor. I’ll figure it out though. I don’t have six months to make something happen. I have about a month of savings. I can find a job that fast in the San Francisco area, no problem.

“Absolutely! Let’s go see if your mom wants to go.”

Sailor’s face brightens. “Good. I’m tired of being cooped up in this house.”

I laugh. “You’ve been cooped up for a total of four hours.”

She shrugs. “But it was a long four hours!”

“Your mom upstairs?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

Sailor nods.

“Go get changed into your swimsuit, and I’ll go see if your mom wants to go.”

Sailor shoots up the stairs to her bedroom while I go check to see if my sister, Amber, is out of bed yet. I knock on the door before I slowly enter her bedroom. She’s still in bed, like I expected.

I go over to the window and open the blinds.

“It’s a beautiful day, Amber.”

My sister groans and covers her head with the thick comforter. I want to be angry. I want to yell at my sister to get up and go take care of her daughter. To get a job. Or, at the very least, spend time with Sailor. But I know that would be the opposite of helpful. Tough love never works with Amber.

We are different like that. Amber needs soft encouragement while I need tough love.

Amber has gorgeous, long blonde hair, just like her daughter, while my auburn hair makes it so that you wouldn’t even know that Amber and I were related from our looks.

“I’m taking Sailor to the beach. You up for joining us? We would really like that.”

“No.”

I take a deep breath, needing to remain calm.

“You sure, Amb? It’s a beautiful day out. You don’t have to swim if you don’t want to. Just come enjoy the day with us.”

“No.”

I walk over to the bed and sit on the edge while I rub her back, trying to encourage her to come. But we’ve been through this before. She had postpartum depression after Sailor was born. And despite trying to get her help, she’s never gotten better. Losing her job and apartment didn’t help. She’s at one of her lowest places. And there is not much I can do to help her when she is like this but make sure she is taking her medications and going to therapy while letting her know I’m here for her when she finally makes it through the fog.

“Do you need anything before I go?”

“No.”

I lean down and kiss her on the cheek. I wish there were more I could do, but depression is hard to fight. It’s not something I can fix, no matter how much I want to.

“I love you, sis,” I say, getting up before getting ready and heading to the beach.

* * *

I could live my life at the beach and never get enough of it. Sailor is the same way. She was meant to live in the water. Sometimes, I wonder if she was meant to be my daughter instead of Amber’s. But then she does something that reminds me completely of my sister, and I know she is hers. And, when Amber is healthy, she makes an amazing mother. It’s just hard when she is in one of her depressed places. Hard for her to keep a job, hard for her to take care of her daughter, hard for her to even get out of bed.

That’s why I have to have a job. I have to take care of Sailor when Amber can’t. That’s what family does. We pick each other up and handle things when others can’t take care of themselves. If only I could convince my mother and brother of that, then maybe it wouldn’t fall on me all the time.

Who am I kidding? I like the responsibility. I like being in control of the family. I like taking care of them. I just hoped life would go my way for once in my damn life.

My phone buzzes, and I don’t have to look at the screen to know who it is. My mother, who recently married a wealthy doctor and now thinks she is mother of the year. At least she doesn’t get drunk as often anymore. I consider not answering. I don’t want to tell her that I got fired, but I’m not the best liar. She will know. But, if I don’t answer, she will just keep calling all day long until I finally do.

“Hello?” I answer, trying to sound chipper.

“What’s wrong?” my mother asks.

I frown. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“I know you. Something is wrong.”

“What did you call me for, Mom?”

“Is it your sister again? What did she do now? I told you it was a bad idea to buy a house for her and Sailor. You are a successful businesswoman. You should have a nice penthouse downtown. Not throw all of your money away on a house in the suburbs where it takes you an hour to drive to work every day.”

“Amber’s fine. And I wanted to buy the house. It’s a good investment, and I like being close to Amber and Sailor.”

“Boyfriend trouble then? You are too young to worry about dating. You should just focus on your career. You’re in your twenties. You’ll have plenty of time for boys later.”

I sigh. I wish it were boyfriend trouble. I haven’t had a date since graduating from college. No one wants to take on a woman who spends all her time working or with her niece.

“No, it’s not boyfriend trouble.”

I can feel my mother’s scowl on the other end of the phone.

“It has to be your sister then. I told you she would take you down. That—”

“I got fired.”

There’s a pause.

“That can’t be. You’re awesome at your job.”

I sigh. “I know, but that’s why they let me go. They couldn’t afford to keep paying me what I’m worth.”

“Well, it’s their loss then. But it’s actually perfect timing.”

Ugh. I don’t want to hear whatever nonsense my mother is going to say next. This isn’t good timing. This is the worst timing. If they had fired me even six months from now, I wouldn’t feel so lost. So desperate.

“Why is it good timing?”

“You remember Lily Taylor?”

“Yes.”

How could I forget Lily? She was the most popular girl in school. Smart, beautiful. My brother was obsessed with her even though she dated his best friend and my archenemy, Carter Woods, for most of high school.

“Well, she is in need of a fixer.”

I smile. “Really? And how do you know that?” I regret the words the second I ask.

“Cathy told Cindy who told Melissa. Have I told you about Melissa’s botched Botox job yet? It looks hideous. I don’t know what she was thinking or who she went to, but—”

“Mom, I don’t care about Melissa. I care about Lily and why she needs good PR right now.”

“Oh, sorry, sweetie. Lily was engaged to Phillip. But it turns out, she had been cheating on him the whole time.”

“Why does that matter?”

“Because she’s running for Senate. It wouldn’t matter that much, but her law firm also just got accused of several immoral acts. I don’t think she was directly involved, but it’s not looking good for her. She’s currently shopping for a good PR firm.”

“There’s just one problem. I don’t run a PR firm.”

My mother sighs. “So, start one. You can do anything you want sweetie. Go convince her to hire you. You know she will pay well, and if you can help her win, you’ll have clients lining up for you.”

I smile. She’s right. I can fix my own problems by helping Lily fix hers. I just have to get to her quickly. Companies will be lining up for a chance to work for Lily Taylor.