“Madeline, I need to see you in my office.” George’s voice grated on me worse than normal.

The day before had been so very perfect. After a nap in the sun, we shared a nice lunch at a small diner near the field before going back to their hotel and chatting the day away. Chatting and making out was more accurate, but the conversation was the best part of it and, with kissing that unbelievably hot, that was saying something. We talked about good things like favorite foods, but also about their plans to possibly relocate temporarily. It no longer felt too soon to have that on the table, the morning spent with their lions bringing us closer together, something I hadn’t anticipated when I first had the idea. Everything was so great and then reality hit back. It was time for work.

And George and whatever bug he had up his ass.

“Yes, sir.” Plan of the day, comply with all requests, apologize even if not my fault, and get back to my desk and away from him. At least that was the plan until he accidentally brushed up against my ass just as we reached his office. How was it again that this scum earned an office?

“Come in.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the door clicked closed, I knew things were not going to be as easy as I’m sorry. I will do better.

“Do you know why I called you in here?”

Ha, as if I would pre-confess even if I had an inkling, which I did not.

“From the sounds of things because you are upset with me.” I opened my eyes extra wide with each blink, the look of innocence I attempted designed more to annoy him than anything else. Why hadn’t I taken a second not-so-sick day?

“This is your formal write-up from the other day.” He slid the paper across the desk. Fuck, I’d almost forgotten about that. “Sign here.” He tapped on the highlighted line as if I couldn’t find it on my own. Asshat.

The document was pure fiction. Anyone reading it as truth would assume I was a volatile, lazy shithead employee who not only used their phone the entire shift but then belittled him in front of the entire staff as an ongoing bully brigade I was the mastermind of. Eff that.

“This isn’t accurate sir.” He pushed it back to me. I found it oh so convenient he’d managed to fill the entire page, not leaving any room for my rebuttal, which was required by state law.

“You can sign it or head straight to Human Resources.”

“Here.” I signed it with a notation saying further response forthcoming because, while I might not want to deal with Human Resources while I was so ticked off, it needed to be done at some point. George had no idea who he was dealing with, either. By the time I was done with it, not only did I envision a clean record on my side but also some disciplinary action on his. He’d finally done something that could be pinned on him by picking a moment with both witnesses and technology recording how untrue his phone complaint was. He was going down. I’d given in far too many times.

“Now, here is a second write-up for yesterday.”

I will not stomp off or slap him. I will sit here and wait until the time is right to take him down.

“I wasn’t here yesterday.”

“And that is the reason for the write-up.” He pushed it closer as if that would have me handing over my John Hancock without a fuss.

“I’m allowed to take a sick day.” In fact, if I didn’t, I would lose it, thanks to my sick bank being full, but I kept that part to myself.

“Yes, when you are sick and we both know you weren’t sick, you were with that that…”

Shit, he knew, or at least thought he knew I was with the one who helped emasculate him in front of the staff.

“Man?” I offered as a question, still unsure if he actually knew anything.

“Sure, if you want to play it that way, sure.” He pushed it forward again. This time it landed on the floor, where I left it. I might sign the first one as a way to get my part of the story in, but there was zero chance I was going to even read the second one now that it was on the floor.

“Actually, I was with two of them, and they took care of me and now I feel well enough to be at work.” He cringed at my words, which I miraculously was able to make 100 percent true. Yay me.

“Where is your doctor’s note?” He stood, leaning over his desk and looking down at me.

“You and I both know the employee handbook says doctors’ notes are needed to return to work after three consecutive absences.” And even that the company was flexible on when it came to flu season or the stomach bug that we had run through the place last spring.

“Sign it,” he seethed, pointing to the floor.

“Not going to happen.” My calm amazed even me and set him ablaze in anger.

“Then, off you go. You can return in the morning after a meeting with Human Resources.”

“My pleasure.” I grabbed the phone out of my pocket, clicking on the camera. “And do me a favor and quit staring at my ass every time I walk away. That, my little friend, is the stuff that gets people fired.”

“You have no proof.”

I held up my phone, letting him think I had more on it than the last thirty seconds. “Ahh, but I have a plethora of witnesses, so I highly doubt that matters.”

His eyes never left my phone, his face now burning with anger. This escalated quicker than his normal MO and, for the first time, I felt less than safe physically in his presence.

“You are on official leave pending an investigation into blackmail, Madeline. Security will escort you out.” He made no move to call them.

“I’ll manage quite well on my own.” I stood, nonchalantly making my way to the door, the phone facing him the entire time. “After I head to Human Resources, as is my right.”

“You will not win this one. You roll with those vermin, you’re going to get burned”

“Your analogies don’t even make sense. Remember, no ass staring.” I tsked, my adrenaline pumping.

As I walked out the door, his voice filled the office for all to hear. “Bitch.” Classy.

After a not so brief discussion with the head of Human Resources and filling out a thousand pieces of paperwork, I left work for the day, possibly forever. I was fine with it, all of it, until I walked in the apartment. That was when the tears began to flow uncontrollably, resulting in my falling asleep on the couch and remaining there until the sun was already setting.