“Thanks for coming in, Sydney.” The two women sat across from me.
“Of course.” I tried to smile, but my lips felt like they would start to tremble at any second.
Alice cleared her throat. “I had Frannie join us so we can go over everything together.”
She didn’t need to say another word. I knew exactly what decision she had made. My job at the News & Record was over.
I sat in silence while they explained the company’s policies on fraternization with a source. Frannie read an excerpt from the employee handbook and presented a copy of the document I had signed when I was hired. I tried to stay calm, but I felt like I was underwater and their words were muffled by the water in my ears.
“I really do wish you all the best, Sydney.” Alice stood.
“Thank you,” I tried to make it louder than a whisper.
“Let us know where you land.”
I nodded. I couldn’t imagine staying in touch with her, but it felt like a necessary gesture.
Alice left the room so I could complete the with exit paperwork with Frannie. It was embarrassing enough to be fired, it was humiliating to lose my job because I had slept with Mason. I might as well be Hester Prynne.
Frannie smiled lightly when I handed over my press pass and the key to the newsroom. I told her I didn’t have any personal effects in my desk so I wouldn’t need a box to pack.
She escorted me to the door and watched from the glass as I walked to my car. My throat tightened. I could feel her eyes on my back as I moved across the parking lot. But I couldn’t turn around. I couldn’t let my shoulders slump, or the tears fall. I unlocked the driver side door and sat behind the steering wheel.
I thought I saw Alice standing at the skinny window in her office, but I cranked the ignition and pulled onto the road.
It wasn’t until I hit the next stoplight that I let the heat and the anger of my embarrassment spill over. They were hard ugly sobs that wracked my body. I heard the car behind me honk when the light turned green.
I wiped at my eyes enough to see the road and sped forward. Those were the only tears I would allow myself to have. I had to focus on whatever future lied ahead.
He was dressed in his usual white button-up shirt, pacing on the balcony. I let myself in, so he didn’t know I was watching him. Whoever was on the other end of that call was getting an earful.
I headed to the bedroom.
I had left my phone charger plugged in next to his bed. I wrapped the cord around my hand, and sat on the edge. Mason slept closest to the door. The pillow smelled like him. I couldn’t help but smile when I thought about last night. As nervous and upset as I had been, he had found a way to make me forget about it.
He was the kind of man who could draw a bath and wash my back. Refill my wine. Hold me while I fell asleep. Listen to me say the same things over again. Mason had turned into a completely unexpected man.
I walked back to the living room to see if he was finished with the call.
“Hey, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Hey.” I was on the verge of losing it again, but I stiffened my back, holding the feelings in.
“And what did Alice say?”
I shook my head. “They gave me the HR speech and let me go. You’re looking at an out of work reporter.”
“Come here.” He moved toward me, locking his arms around my back. “They are crazy for not finding a spot for you at that journal. They just gave their competition an advantage. I consider that a bad business practice.” His thumb smoothed the back of my shirt.
“I don’t think Alice considers business practices. She’s an editor.”
“It’s a business. But it doesn’t matter. That’s done. It’s over.” He dropped me from the hold.
“I guess I should work on updating my resume and pulling together my work portfolio. It’s going to take a little bit of time.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be necessary.”
“Of course it is. I have to get another job before word gets out why I left the Record.”