“Not heading home yet?” he asks shrewdly, eyeing the coffee mug in my hands. “Going for reinforcements?”
I nod to acknowledge his cleverness. “Just needed that extra push over the finish line,” I explain.
“Understood,” Lou Tolliver nods. “You settling in? Getting everything you need?”
“Definitely.”
“Well, we’re really happy to have you,” he smiles. “You are just the kind of lifeblood infusion we needed. I don’t know what you’re doing, but Greg has really seen a surge of productivity since you got here. Maybe a bit of competition, eh?”
I stare at him blankly, wondering how we can have such different impressions of Greg’s productivity level. Greg had a surge? A surge of what? Binge drinking?
And then it hits me. Greg didn’t have a surge. I did. All those deals I’ve been closing for him go into his cost center. Lou must think he did all the work himself.
“It’s not competition… Actually, sir, I think there is something you should know.”
I explain to him briefly what’s going on. I don’t call Greg out specifically, but I do list and number all the deals that I’ve done over the last three weeks. My guess is that every deal that I have worked on, Greg has taken total credit for. Lou Tolliver is an exceptionally sharp man. I’m sure he can do the math.
“I think I understand,” he says slowly. “But what about before you? He’s consistently been a high producer.”
“One hundred percent Clarissa, his former assistant,” I answer.
“Are you sure?” he asks me slowly.
“I’m certain of it. In fact, is that why she left? Did you ask her?”
Lou glances up at me, shielding his expression immediately. I see something there, as though he almost winces.
“I’m sorry,” I rush. “Did I hit a sore subject? I didn’t mean to pry.”
Lou raises his old, gnarled hand and waves it slightly. “No, I’m afraid what you’re saying has a great deal of truth to it. Did you know that she is suing us?”
“I did not know that, no. Suing us for what?”
Lou sighs, appearing to almost get smaller where he stands. I can see that this is weighing on him significantly. “Wrongful termination,” he finally answers. “She claims that she was promised a promotion, and when she asked for it, Greg fired her.”
I nod tightly. That is illegal, and we both know it. I don’t want to say it out loud to make the situation worse.
Suddenly he looks over my shoulder, glances out the doorway.
“Gregory?” he calls out, his voice surprisingly strong and sudden. “Will you come in here for a moment?”
I turn around and see Greg rushing down the hall, then pivoting back into the office, a shocked look on his face. He enters warily, his eyes darting between us.
“Just forgot my cell phone,” he explains as he enters. “You needed something?”
Lou leans forward, resting his knuckles on the corner of his desk. Though he seemed tired and somewhat discouraged a moment ago, now he almost glows with strength, like a hot iron in a fire.
“What was your reason for letting Clarissa go?”
“Sir, I think we’ve been over this,” Greg blusters, nostrils flaring.
“Yes, well, humor me. I’m old and forgetful. What was your reasoning?”
“Insubordination, sir,” he answers through gritted teeth, his eyes flickering toward me as though he’s embarrassed to admit this out loud in front of me.
“Insubordination, yes, I remember now,” Lou muses. “And remind me again? What was it she said?”
Greg raises his hand and then lets it fall heavily against his leg. “Who even remembers at this point, you know? She just… went off. Saying all kinds of crazy stuff. You know the type. Just way out in left field.”