Chapter Three

The morning slowly rolled into the afternoon, and my heart rate increased with every hour until two p.m. finally came. Opening his door, Evan called me into his office, and my heart jumped. Standing, I looked over to Jason, giving him a forced smile while I took a deep breath.

“Good luck!” Jason whispered, giving me a thumbs up.

Releasing my breath, I returned the gesture and walked to Evan’s office. As I crossed the hallway, my body felt heavy with those few steps, the nerves making me feel slightly sick. I started to question if I should back out of my plan and pretend that I wasn’t bothered by the extra work I was receiving.

When I walked into the room, I couldn’t help but notice how tidy and unfeeling Evan’s office was. Everything had its place, yet there was nothing personal about any of the items that sat along his desk or along the glaring white walls. I made my way to the chair in front of his desk and sat down, smoothing out the wrinkles on my shirt. Evan held up his finger, signaling that he needed a moment to start our meeting, and I internally rolled my eyes at the disrespect.

Two minutes passed and I tapped the edge of the desk with my fingers, my frustration building with every second. Clearing his throat, Evan finally looked up from his computer. His short blonde hair almost looked blue from the screen’s reflection. His dark brown eyes were bored and indifferent as they met mine. “Alright, let’s go ahead and get started. Do you have anything you would like to discuss first?” he said, glancing back to his computer.

My heart thundered as I reached for the words to bring up the promotion, but my mind panicked and had other plans. “How was your weekend?” I said awkwardly, my clammy hands rubbing back and forth against the tops of my pants.

Evan’s confusion was written all over his face when he looked back at me, his eyebrows pinching together. “What?”

“Your weekend? How was it?” I asked slowly, my inner self crying at the uncomfortable embarrassment of it all.

“It was fine. Now, do you have anything that you want to cover for today?”

Clearing my throat, I steadied myself, focusing on the clear glass paperweight that sat on Evan’s desk. “I do, actually. I want to discuss the senior role I’ve been working toward.” There, I said it. It was out and now I could breathe and hope for the best.

With a soft sigh, Evan leaned back in his chair, letting his hands clasped together on top of his desk. “I’m not sure that this is the right moment to have this conversation, Sybil.”

“I think this is the perfect time to have this conversation,” I said quickly, ignoring the way Evan’s words made me want to cringe. Pausing, I raised my eyebrows, waiting until Evan blew out a breath, gesturing for me to continue. I gave him a small smile. “I’ve been working on several senior level projects for a few months now. Each project has been running smoothly and has been finished ahead of schedule. The customers are extremely happy with my work and have been giving me constant positive feedback. Also, since some of the team is leaving, I know there are a few senior roles opening, and I believe—no, I know—that I have shown how well I can do the work.” Breathless, I stopped and waited for Evan’s response.

Slowly nodding his head, Evan looked down at his desk, considering my words. He leaned forward in his chair, his mahogany eyes meeting mine again. “I agree, you have done a good job with those assignments. However, I’m just not sure you’re at the right level for the senior role yet,” Evan said flatly.

Blinking, I sat there, confused about whether I heard him right. I fought to process what I’d just heard. I had been doing the senior level assignments for six months now, so surely, I must have misunderstood. “I’m not sure I’m following. Haven’t I been doing the work of a senior for a few months now?” I said, my throat feeling tight.

“Yes and no. You may have been doing the assignments, but there’s more that goes into the senior role than what you have currently been doing. That’s where I don’t think you’ve quite reached that level for me to consider a promotion for you at this time.”

“Okay,” I paused, clenching my hands into fists so tight that I could feel my nails digging into my skin. “What else goes into that role, then?” I asked, my tone cold as my anger slowly started to build.

Frustration flashed across Evan’s face, and he exhaled. “A senior needs to be active within the group. I don’t think you have been active enough.”

“I disagree with that,” I shot back. “I think I have been more than active enough to prove myself. I’m constantly meeting with my teammates, helping them with all their questions or solving any client issues they run into. I’m part of several group chats to keep up with the team and how everyone is doing.”

“Sybil, you have to consider—”

“No, there’s nothing to consider,” I interrupted with a scoff. “I have been doing this role for months now. Several of the senior staff have already left, leaving those positions open. I’ve been doing the work and I’ve been doing it well. I know I deserve this promotion, and I know that you know it too. Saying that I’m ‘not active enough in the community’ is just an excuse, Evan.”

“Sybil, I think you need to take a moment, calm down, and really consider this,” Evan said slowly, his voice steady though I could see his shoulders tensing.

My body felt hot, and my hands shook. The buzz of the fluorescent lights seemed to grow louder, the sound sharp and piercing in my head. My heart raced and the walls were closing in on me, making it feel like there was no oxygen in the room. All I wanted to do was scream yet the only thing I could do was swallow down the anger that was ready to explode and clench my fists even tighter, letting my nails cut into my palms.

Breathing, I calmed my shaking voice enough to speak. “My stance doesn’t change. The facts of how hard I’ve been working does not change.” I straightened, hoping to hide my nervous fidgeting.

Evan released a quick exhale. “I guess I should have led the conversation with this then.” He paused, typing something on his computer, only glancing back at me after he typed the last word. “The company has decided that it is best to part ways with you.”

Stunned, tension raced down my spine. “Excuse me?” I asked, my voice sounding higher than I wanted it to. “What do you mean they have decided to part ways with me?”

“We, as a team, have considered your work and while we do recognize that you have been an asset to the company, we don’t believe that you’re a good fit here culturally.”

I gritted my teeth at Evan’s composure, the coolness that laced his tone. “Culturally? What does that mean? I get along with the team well and I haven’t received any negative feedback,” I said uneasily. “Why wasn’t this brought up before today’s meeting, and why did you wait until after you tried to convince me that I wasn’t right for the senior role?”

“We have been meaning to have a discussion with you regarding this.” Evan shrugged. “But, with this conversation, it’s clear that we wouldn’t have been able to reach an understanding even if we had tried. I’m sorry, but my hands are tied.”

“So, I’m fired? Just like that?” I asked, my stomach twisting.

“We are sorry to see you go, but yes. As of today, we are parting ways. Your account has already been deactivated. Please drop off your badge at the front desk.”

I scoffed, but I couldn’t move. I was dumbfounded and my mind was blank as I sat there, trying to process what was happening. After all the work I’d put into this company, the hours of overtime, staying up through the night making sure that all my assignments were completed on time, only to be fired. Time seemed to slow as I stood and made my way out of Evan’s office, letting the door slam shut behind me, the sound echoing through my mind.

Still unable to process, I made my way to my desk. Jason turned to me, opening his mouth to speak, but faltered at the last moment. I could only imagine what he saw while I slowly packed my bags.

Finally, after gathering my things, I looked up to my team, finding everyone huddled together, watching me with concerned faces, waiting for me to tell them what happened. “I’ve been…I’ve been let go,” my voice cracked on the last word.

“What!”

“Sybil!”

“Are you serious?”

My team’s comments jumbled in my mind, and I could only shrug at them. I walked away then, leaving their questions unanswered, too dazed to even piece together a string of words.

Dropping off my badge, I waited for the elevator, pulling out my phone. Three more missed calls from my brother flashed across my screen. Groaning, I tucked it away and ran my hands through my hair. Releasing a shaky breath, my eyes started to burn with tears. I had no idea how or what I was going to tell Liam. I knew that he was waiting for my call, eager to hear the good news, but I couldn’t even think of the words to explain that I had lost my job instead. My throat felt tight, and I fought off the wave of nausea that made my stomach turn.

My mind was in a fog when the elevator arrived, taking me to the first floor. I didn’t even remember leaving the building or the walk to my car. As I entered the parking lot, I pulled my keys from my bag and looked up, finding two men waiting for me. The hair on the back of my neck rose and goosebumps pebbled my skin. Warning bells silently rang through my mind, cautioning me to stay away.

My steps wavered when I recognized one of the men, and I went rigid. The man I ran into this morning stood, leaning against my car. His tanned face was bored, like he didn’t want to be there, and his head was tipped back, looking toward the sky. The other man huffed into the air, checking his watch, irritation making his jaw clench. He was devastatingly beautiful with pale skin and short dark auburn hair. His square jaw was sharp, and his body was tall and lean. He wore a black suit that was fitted, showing off his athletic frame.

Taking a step back, a loose piece of concrete crunched under my foot. Wincing, I closed my eyes, cursing myself for not paying closer attention to my surroundings. I slowly opened my eyes again, glancing between the two men. The one I ran into earlier still leaned against my car, the lines of his face hard, his lips thin. The other flashed a wide smile, his ocean blue eyes brightening as he made his way to me.

“Ah, finally! I’ve been waiting for you!” he said, clapping and rubbing his hands together. His voice was bright and confident. “I thought I was going to have to send Samian to drag you out.” he chuckled, rumbling deep from his chest.

I glanced at the man I ran into earlier today, Samian, and gave him a small hesitant smile, while I considered my options for running and if I could get away or not. The muscles in my legs flexed, readying for my escape. As if reading my thoughts, the man in front of me shifted, placing his hand on my lower back, cutting off my escape route. My body went rigid under his touch, but the man gave me a slight nudge, guiding me to my car.

“Don’t worry, darling, we’re not here to hurt you. Just the opposite. I’m here to offer you a job.” The man’s smile turned almost wolfish. “I heard that you might be needing one soon.”

He gave me a wink and suspicion flooded my veins. I narrowed my eyes at him, a small, quiet laugh escaping my lips. “What makes you think I need a job?” My boldness and the confidence in my voice fell flat and unconvincing. His smile turned sharp, and he gave me another low chuckle. “I know you need a job, Ms. Sybil Hart, seeing how you were just fired from yours.”

My gaze snapped to him, my body tensing. My stomach twisted and those silent warning bells rang louder in my head as I tried to move away from his hand. How could he have possibly known that I was fired? It had only been minutes since it happened, and I hadn’t told anyone except for the people on my team. Word couldn’t have gotten out that fast. The panic must have shown on my face, because the man held my shoulder softly, the ocean in his eyes warming as he gave me a supportive smile.

“I apologize, I should have introduced myself first,” he said, his voice calm and earnest. “My name is Ambrose Farra. Your brother should have told you about me?” Cocking his head slightly, he raised an eyebrow.

“He called but I wasn’t able to speak with him,” I murmured, nervously shifting my shoulder away from his hand.

“Ah, I guess that explains it. My employee here, Samian, ran into you this morning. I’ve been looking for you for a long time, and now that I’ve found you, I would like to help you,” Mr. Farra explained, pausing for a moment to consider his next words. “I want to offer you a job, one that I think you might enjoy.”

“Right,” I said slowly. The sickness in my stomach seemed to grow and those bells grew ever louder. I wondered if it was from the men’s sudden arrival or if the bells were warning me to keep my distance from him. “Why have you been looking for me? Have we met before?” Swallowing, I shifted back a step.

Mr. Farra’s smile grew wide, his eyes gleaming with something that I couldn’t quite make out. “We have, once, many years ago. Though I don’t think you would remember. But,” he paused, raising a finger. “We can talk about that later. Now, as for the job, financially, you’ll be paid more than you were making at—what was it called? Ah, The Metropolitan Times.” He kept his voice light and whimsical, his features growing more animated with excitement. “I can also guarantee that our benefits will be better. I really believe you’ll be much, much happier working for me.” Mr. Farra paused, his eyes turning cold as they cut to Samian. “Don’t you think so, Samian?”

My brows pinched together at the sudden tension that filled the air. Samian’s calculating eyes met mine, studying me though he kept his face devoid of any emotion. 

“Of course,” Samian said blandly. “But who's really to say?” 

I felt Mr. Farra’s gaze turn back to me, but mine lingered on Samian a moment longer, hoping for a clue whether I could trust this man, but Samian’s hard face gave nothing away. I glanced back to Mr. Farra, and his smile sharpened. “So, what do you say, Ms. Sybil? Will you join me and my company?”

The warning bells remained persistent but were quickly being overtaken by nervous excitement. I felt like I was stuck on a roller coaster, being fired, then almost immediately being offered another job. This would make telling Liam about today much easier, and getting paid more would be nice. However, my father’s words from long ago echoed through my mind, reminding me that if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was.

“What would I be doing for this job?” I asked slowly.

“We can work out the kinks later,” Mr. Farra said with a wink. “Nothing too crazy though. Nothing illegal, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

His playful voice felt oddly calming, soothing my nerves and silencing those warning bells. My shoulders dipped, the tension melting away. Considering his offer, I knew that I should be listening closer to the warning my instincts were screaming, but the ease that warmed my body made it hard to focus.

Shaking my head, I straightened my back, bracing myself. “I think I’ll need a little more information before agreeing to this, Mr. Farra,” I said, keeping my tone flat.

Mr. Farra’s smile faltered, but he nodded his head, mulling over my response. His gaze grew sharp and I swore I could feel the air around me grow colder. “Alright, fine. Take two days to consider my offer. In the meantime, I’ll put together some information on what you’ll be doing in this position. How does that sound?”

Carefully, I studied Mr. Farra, taking in the deep blue of his eyes. I tried to figure out if this was really happening, to see if he was some type of scam artist, but that calming feeling rushed through me again and the thought slipped away from my mind. Taking another moment to think over his offer, I quickly nodded my head. “Fine, I’ll take the two days to consider it and I’ll let you know after you give me more details on what I would be doing.”

“Great! I’m glad we could come to an agreement, Ms. Sybil.” He smiled warmly. “I’ll be seeing you soon. Oh, and please, call me Ambrose.” Winking, he reached out his hand.

Timidly, I shook it. I started to pull away when a sharp pain laced through my hand, traveling up my arm. Gasping, I pulled my arm back, holding my hand tightly against my chest. My gaze cut to Mr. Farra, but his eyes gave no indication of the pain I just felt. Instead, he turned to Samian, who had finally moved away from my car. Looking down, I inspected my hand, unable to find anything wrong. My brows pinched and my heart thumped hard in my chest.

“Well then,” Mr. Farra said, lowering his head, his bright eyes searching to meet my gaze. “We will be seeing you soon.”

I stayed silent, only nodding to show that I acknowledged his goodbye. Seeming satisfied, Mr. Farra turned, clapping Samian on the shoulder as he walked past me. Samian’s jaw clenched, but he lingered, focusing on the hand that I kept close against my chest. His face remained emotionless, but something close to concern flickered in his gaze, though it quickly vanished. Before I could say anything, Samian left me in the parking lot alone, following Mr. Farra down the street.

As soon as they were gone, I jumped in my car, locking the doors behind me. With my keys still in my hand, my arm trembled, the sharp pain still fresh in my mind. It had come and gone so fast that I almost wasn’t sure if it even happened.

I released a shaky breath and put my keys in the ignition, twisting them to turn on my car. Taking a moment to calm my racing heart, I put my car into drive and headed home to face Liam. I still wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but I would figure that out when I saw him.