Page 61 of Game Change

She pushes me, and I move. She goes around me and storms out of the bathroom.

“You,” Brynne says, pointing at Heath along the way, “in my office. Now.” She gestures for him to go. He follows, and so do I.

Ernestine is already there by the time we get into her office.

“Did you tell Mr. Kincaid that I’m pregnant?” she asks Heath once she has her door closed.

“Well, aren’t you?” he asks without a hint of fear of her anger.

“No, you little twerp, I’m not. And if I were, it would be none of your damn business. Who the hell are you to go running your mouth about things you know nothing about?”

“Hold on. Don’t talk to him like that,” I say, defending Heath. “He didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Yes, he did. He’s undermining me. I want him gone. Fire him. Now,” she says to me. She crosses her arms and waits. Heath does the same, knowing damn well that I won’t.

“Fine,” Brynne says. “I’ll do it. Heath, pack your shit and go. You’re fired.”

“Finally,” Ernestine says as she bounces on her heels.

“You can’t fire me. You’re not my boss,” Heath says.

“Fine. I’ll call Milton.” Heath lets out a little chuckle, which I hope Brynne doesn’t hear.

“Why are you laughing about that?” Ernestine says. “What’s so funny about being fired? Not that your little twig ass don’t deserve it.”

“Will you stop body-shaming me?” Heath yells.

“What body?” Ernestine asks with a dismissive snort. Then she whispers, “Twig.”

“Heath and Ernestine, out. I need to talk to Brynne,” I order. I don’t worry about her reaching Milton. The only calls he’s taking today are mine.

“Milton,” I hear her say, and I look to the ceiling. I should have stayed home today. “I need to talk to you.” I usher Ernestine and Heath out.

“Go pack your shit and take your ugly ass cardigans with you,” Ernestine says with glee. “And you can shove your coffee beans where the sun don’t shine.”

Once they’re gone, I close and lock the door. I go to her desk and hit the speaker button.

“There’s a new hire by the name of Heath Conroy here, and I just fired him. Colin won’t do anything about it, but Heath’s created a hostile environment. He bullies Ernestine, and now he’s spreading untrue rumors about me in the office.”

The room goes quiet until I say, “Uncle Milty, let me handle it.”

“Well, you better handle it, Colin. I don’t need this right now. Brynne, I trust Colin to handle the situation as he sees fit. That’s why I left him in charge. I trust his judgment.”

Brynne purses her lips. She looks at me and back at the phone, and I see the moment she feels utter defeat. Her shoulders sag, and I swear I see unshed tears, but that only lasts a moment until she straightens and regains her composure. “I see. Of course.” She hangs up without saying goodbye. “Please get the hell out of my office.” She sits behind her desk and starts to type. “I said get out.” When I make no move to leave, she says, “Or not, I guess. I have no say. I’ve only been working here longer than you, but you get the job that was promised to me, and I can’t even fire an incompetent hire. The only hire you’ve made, by the way, and he’s a fucking menace. But, sure, he can stay. Hey, I have an idea. Let him have my job.”

She starts typing furiously. If I weren’t so exhausted, I could think faster on my feet and defuse the situation.

“This is my fault. I’m the one who—”

“Stole my fucking job!” she yells. “You’re the one who stole my fucking job because you have the right last name, and I don’t. And I’m the idiot who fucked you and got fucked over in the process.” She stands and shuts down her computer.

“Can you please sit down? I thought we were finally getting to a good place. I don’t want to argue.”

“Fire him then. Fire Heath,” she demands. She pulls her coat off the coat rack she keeps in the corner and angrily shoves her arms in. After she ties the belt, she looks up at me expectantly. This is an ultimatum, and she’s going to choose this hill to die on.

“It doesn’t have to come to that,” is all I say.

“It already has. Some assistant is more important than me. Fine. From now on, I will do my work and go home. I no longer give a fuck about this place. I’m going to work from home the rest of the day.”

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