Page 35 of Perfect Night

“You’ve made this too complicated.”

“The team said they were happy with it.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not. But it’s too late to change it now. You’ll need to stay late and talk it through with Ocean. She’ll be leading the pitch.”

So that was the reason. He was pushing Ocean forward as some rising star, which was pissing others off as well. He had to be screwing her.

“I can’t stay late tonight.”

“It wasn’t a request. The pitch is Monday morning, and if we don’t win the business, it’ll be your fault.”

He went to walk away, and something in Charlie snapped. He stood up.

“I’m not staying past five o’clock. I’ve already done nearly sixty hours this week.”

He stopped and turned. Others were getting interested. The general office murmur quieted.

“Like I said, it’s not a request. You will do your fucking job. If you hadn’t screwed up, we wouldn’t have this problem. We lost the contract with Steele because of your incompetence. We will not lose another one if you want to keep your job.”

Oh, so he knew. Another thing to add to Sebastian’s downsides. He should have given Charlie a heads-up, knowing he would be in the firing line. Geraldine, the HR woman, appeared, looking worried. She was used to Nathaniel blowing up and having to put out fires. Her presence should have spooked Charlie, but it boosted his confidence. He was putting it down to exhaustion, adrenaline, and an excessive amount of caffeine.

“I’m sorry,sir, but I already have plans tonight.”

“What’s that? Walking around some queer bar with your pants around your ankles?”

There were audible gasps in the room. Geraldine looked like she might pass out. Charlie didn’t bite. He’d heard far worse from people growing up, even in a city like London.

“Will you be paying overtime?”

“What? You’re on salary. You don’t get overtime, nobody does.”

“Because, effectively, I’m earning about eight pounds an hour with the hours I’m doing, which is below minimum wage, and you want me to do more?”

There were murmurs around the office as it sunk in how little Charlie was paid. Nathaniel had gone bright red, like he was going to explode.

“I think we should take this into your office, Nathaniel,” said Geraldine.

“You heard him, Geraldine. Discussing salary with other employees is gross misconduct.”

“I really think we should take this into your office.”

“Geraldine, be quiet. Charlie, you either work late and save this pitch and you’ll be getting a final written warning, or you can walk out now, but don’t expect notice or a reference.”

Geraldine was close to having a heart attack. She went to speak, but Nathaniel put his hand up to silence her.

“Well?”

“So, I’m clear. The choice is to work late, win the pitch, and get a final written warning, or be sacked with no notice and no reference.”

“No, you walk out.”

“You mean resign?”

“Yes.”

“What if I refuse?”

“You don’t have any other choices. You do what you’re told, or you need to leave.”

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