Page 37 of Stolen Christmas
“Oh really?” I’m not aware of all the details of employee vacations, but it still takes me by surprise. We sell flooring to installation companies, so it’s not like we are typically busy at this time of the year.
“Yes, so there isn’t anyone here and, sir, we haven’t seen Mr. Colombo in days.”
“He quit; I’m in the process of looking for a new manager. Where is the floor supervisor?”
“On vacation too.”
“It appears we’re short a person here as well.” I point to the empty cubicle.
He stands up and frowns. “Oh, yes. We had to get rid of someone.” Any firing should warrant at the very least an email to me.
“What happened?”
“Mr. Cochran said she was stealing secrets and recording them on her phone.”
“And I was not notified?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I assumed that you had been notified. Mr. Cochran said he handled it, so I was sure he contacted Mr. Colombo at the very least.”
“Well, a woman was fired for stealing company secrets, and yet no one decided to let me know.” I’m livid.
“At least she wasn’t allowed to leave with her phone intact.”
“I’ll need all the information on this woman sent to me.”
“Okay. As soon as Mr. Cochran returns from the holidays, I’ll have him give you her information. Personally, I thought Angel was sweet.”
“Angel?”
“Yes. I don’t remember Angel’s last name, but I thought her first name fit her. She worked here for about six months and was always kind, but Mr. Cochran gave her a really hard time about everything.” I pull out my phone and scroll to an isolated picture.
“I want you to do me a favor. Don’t say a word, and keep this conversation between ourselves, but I need to show you something. Is this the woman?”
“Um. Yes, that’s totally her.” He grabs at my phone again and looks closer. “Oh my goodness. Yes, that’s Angel. I hope she really wasn’t a spy. She was such a nice person.”
“No, I don’t believe she is a spy. Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“That I think Mr. Cochran is a douche bag, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“I assure you anything you say is between the both of us; this is my company, after all.”
“Thank you, sir.” He nods profusely. His anxiousness goes above the fact that I’m his boss. He must understand who I really am. “Truthfully, I really thought Angel was lovely and she didn’t deserve to be fired. She came, she did her job, and then she went home.”
“Oh yeah?” I want to know more about my future wife because she sure as hell is not spilling the details without me pressing.
“She barely spoke to most of us; only during our lunch time, of course, or the occasional after work get-together.”
After work get-together? My teeth set on edge. “Did you ever try to hit on her?” I question. With every word, I’m getting closer and closer into his personal space.
He steps backward, banging into the cubicle wall behind him. “Oh goodness, no, sir. I have a girlfriend. One who I adore,” he mutters, voice cracking, hands shaking.
“Well, that’s good for you. You take care, and have a Merry Christmas.” I straighten and walk toward the elevator.
“You too, sir,” he calls out. I’m sure he’s grateful for my departure, while I leave the building with a multitude of emotions going through me. One, I need to get a hold of that son of a bitch Cochran and get information from my little bride-to-be. How could she have worked for me for six months and I had no idea? I need to find all the employee records for my company.
A call comes in as I get inside my vehicle. “What’s up, Sammy?”
“The maid came to clean the house, and it was robbed.”
