Page 3 of Another Fox Bites the Dust

So am I.

I turn back toward Blake. “I have to go.” And then I walk away.

He doesn’t stop me.

* * *

Twenty minutes and an Uber ride later, I walk through the glass doors of Rebel Records, offering a tight smile to Skip at the security desk. He nods and waves me through.

I make a beeline for Sonya’s office, crossing paths with a few employees along the way. One woman talking into a headset about a mechanical license stops the conversation midsentence and then rushes quickly past me, her voice continuing in hushed tones.

I keep moving.

At Sonya’s office door, her receptionist stands to greet me.

“They’re all waiting for you in the conference room,” Arthur says, not quite meeting my eyes.

My career has been my whole life for the past decade. They have to recognize how valuable all my contributions have been. I can’t have my whole life derailed over one poor decision.

I round the corner and stare at the conference room door. They can’t get rid of me. They need me. Don’t they?

I slip inside, shutting the door.

“Mindy.” Sonya’s smile is strained. “Thanks for coming in so quickly.”

She’s not alone. Peter from legal and Amy from HR flank her on the opposite side of the gleaming mahogany table that spans the length of the room.

I swallow. Today is the day for awful conversations, apparently. “I see they’ve sent in the triumvirate of terror.”

Amy coughs a laugh into her palm.

“Please, sit.” Sonya gestures to the chair opposite them.

I sit, folding my hands in my lap and keeping my head high. “Give it to me straight.”

Sonya nods. “I’m afraid it’s not the best news.”

My teeth clench. I can’t believe this.

“You’re letting me go.” It’s not a question.

“We have to mitigate the damage. What happened, it wasn’t good for the label’s image of professionalism, not to mention our reputation in general.”

What happened.

I have to press my lips together to avoid a snarky retort, definitely the opposite of professionalism. What happened was my fault, and I can’t take it back. I slept with Blake. I agreed to a sexual relationship with him, gave in to his advances and entreaties despite my initial misgivings.

“I’ve made this label millions. I’ve dedicated my life to this job.”

Sonya’s eyes are pitying. “Mindy. He’s married.”

“Yes.Heis. I, however, am single. Maybe this is a conversation to have with him.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not how it works and you know it. He was your client.”

Was.

All the fight bleeds out of me.

---