Page 104 of I Hope This Finds You Well

Gregory grins. “But please know that if you mention my affair to anyone, I will figure out a way to ensure your position here is terminated.”

I nod steadily. That horrible knowledge is staying in my vault forever. The end to human suffering needs to start somewhere.

“We’re done here.” He gestures toward the door.

As I walk out, the distinct click of nail clippers and ricocheting nail debris sounds behind me.

Outside Gregory’s office, I can see Armin and Caitlin are just arriving. Rhonda eyes me as I pass and seems like she wants to say something, but I don’t have to worry about her anymore. I don’t even have to be nice. And that’s freedom.

I sit down and see that an email from Gregory to Cliff has appeared.

Hello Clifford,

After our discussion, here are my recommendations for the new office arrangement. If all looks good, let me know if we’re clear to proceed next week.

I click open the attached file. It’s the same document as the one I printed out when this all began, with everyone’s names and possible consolidations, but this time people’s names are highlighted.

My eyes zoom in on my name first. My row is yellow, and beside it, new text: “Promote to Document Lead.” Beneath it, Caitlin has been marked to be let go. I take a moment to internally celebrate.

But I can barely take joy in it, because underneath Caitlin’s name, Rhonda has also been marked as a layoff. I close my eyes. She’s retirement age, and I doubt she’ll find another job. This is going to devastate her.

Armin’s name has been highlighted in a different color, though. I flip back to the email and read the rest.

Also attached are the latest reports on Armin Habib. This past month he’s been spending more time away from his desk and he is lacking a sense of urgency about his work. Are we able to move forward with a termination, as discussed?

Greg

My chest tightens. Since I’m off the chopping block, Gregory must be desperate to fill his quota of firings with cause. Anything to save the company more severance payouts. This man is truly management material.

I want to yell at Armin, who is currently away from his desk, going through the boardroom and testing the chairs to assess whether he should steal one for his desk. He can’t lose his executive accounting manager position before the wedding. If our fake universe falls apart, so will our real one.

Armin finally returns to his workstation with a new chair, letting out an audible huff as he mutters, “This fucking place with the cheap-ass chairs causing us all to need chiropractors.”

I send him a DM.

Jolene:Armin, stop messing around. Rhonda is literally reporting your every move to Gregory, who’s fucking looking for a reason to terminate you.

He clicks open my message. His face remains blank as he looks at me, then to Rhonda, and back to his screen as he types.

Armin:Don’t know if you know, but last night I prevented our moms from booking a belly dancer.

Armin:Also, maybe you should stop reading everyone’s emails, Jolene.

He gets up and wheels the chair he was testing back to the boardroom.

Anxiety crawls up my spine with every squeak of the chair wheels. What’s happening in his head?

Rhonda shakes her head and logs his every move.

Just after lunch, I’m working through some charting for next month, when Rhonda heads to the boardroom, notepad and water bottle in hand. As soon as she’s out of sight, Armin grabs his coat and marches toward the elevators.

Shit. This will absolutely be the last straw for him.

I beeline toward Armin and cut him off just as he makes it into the hallway. “Hey, what are you doing?”

He takes a pointed step around me. “I’m just going to make some copies at the color printer on eleven.”

“Don’t do it. You’ve got your jacket.”