Page 142 of Blue Gold

Hearing the door to my office open, I went on.

“I’ll tell you when to push them, but before—” Her lack of response made me stop and look up from my calendar. My brows furrowed upon seeing Father standing at the entrance to my office, a sour look on his face.

“Father.”

“Haven’t I told you to end things with him?” he snarled, not bothering with hello.

Dropping my eyes back to the papers lying on the desk, I began collecting them. “You have. And I assume the fact I haven’t is the reason for your visit?” I looked back at him, only to see eyes full of hate.

“You’re walking a fine line, boy.”

Turned out that finding the love of my life was starving himself placed things in a whole new perspective, and so, Father’s threat did little to intimidate me.

“Now’s not the time to discuss it⁠—”

“It is, if I say it is,” he barked, his voice echoing around us.

Breathing through my nose, I clenched my jaw and stared back at him with nothing but disdain.

“I’m not breaking up with him,” I announced unapologetically. He could throw a fit all he wanted⁠—

“You’re fired.”

“What?” I gawked at him.

Fixing his cuffs, he grunted. “Your time here is done. Effective immediately.”

I slammed my hand down on the table. “You can’t just fire me⁠—”

“It is my company, isn’t it?”

My forehead creased, and I continued to look at him, shocked. Yes, I knew he’d do something, but to fire me from the company I’d run for the last nine years?

“Make sure to get rid of all of your shit before leaving tonight,” he added, then turned around and left my office as if he hadn’t just fired me.

Once the door closed behind him, I slumped down on my chair with a deep grunt. It felt like life was testing me, and yet, all I could think or care about was Elliot. He was occupying my mind twenty-four seven, so much so that I couldn’t care less about losing my job, which was once the sole purpose of my life.

“S-sir?” Sherry muttered after she poked her head inside the office, an expression of worry written on her face.

“As of one minute ago, I’m no longer your boss; therefore, you’re welcome to skip the formality.”

Her eyes dropped to the floor. “I’m so sorry, sir. What he did… It’s unfair.”

“Life is unfair.”

She looked up, her lips pressed together in a sad smile.

“You were a great secretary,” I told her as I got up from my chair and circled the desk to stand closer. “Probably the best I’ve ever had.”

A faint blush crept to her cheeks, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You were the best boss, sir, I mean, eh, Daniel.”

I chuckled at the awkwardness. “Well, I wish you luck⁠—”

“You need to sue him.”

I shoved my hands into my pants pockets. “I’m sorry?”

“For wrongful termination. I could stand as a witness, if needed.”