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“That’s right.”
“You don’t have a degree, and you have no prior experience related to your current role. You’ve worked as a part-time cleaner, an office temp, and in the call centre. That’s interesting.” The glint in his eyes told me he aimed to intimidate me and throw me off guard.
It wouldn’t work.
I lifted my chin and met him eye to eye. “I’m self-taught. While I worked in the call centre, I used my lunch breaks to shadow staff in the communications department, and I spent my evenings learning all the skills and software necessary to get a junior role on their team. I didn’t want to stay in the call centre forever, so I bugged Brendon until he gave me a job. I think he realised I wouldn’t leave him alone until he did.”
Neil’s lips quirked up at the corners, forming more of a sneer than a smile. “That’s quite impressive.”
Genuine compliment or snide derision? I couldn’t tell. “Thank you,” I said, daring to take the compliment.
“You’re hardworking, intelligent…”
Is he mocking me?
“Tell me, what’s this gap in your employment history between leaving school and temping?” he asked.
I gritted my teeth.
Trust him to point that out.
It seemed like there was no alternative but to tell him the truth, though I doubted he was capable of sympathy. I kept my explanation brief.
“After high school, I went to university to study medicine, but a family emergency forced me to drop out.”
He didn’t need to know I spent a year wallowing, unemployed, after that.
A tad of his cockiness evaporated. Or was it my imagination?
“I see.”
“When are we going to find out who’s getting made redundant?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Soon. Within two weeks at most.”
“Something to look forward to.”
He ignored my sarcastic remark. “I will inform you by email. If you are made redundant, you will be invited to an exit interview, and you may bring a support person if you wish.”
“What about redundancy pay?”
“I will honour the terms of your contract. I suggest you read yours and check the notice period and potential payout.”
“I will.”
“That covers everything I need to tell you. You may leave.” He nodded in the door’s direction.
That’s it?
I rose and wondered whether I should try to shake his hand again, but his attention had already returned to the papers on his desk. I muttered, “Thank you,” and exited the room, the prospect of unemployment weighing on my shoulders.
Chapter Four
“What are you looking at?” Brendon asked from behind my shoulder.
Shit.
I hadn’t realised he was watching me. The perils of an open-plan office where anyone could sneak up behind you and catch you looking at something you shouldn’t. “N-nothing,” I said, exing out of the tab on my screen. “Not porn,” I felt the need to add.
