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I was going to kill that motherfucker. Slowly.
43
Liberty
My office door opened, and Martha walked inside. She glanced back out into the main area before closing it, then turned to me.
“Before the meeting, I wanted to speak with you,” she said. “I wasn’t sure about you. I had … a lot of feelings about the decision to hire you for this position. However, you’ve been, well, a pleasant surprise.” She stopped, then let out a weary sigh. “What I am trying to say is, I like you. I think hiring you was a good move for the company, and I’m sorry.”
I paused, staring at her, waiting for more. Why had she said she was sorry? She’d just told me I’d done a good job.
She shook her head. “I can’t say any more, so don’t ask me. Please understand,” she said, then turned and quickly exited the room.
I sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what in the world that had been about. Glancing at the time, I realized I would have to think about that later. The staff meeting was in five minutes, and it was mandatory. We had only had one of these so far, and it had been led by a lady named Sandra. She was the operating manager. Today, however, we’d been told that the chief operating officer was meeting with us. His office was the closed door at the end of the hallway, which no one had been in since I’d started. I’d asked about it, but no one seemed to want to talk.
He had been out of town but returned and would be back in his office this morning. That had been the morning announcement. Everyone seemed nervous and began straightening things up.
Taking my company laptop with me in case I needed to make notes, I headed for the door. The conference room was down on the right, just before the large office that belonged to the COO. Others were talking quietly as they made their way to the room. The last meeting, things had been louder.
Since I worked in my office most of the day, I didn’t spend much time around the others who were out in the open area. They all had a camaraderie that I didn’t, but I hoped I would be accepted in time. My focus was on understanding the job and doing it well. Once that was under control, I would work on making some friendships.
Although, right now, I needed a friend. I had almost turned on my phone and texted Goldie and Nina more than once, but I was scared of the texts and voice mails I would find and the ones I wouldn’t. If Liam hadn’t tried to contact me, I would be shattered all over again. If he had contacted me, I was afraid I’d not have the strength to ignore it. I knew I couldn’t do this forever, but I just needed a few more weeks. Then, I would turn it on and contact him. If he wanted to go to the doctor’s appointment, I didn’t want to keep that from him.
As much as I wanted to hate him for not loving me, I couldn’t.
“You’re Liberty, correct?” a guy I recognized asked, but I wasn’t sure what his job was here.
“Yes,” I replied.
He motioned at the seat on the side of the table where the windows were. It was the first seat, to be exact. That would put me right beside the COO.
I smiled and shook my head. “Oh, I don’t think that seat is for me,” I told him, preferring to take a seat at the other end. Farther away.
“No, it is,” he argued. “I was told to make sure that seat is reserved for Liberty Dillard.”
I frowned and looked over at it again, my gaze landing on Martha. She gave me an apologetic look again. Was this what she had said she was sorry about? Had she not wanted to sit there and had someone place me there instead?
“Okay, uh, thanks,” I said to the guy and walked over to take the seat.
It felt like every eye in the room was watching me.
Behind a bar, I was in my comfort zone. The looks from others didn’t bother me. I expected it. Tips were good when people were looking.
This was a different island. One I didn’t know well. Among peers that were more educated. Did they know I didn’t have a degree? My palms felt sweaty as I sat down and placed my laptop on the table in front of me. Crossing my legs, I attempted to dry my hands on my skirt. This wasn’t a major corporation. It was a new local chain of garden centers. I had no reason to feel nervous. I was good with plants and flowers. I was going to be good at this job.
While I stared at my hands in my lap and mentally coached myself to calm down, I heard the door open again and lifted my head, ready to meet my boss.
There were moments in life when all the pieces fell into place, and you smiled, finally figuring out the puzzle. Then, there were moments when that puzzle was a nightmare you hadn’t prepared for and wished it were just a dream.
I was experiencing the latter.
His eyes met mine, and it was almost as if his smile was broadcasting his win.
I had started to believe my luck was finally turning around, only to have it all come crashing down around me. I wasn’t meant for luck. Fate was against me and had been since the day my Mama D had passed away. Nothing good had come after that.
My hand slid over my stomach, and I immediately regretted that thought. I was wrong. Something wonderful had come my way.
“Good morning,” Wallace said to the room as he walked to stand at the head of the table.
