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Leo looks up at me from the desk, his face softening. ‘Mr Golding?’ Jan says. ‘Usually we would promote the most experienced or the employee who’s been here the longest.’
‘Mr Golding has the interpersonal and managements skills needed. I think Jasper and Frank would agree.’
They both nod reluctantly, and I know that’s not becausethey think him not capable, but because they know I’m literally handing him my job as some sort of peace offering.
‘Maggie…’ Leo mutters. ‘Please…’
I take a deep breath. ‘Can’t think of a better man for the job.’
And I look into those eyes and the intensity is almost too much. My dad spoke about doing the right thing, about searching my heart for that decision, and this was the right and only thing to do, to look after people you love, put them before yourself. I hope he can see that this is what that is.I think you’re a brilliant man and you deserve this.
‘Well, Miss Field. We will be sure to write you a glowing reference moving forward. I am sure Jan can give you all the details of what will happen. Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure to have met you all. Jan, I’ll see you at midday for the marketing team meeting?’
‘Yes, Mr Wiseman.’
His screen goes black and we all sit there quietly as Jan makes notes and collects her paperwork. ‘Might I take a sandwich?’ she asks me.
I nod, pushing the platter in her direction. She doesn’t take just one, she takes three and a cookie. ‘Well, I think that went well. Thank you for facilitating it. I’ve got a meeting in an hour and I’ve been told a woman’s going to chain herself to her desk in protest so well done for your mature and considered approach to all of this.’
If Jasper, Frank and Leo’s looks could kill at this very moment, I think they’d laser her into dust like in a comic book. They remain quiet, simmering with emotion, she picks up on none of it.
‘Maggie, when you’re done, come and see me and we’ll go through all the remaining paperwork together. There are quite a few forms. I’ll give you a moment, but we do need the room in fiveminutes, thanks.’
She leaves the room and I turn towards Jasper, Frank and Leo, who sit there, looking at me.
‘Why did she ask to have a sandwich?’ Jasper asks me, breaking the silence, his expression suspicious.
‘Because I bought these. My mum went to Costco for me,’ I say. Because I know they always talk about the meeting rooms with their fancy sandwiches and I didn’t want them to feel left out. I thought the meeting would need something to take the edge off. I give them each a cookie. Frank stuffs his in his mouth straightaway. ‘You can take the tray downstairs with you.’
I can’t bear to look at any of them.
‘Maggie, what did you do?’ Jasper says. Frank’s gone at this point, tears streaming down his face and Leo puts an arm around him to console him.
I shrug. ‘What I thought was right,’ I tell him.
‘This isn’t right. Any of it!’ Jasper moans. ‘Him sitting there behind his bureau. Jan spoke about lawyers, maybe we can fight this? Between the four of us, we could shut down this place and hold it to ransom.’
I shake my head at him. ‘It’s done, Jasper. Look, I haven’t slept in days thinking about all of this, because I didn’t want to hurt any of you, I didn’t want to rip you away from a secure job and people you know, so it made sense to take that on myself.’
‘Play the martyr?’ Jasper asks me, almost angrily. I know he must feel I took that decision away from him.
I meet his gaze. ‘Or play the friend. I wrote it all down, I made so many lists and this was the algorithm that made the most sense, that caused the least amount of damage. I love you all,’ I tell them, my gaze swinging over to Leo. ‘And if this is the way I get to keep you all, then I’d do it again, in a heartbeat.’
‘When?’ Frank asks me.
‘Well, I’ll be in HR for most of today but then they’re giving me two weeks.’
Frank’s glasses can’t deal with the emotion and he takes them off to sob into his hands.
‘Please don’t, Frank,’ I say, trying to hold back my tears.
I stare at Leo, begging for him to say something, anything. This means we can work now, right? But he remains quiet. Someone knocks on the door and comes in, uninvited, with boxes and files.
‘IT?’ a man asks us. I recognise him from the fourth floor. I’m bound by my discretion but he books escorts on his work computer. He really needs to clear his cache history. We all nod quietly.
‘Customer Service. Who’s out?’ he asks.
I put my hand to the air.
