Page 3 of SEAL of Valor

I really should have just quit. But I love this job. Just because he’s a jerk doesn’t mean I have to leave, right? Besides, so long as he keeps to his corner and I keep to mine, it works.

His office is the largest in the building, and I fight the urge to stare at the photo of him and a pretty blonde on his desk. The same blonde whom I’d caught half-naked in one of our exam rooms.

What a fun Tuesday that was.

“What is it?” I demand, crossing my arms.

“Can you close the door?”

Not a chance. “No. It’s just us and Ash. What is it?”

Phil leans back against the cabinet behind his desk. “Look, you’re a good vet, but I think things have⁠—”

A wave of anger surges through me. “I’m sorry, are you firing me?” No. This cannot be happening. It absolutely cannot be happening.

“Don’t make this harder than it already is. We just don’t have it in the budget.”

“The budget?” I screech. “You literally just hired Beckah! I’ve been here six years!”

“And if Beckah had the complaints you do, then she’d be out the door.”

“Complaints?” The color drains from my face as I stare at him. “What complaints?”

“We’ve had one or two that said you don’t spend enough time with the patients.”

I just stare at him.

What else can I do?

“You’re firing me because I dumped you.” It’s not a question, because I already know the truth. The budget is fine, and I have no complaints.

“Geez, come on, Reese. You know that’s not true.” He runs a hand over the back of his neck.

“Then what is it?” I snap. “Because I wouldn’t sleep with you?”

He mutters something under his breath and shakes his head.

“No, of course not. Because admitting the truth would leave you open to a lawsuit.” Clenching my hands into fists, I stare him down. “You waited just long enough that it wouldn’t look suspicious. You had me come in here on a Saturday to work so that you could fire me without an audience!” I’m screaming now, not really caring at all who hears me.

Ears burning, face hot, I glare at a man I once considered someone I might be able to see a future with.

“You’re making this something it’s not, Reese. We don’t have the budget for it.” He shrugs, cool as a cucumber. Which, of course, only infuriates me further. “You can finish your shift, but after today⁠—”

“Finish my shift?” I scoff. “You know what, Phil? You go ahead and fire me. Because one day, all of this is going to come back and bite you right in the rear of those two-hundred-dollar jeans you love to wear.” I fling the door open, then slam it behind me as I stomp down to my office.

“He can’t be serious!” Ash exclaims as I step into my office. She’s on her feet, likely having been eavesdropping the entire time.

“Oh, he is,” I reply as I start gathering the things out of my desk. “And that’s just fine. I’ll find another job. One without a cheating jerk for a boss!” I scream as loud as I can.

Tears burn in the corners of my eyes, and it’s all I can do to keep from marching back into his room and sucker punching him. Knowing him, he’d hit me with an assault charge right alongside the wrongful termination.

Fired.

He fired me.

“Come on, Reese, you can’t leave,” Ash says.

“Ms. Montero, please leave Dr. Faye alone as she packs her things.” Phil’s tone is cold. Collected. Jerk.