Penelope couldn’t sleep. Jay’s kiss and what she hoped to do with his body tortured her, when she should have been focused on being rested for the first day of her new job. Spending the last few months without a full-time job while deferring her student loan bills weighed heavily on her shoulders. Her mother hadn’t offered a dime to pay for anything. Now, soon, she could start fresh. The job gave her hope. Good. When her alarm clock flashed five o’clock in the morning, the second before it beeped uncontrollably, she rolled out of her comfortable bed. She’d sleep tonight, after a full day of work.
Yes, work kept her honest. Dragging her butt into the shower, she hit a different setting button to see her other options, and rainwater trickled on her head. Giggling, she let the soft sounds and sometimes-sideways water calm her twitching nerves.
Twenty minutes later, she stepped out of her home spa, found a towel, and picked out her favorite new brown and pink skirt with matching blazer and a white blouse. After wiggling her feet into her fancy high-heeled brown sandals, she stared at herself in the mirror. She appeared happy. Good. With a smile, she finished the look, brushing on a little makeup and the barest touch of rosy gloss. After assembling the rest of her makeup into her new oversized black bag, she needed only one more thing. Coffee in a trusty cup to wake her body up before heading into work.
The place was dead quiet when she left.
Twenty minutes later, she had halfway finished her latte when Jay texted her. Missed you this morning. Have a good first day at work.
Smiling, she calmed down. Jay being her true friend gave her hope for everything else. Not sleeping with him was the right thing to do. If that had happened, it might have changed their dynamic, and she needed a true friend in her life now, more than ever.
Finding a spot in the parking lot hadn’t been hard. Today she started her new life. She carried her mostly finished coffee, her heels ticking on the marble floor of the spacious lobby. When she signed the roster at security, the man’s eyes didn’t have any light in them when he asked, “Penelope Knightheart?”
“Yes.” She let the security guard wave a wand looking for metal over her body. Did she look dangerous? Funny.
He waved her through. “Come this way. The owner wanted to see you the second you arrived.”
“Why?” She couldn’t have done anything wrong. It was the first day, and she hadn’t had the chance to wow anyone yet. She glanced at the clock—still two minutes before she had been scheduled to arrive. “Am I on a list?”
“The boss doesn’t tell me his thoughts. I do what I’m told. Just follow me.”
She assumed she must have more paperwork to fill out. Yes, that made sense, but something didn’t add up. Penny bit her lip while she rode the elevator to the top floor of the building. The security guard pointed to the door etched with the boss’s name on top and President underneath. Hmm. Paperwork was usually done in human resources, not the president’s office. Gulping, she gazed at the security guard, who told her, “I have to get back to my post.”
Right. Whatever happened, she’d have to face the situation head on. She hadn’t done anything at all, much less anything wrong. Squaring her shoulders, she proceeded inside. A secretary nodded at her. “Ms. Knightheart?”
“Yes.”
“Go right on inside. Mr. Wells will see you now.”
Why would the president of the company want her? Her hand only slightly shook when she clutched the doorknob, hoping, somehow, something would stop her. Lightning didn’t strike to knock out the power, and she pushed ahead while smoothing over the soft fabric of her pants. Forcing a happy-to-be-here face on, she proceeded to his desk. The man stared up. Perhaps she had overreacted. Opening her mouth took effort while she struggled for composure. “Good morning, Mr. Wells, it’s good to meet you.”
Without raising his head, his eyes rolled up to meet hers. “Sorry you had to move, Ms. Knightheart, but we’ve had to eliminate your position. I have my secretary drawing up a package for you now, which includes a generous amount to cover your move and a month’s severance pay.”
No job. What? Did he just say that? Her ears turned red. “Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It’s not about you.” His eyes returned to his desk, refusing to look at her. “Get out now. I have other things to do. Sign the papers and get the money. Goodbye.”
How had this happened? She needed the job. She opened, then closed her mouth. Could she say anything to change this? She stood there motionless while the secretary came inside the office. The secretary stood in front of her. “Let’s go now.”
Her eyes would water any minute now. “Please.”
Uncaring, the woman answered, “Follow me.”
Penny swallowed, needing to stop the tears, and followed the secretary out the door to stand at her desk. She couldn’t cry. She needed to show them how wrong this was.
The secretary pushed paper at her hands. “Please sign this saying that you were adequately compensated for your time and the inconvenience of moving.”
She took the pen in her hand without thinking before she argued, “I didn’t do anything.”
“Doesn’t matter. Please sign.”
The paper glared at her, telling her that she had screwed up entirely. She had spent all her money in the past two days. Apartment, car, clothes. She took a deep breath, refusing to hyperventilate. If she didn’t sign, she wouldn’t get the three thousand dollars. Staring at the paper for a minute, she couldn’t think of any argument. Looking up at the sky, she then took the pen and followed the directions for signature and initials.
The secretary checked the boxes, ensuring everything was in order, before she handed her an envelope. Peeking inside, Penny noticed her paycheck. It covered what she had spent, but she wouldn’t have any extra money.
She had paid a security deposit on a place she’d never be able to afford now without this nice salary she was expecting. What was she supposed to do? Coldness took over her body. Soon enough, she’d have nothing—again. Gainesville left a sour taste in her mouth. Hard work was supposed to pay off with a pleasant place to live and a car.
Her cheeks were wet from tears as a security officer walked in to escort her off the premises.
Outside, near her car, she covered her mouth until no more tears came out of her eyes. She’d been fired? What? No one had an answer. She stared at the car. How could she afford it? Or her student loans? Or her half of the rent? Or the whole rent on a new place?
Her heart raced while panic struck her and paralyzed her with fear.
Her mother’s answer would be to smile and flash her chest to get money out of an unsuspecting man. Penny’s skin turned ice cold. She’d never be like her mother.
Looking at her smart phone, she had an idea. The weight on her shoulders lessened considerably. She needed a job. She’d have to find another job. Fast.
She gulped for air. The bars of the parking lot didn’t cover the view of the street. A red “help wanted” sign across the street caught her eye. A pizza shop. Turning quickly, she went inside. A temporary job would stave off the panic until she found a job to match her degree.
With the money in her bag and a low-paying job, she’d buy herself time to figure out her next move.
Good. She worked better with a plan.