When Elena reached her office her assistant mentioned that their boss was waiting for her in his office. She hurried around the corner into what was probably the most specatcular office in the building. The views of the downtown Atlanta skyline were awesome. Her boss was standing by the window with his back to her.
"Good Morning Alex - I'm so sorry about yesterday. I thought for sure we had that account - I would have banked on it. All of the principles had given me the okay the day before. I don't have a clue as to what happened!"
He turned and she noticed right away the contempt in his glare. "I will need you to return the Advance Tech ID's that they issued you - including the fingerprint card. They want them back by noon today. And I am afraid that we will not be needing you any longer. If you go up to HR they have your papers ready and a severance check. Goodbye, Elena."
Elena knew from his tone that there was no use discussing her strengths and benefits to the company - the deed had already been done. Without saying a word she turned and left the room. He was already on his phone before she got out the door. It wasn't until she reached her desk that she realized she had left the security papers in her desk at home and would have to make the tedious trip home to retrieve them in order to turn them in to Advance Tech by noon. When she told her assistant what had happened in Alex's office it seemed to Elena that the woman already knew - she was less than commiserating ~ almost smug.
Within 15 minutes Elena had emptied her desk, and was being escorted by HR out of the building with her severance packet. It was not how she expected to be treated after 8 years. She could feel the anger building and tears welling. When she got in her car and slammed the door, she pounded the steering wheel in frustration and finally turned on the ignition and headed toward the freeway.
