My stomach tightened. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s about what you did a month ago,” he said as I followed him to his office. “For that veteran with the dog.”
What? How did he even know about that? My heart started racing. I couldn’t imagine how helping a hungry man could’ve gotten me in trouble, but nothing about his attitude suggested he had good news for me.
Mr. Henderson shut the door behind us, walked to his desk, and pushed a thick, cream-colored envelope toward me with two stiff fingers.
“You need to see this.”
I blinked at the envelope. “What is it?”
“A letter,” he snapped. “From some veterans’ organization. Apparently, they think very highly of you.”
“For what? I just bought some food for a man and his dog.”
Mr. Henderson let out a bitter laugh. “Well, this organization says that man was a veteran, thinks what you did makes you ‘a woman of exceptional integrity.’” He waved his hand at the letter. “They sent an official commendation and recommended that I promote you and adjust your salary accordingly.”
He pointed at me and started pacing. “I know exactly what’s going on here, Michelle, and frankly, I’m deeply disappointed in you.”
“Sir?”
“This is obviously a setup. A pathetic stunt you put together to manipulate me.” He flicked his hand at the envelope. “Official commendations, suggesting a promotion—”
My eyebrows shot up. “Mr. Henderson, I bought a man and his dog dinner. That’s all. I didn’t ask anyone—”
“Spare me!” He cut me off with a dismissive wave. “This letter isn’t real. Or if it is, you had something to do with it. I’m not stupid. I’ve been running this office for 40 years. And I will not have some outside group dictating who I promote and who I don’t.”
I felt heat climbing my cheeks. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Take it,” he said coldly, gesturing to the letter. “And take your things. You’re done here.”
My heart pounded. “You’re firing me? Over this?”
“Yes. Immediately. I won’t have someone undermining my authority.”
For a moment, it felt like everything froze, including me. Then the panic swept in.
“Please, don’t do this, sir. I swear I had nothing to do with this. I have two kids! I need this job. I—”
“No.” His voice sliced through the air. “Clear your desk, and get out.”
My hands shook as I packed my few belongings. I walked out of that stale office feeling like the floor had dropped away beneath me.
