Chapter 40
Albert still didn’t buy it.
“You used that excuse before. No point saying it again p>
His voice dropped a notch, softer now. “Dorothea, I don’t believe a single thing you say p>
Dorothea stood, unfazed. “Believe whatever you want. If you’re trying to get me fired, go ahead. I’ve got work to do p>
“Hold on,” Albert called after her. “Unblock me p>
She rolled her eyes. “Albert, I think a proper ex… Actually, you’re not even my ex. Let’s call you a thing of the past. You should stay blocked, just like someone who’s dead. Any objections p>
Without waiting for an answer, she walked out of the office.
Walton walked in just as she left. “You two finished talking p>
Dorothea shot him a look, her eyes cold and unreadable. Walton shivered, feeling a sudden pang of guilt he couldn’t explain.
Dorothea had no idea what Walton and Albert had discussed. About half an hour later, Nash was called into the office. When he came back, he looked completely defeated.
“What happened, Nash p>
He jumped up and stormed into Dorothea’s office. “Did you set me up to take the fall p>
“So you could get rid of me and secure your spot as director, right p>
“Congrats. Walton’s going to fire me. Happy now p>
His outburst echoed through the office.
Dorothea frowned a little. “Walton said he’s firing you p>
“Don’t play dumb. You really didn’t know p>
In that moment, everything made sense. Walton was trying to push Nash out as the scapegoat.
“Go back to your desk. There’s no official notice yet. You might not actually get fired p>
Nash expected her to rub it in, but she was calm, almost indifferent.
He slunk back to his seat, thoughts racing. He had a mortgage weighing him down, a wife at home, two kids, If he lost this job now, at his ag
he’d never find anoth his a
one that pard
as well as The Gresham. And getting fired would make it even harder. Recruiters might not even give him a shot.
Lost in worry and self-doubt, Nash barely noticed Dorothea sending a message to Walton.
She’d just learned a tough lesson yesterday: in the workplace, there are no real friends, and no real enemies.
[Walton, you can’t fire Nash. You
said I’m the major shareholder,
should be able to sanet
right
save at
least one person p>
Nash sat at his desk, waiting for the worst. But the day ended, and the dreaded email never came.
Confused, he saw Dorothea slinging her bag over her shoulder, eyebrow raised. “What, planning to work late p>
He jumped up and hurried after her. “Dorothea, did you… talk to them for me p>
She nodded. “Yeah. Don’t worry, I’m not letting you get pushed out. But Nash, can we try to get along from now on p>
“Yeah, of course!” Nash’s relief was obvious. “Thanks. I totally misjudged you p>
Dorothea just shrugged, not making a big deal of it, and they stepped into the elevator together.
She glanced up at the security
camera, almost bored. “Nash,
starting tomorrow, reach out to the
headhunters and help recruit new
people. But this stays between us.
Consider it a favor in return, alright p>