AROUND THE HEART IN 80 DAYS

Ten

"You're fired!"

Deuce froze at the doorway, the news absorbing just less than ten seconds after she had entered the Vice Sales President's office.

He hoped she'd take the news the same way he had taken his.
With his years of education, for sure it wasn't so hard to guess that his sister must have had something to do with the ticket delay. And Deuce was not far off from whatever scheme was cooking. Now, Becca couldn't be punished in any way.
But his employee most definitely could.

"Sir?..."

"I actually don't care what Rebecca made you do, but you did it anyway. I would have believed a proper farewell would have been in order, but the way I see it, what you did was treacherous. I'll have your letter sent to your printer. Or, Copper Rivet's printer now."

"I... sir, I..."

Victor, Edrei's something-of-a-confidante and only person who could take his BS, leaned across the VP's desk to whisper something to his friend, whose eyes stayed glued to whatever he was scribbling down so violently. With the situation at hand, it seemed that what he could be whispering was definitely related to showing benevolence in the matter.
"Are you for real, Edrei?"

"Yes."

"Sir, please I'm sorry," came Deuce's croaked plea. Even without turning to face her, both men could feel her desperation diffuse into the room. "I didn't want to. I told her I didn't want to. She begged me, she really begged me to. I swear I didn't want to. Please sir..."

"Did I stutter?" Only then, did he pause his writing to look up. The concave of his lenses must have hidden the real anger in his eyes.

He saw Deuce's lips mumble. He saw the first tear drop escape. And another. And the whole dam burst. "I'm sorry, sir..."

Victor exhaled. "Deuce, can you excuse us for a moment?"

Edrei went back to his writing of whatever, choosing to ignore both of them.

"Sir, please help me. I would never have done anything to you. Ms. Rebecca begged me to help you. She was so concerned and sad, she begged me to just stall it, not cancel it totally. Please help me. Mr. Jarvis, please help me, sir." Her heels clicked in a clumsy speed as she ran to Victor's chair to get down on her knees.

"Give us a moment, we'll get to you soon. Just a moment. And clean up. Just to avoid the attention."

Deuce nodded like a little girl with highest hopes of escaping a punishment.

When the two of them were finally alone in the room, Victor let out a louder exhale, probing for Edrei to start the conversation. Since his friend failed to take the stage, Victor went ahead to start.
"Deuce has been with you for over three years, you realise that?"

"You have a point for me?"

Victor almost laughed so hard but he guessed the mood was not suitable. For someone who spent the night at his house and borrowed his suit and launched a new toothbrush in his house, Edrei sure had guts. And personality disorder maybe.

"Don't you think it will be wiser, to keep your attitude on the low to help with your face at the office? Do you realise how close you are to Copper kicking you out of here? And you just keep giving Garrett open opportunities."

"All the better. Then I can go to the German branch on my own."

"Ok then. It's obvious. You're comfortable being an ass but think of a young and qualified lady you're sending back into the labour market."

"She should have thought it over before doing what she did."

"If Rebecca pleaded with anyone because of you they would have taken up the offer. Because your sister asked."