loml

seven

tw: s.a
please please please don't read this if this affects you, just don't okay take care of yourselves

"Jesus Taylor, you need a new thing of tissues?" My desk mate - Harry - joked as I sniffed for the millionth time in the last hour.

"Sorry, I know it's annoying." I mumbled, rubbing my nose. "It's just a cold." I sighed, staring blankly at my computer. Work was so busy at the moment, but I just couldn't seem to find my rhythm today. Tuesdays were always one of our big days, and it just wasn't working for me.

"Maybe you should go home, get some rest." Harry suggested.

"No, no I have to get this report in by tonight." I shook my head, blinking a few times before slowly starting to tap on my keyboard again. 

An insurance manager wasn't what I thought I'd be by the time I was almost thirty, but hey, it was a job that paid alright. Yes it was boring and didn't interest me in any way, but money was money and I couldn't afford to be picky. It wasn't like I was shit at my job; I was actually good enough that I'd managed to snag a pay rise last year.

I struggled through the rest of the day, my cold slowly worsening. I'd felt fine on Monday, but it was obviously hitting me hard from running around in the rain on Sunday. Maybe I hadn't dried off properly, I didn't know. I hadn't learned from years of doing this, even though half of the time I always got sick a few days later.

"Miss Swift?" My name being called just as everyone in the office started leaving made my head snap up.

"Yes sir?" I straightened up when I saw my boss standing in his open office door. Mr Brody beckoned to me, so I paused what I was doing and got up, walking over into his office. He closed the door and motioned for me to take a seat, which I did as he sat across from me. "Is everything okay?" I asked.

"You tell me." Mr Brody tossed a file onto his desk in front of me. "Can you tell me why this insurance was approved when it clearly didn't fit the requirements for that amount of money?" I swallowed when I scanned the last name on the sticked. "I need an answer."

"She's a single Mom!" I blurted out. "She's got three kids and that fire wasn't her fault and I just..." Mr Brody held up his hand, stopping me. 

"Miss Swift, your emotions getting in the way of policy is becoming more and more of a problem." He said quietly. "We have lost thousands because you want to help everyone, and that is not how we do things here. Enough is enough." My breath caught. No. "I'm sorry."

"You're firing me?" I whispered.

"Yes." Mr Brody nodded. "Your final paycheck will be next week, and we will give you two months of severance pay after that. You can pack up your desk today." He flicked a hand. "That'll be all."

I paused there, but Mr Brody motioned that I should leave, so I got to my feet and walked out of his office. My body felt numb. What did I do now? I'd had this job for four years and all of a sudden it was gone. I'd only been trying to help a woman who I'd found myself having something in common with, knowing how she felt, and I'd given her what she needed. 

Harry was gone when I got back to our desk; he'd obviously left for the day. Slowly, I started to pack up my things, moving robotically. What would Travis say? I was supposed to be finding a new apartment and now I was unemployed. My final pay and the severance money would help, but it wouldn't be enough. I already felt bad about staying with Travis, and now this would make things so much worse. Maybe I could find another job. Hopefully.

"Hey, Taylor!" 

"Hey." I sighed, straightening up as John - one of the guys just higher up than Mr Brody - came over.