𝐌𝐢 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐚

𝟐𝟒

"Rosalyn M, fired. Mayleen H, fired. Josh H, fired. Ryan R, fired. Nathan R, fired. Cole S, you are also fired."

I speed through my list of fireable employees like a rapid fire, not looking or thinking twice about it. I haven't been in the mood for slacking for two months, and the state I find my business in upon return sealed the deal. It appears not a single employee of mine can handle their own when I'm not present in the building. Maybe they assumed they could slack off because I was absent for a day or two. They took that very short leave as permission to do whatever it is they did—which was fucking nothing at all.

They should have it engraved in their every being that testing me—my business—is never the right thing to do. Every fiber in me believes that they want to get fired, so I'll grant them that one wish they desire.

"Maya K, you are fired, leave immediately. Maya L, you can follow after, you are fired. Everybody that's in this room is fired. Have your spaces packed up and empty by noon. Thank you."

James leans over nervously, watching as everyone slowly trickles out, "don't you think you're being harsh? I thought we were coming back calm and in good spirits."

My eyes flitter over in apparent annoyance. Not at James, but it seeps through me so easily that I can't help but face him with boredom. His head is slightly tilted, allowing the few marks I left on his skin to be visible. They're slightly faded, as they were only for demonstration, but you can't mistake it for anything else. I lose focus on the matter at hand, blinking back into the office as James blushes under my gaze. He palms his neck where the hickies lay, covering them up as he goes.

I'm sure our guys would have a ball if they were to see.

"When I came back to fifteen cases being lost in the matter of two days, I decided to change my mind. You can send in the next round."

"Coffee while I'm at it?"

"No."

James sighs worriedly in my direction, standing to round in the final round of employees. They will all be fired, but they were also considered some of my top lawyers and social workers. They failed me in a way that'll take time to build back up, and that's why they'll be going. Slight mercy will be given to them. They will not be with me, but I'll relocate them somewhere else. Tex would've been my first thought if I considered them worthy. They may still be an option.

As cutthroat as it may seem, this needs to happen. No one but me has to believe it, and that is my belief.

The conference door opens with a small creak, allowing my last batch of employees to tiptoe in. No one says a word as they round the table, not daring to sit. I motion for them to sit down, while separating their folders. It's filled with the work they've done for me, their accomplishments, their failures, and my own personal opinions, along with recommendations. How they go about their folders is solely up to them.