Vigilante by Choice

Chapter 9: Sacking

My side hurt when I work up. That's when I remembered about my gun wound. I made myself some coffee and work up the gang. They got a ride with one of Rory's friends because she had to test before school.

I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth when I saw my face. The bruise on my face was all black and blue. That would be difficult of cover up. But I don't need coworkers to ask, they story is a little embarrassing.

I tried to cover up the bruises on my face, but with my luck it didn't work. Why did Rory have to go to school early. I would have to go to work with a black eye. Hopefully the bullet injury wouldn't open and anything bad happen.

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I had been working for about an hour when I heard, "Hey, Tobias." Lehman said from the doorway of his office.

I looked up at him. "Yeah, Lehman?"

"Can you come to my office for a second?" He asked, retreating into his office.

"What's up." I said, making my way into his office.

He gestured towards the chair across from him. "Sit down for a second."

I sat down, this was starting to concern me. "Is there something wrong?"

"What happened to your face?" Not what I was expecting.

"I was, um," This was embarrassing.

"It's ok you can tell me." I looked up at him. I felt like there was something about him that I could trust him.

I decided to tell him. "I was mugged."

He sat up straight. "Do you know by who?"

"I'm pretty sure it was the Celon Brothers." I said, my voice was confident.

Lehman looked surprised. "Really? Aren't they that Epsilon gang?"

I became interested in my story of the mugging and started to spill every detail. "Yeah, I didn't know who it was until I saw the tattoo on their wrists." Ok, Rory confirmed it, but I'm not about to tell him that.

Lehman looked surprised. "Did they take a lot of stuff?"

"They took the money I had in my wallet. It was only $50. I mean, dont like losing that much, but still." I said ready to tell him everything.

Then, out of the blue he said, "I'm letting you go."

I stopped and stared at him in disbelief. "What?"

Lehman ignored my question. "I have to let you go." He stood up, maneuvering around his desk.

I grabbed his arm. "Why?"

He looked at me as if I was covered in shit, his face filled with disgust. "When people hear that you were mugged by a gang they will think you are part of a gang." He flicked his arm out of my grip.

I stood up and followed in out. "But I'm not! You know that!"
Lehman sighed. "And they will start to question my integrity and I can't have that happening."

I didn't want to do this but I had no choice. Beg. "Please, I have my family to take care of. I need this job."

Lehman continued to walk away from me, at least he tried. I followed him. "I don't know if I can trust you. Because of your previous family history with the gang."

It's like he wants to grovel. "Please, Lehman, don't do this. I wont be able to afford life."

"There are other jobs. I'm sorry, I'll have to ask you to leave." I knew he wasn't sorry.

I was getting pissed. "There's no one else who can do my job like me."

Lehman put his hand on his hip. "Leave." He looked like a teenaged little girly prick.

I spoke my mind, and I made sure everyone in his factory could hear. "You can fire me on the spot like this. If any other of the workers here were MUGGED by gang members you would be fine with it. I don't know why you're being a dick. I have four children to look after and every cent counts. You're taking away the only source of income."

He took out a walkie talkie. "Security, please escort this man out of my factory."

"No, I can show myself out. Go fuck yourself." I stormed out of the building. I didn't need him, and I didn't need that job.

I walked toward the grocery store to pick up something. Something I needed. And what I needed was a beer. Or two.