A Story To Tell | Book 2

.19.

:::CHRIS:::

"Deon, we've been keeping tabs on the hours you've been working and none of them are matching up. I've been prolonging this meeting with you because I wanted to be sure things were actually what they seemed and it's come to my attention that your hours are fornicated."

I sat along side of India to watch her as she did her job. I sort of didn't want any part in this, but India and I had come to a decision that better fits the franchise. We talked it over with our boss, Newman and he thought it was the best idea. And...it looks like we're about to be one employee short for a couple of days until I went over these applications that have been submitted back from two weeks ago til this morning.

"Do you have any explanation as to why you would do such a thing?" India asked Deon who was staring a hole right into her with this rude expression on her face as if she was at the least fazed over the power that India had over her.

"I don't know what you're talking about. My hours are not fornicated." Deon said as she crossed her arms, rolling her eyes at India. India looked at me and I looked at her. I could tell India's patience had just run out.

"Look, either you tell us why your check for last week stated you worked over eighty hours and you'd only worked nearly forty, or you can happily take off that name badge and walk out of here." India then crossed her arms and legs, daring for Deon to say something she didn't like.

"I worked those hours. And I've been waiting to get my check. I have kids to take care of and I don't have time for this. Can y'all give me my earned check so I can get back to work because y'all are seriously tripping." Deon argued.

"Just tell us why?" I then interject.

"I'm not lying, Chris. I worked them hours!" Deon shouted.

"Deon. You're fired." India then said.

"What?!" Deon looked at the both of us in shock. "You're firing me for hours that I worked? Are you serious?" Deon stood up and so did India. "Really, India?"

"I'm sick of the lies, Deon. I gave you the option to tell us the truth and we were going to just suspend you for a week and let it be bygones, but you want to keep lying and I don't tolerate liars. I can't trust you, and I don't like working alongside those that I can't trust. Hand me that badge." India said as she held her hand out.

Deon looked at me as if she wanted me to jump to her defense, but India had spoken and I wasn't about to jump ship on India's decision because I actually wanted Deon to stay. I liked Deon as an employee. When she did come to work, she worked her ass off. I wanted to give her a second chance and she blew it. Now, I had to find someone with Deon's work ethic, but more dependable. She only made it harder on herself. Her decisions just cost her the job she expressed to me that she loved. Now, she didn't have it and I almost felt bad for her until she snatched off her badge and tossed it in India's face.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Deon!" I say as I stand up.

India stared Deon down, breathing so harshly that I thought she was about to swing. So I stood in between the two.

"See, you lucky I'm on the job. Let it be out in the streets, you would've been wearing an ass whipping straight home." India fussed. "But I'm gonna let you have that one because it's all said and done. I fired your ass. Good day." India waved Deon off and turned away, sitting down towards the computer. "Deon Humphrey... Terminated!" She laughed.

Although the situation was serious, I almost wanted to laugh at how India had basically just laughed off Deon's temper tantrum.

I walked Deon to the door and opened it for her. She turned around and looked at me, her arms crossed. I just stood there at the door because I knew that she was going to say something else.