Beyoncé Knowles can't believe her annoyingly perfect personal assistant has actually resigned from her cushy, highly paid position, and she intends to tell her exactly what she thinks about it.
But when she gets to her place, she comes to realize s...
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She stared at her, trying to make sense of what she'd just said. No. She told her no.
Onika blinked, wondering, hoping that it was all a misunderstanding, or a joke. But no, there she was, shaking her beautiful head to emphasize her refusal, smug as always, disgustingly beautiful for a woman as cruel and heartless as her. She'd really said that she couldn't go home to take care of her sick child.
She'd put up with a lot since she started working for her: rudeness from her and her girlfriend alike, lack of respect, demeaning comments-and she wouldn't even get started on the sexual soundtrack-and she'd borne it all, but this was it. This was her breaking point.
Slowly, trying to control her shaking fingers, she pulled her jacket on and turned to go, completely ignoring her as she said, "What do you think you're doing, Ms. ..."
Fuck her. She was done with it.
Remembering something, she went back to her desk and grabbed the Waterman pen Brandi had given her for her birthday a few years back.
"Onika, I believe I made myself clear. If you go out right now, you won't have a job to come back to."
She just laughed, shaking her head.
"A little piece of advice, Ms. Knowles. Don't be a asshole."
And because she apparently hadn't caught on yet, she added, "And by the way? I quit."
Onika should have been worried about the money, about finding another job, but right now, all she felt was relief, like a humongous weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was free.
There was a smile plastered on her face as she rode down the elevator and burst out into the busy streets of New York City, hands raised to hail a yellow cab.
By some sort of miracle, the first one passing stopped to take her in.
This was going to be a good day.
~
"Mrs. Maraj."
The stern tone of the familiar and severe woman in a sharp grey casual suit-kiddy proof-made her feel like she'd somehow failed, so Onika found herself apologizing. "Sorry. I was detained at work."
The woman nodded and sent her a quick, fleeting smile.
"It's quite all right. If you'd come with me."
They walked through the colorful school; Blue had been admitted upon application because Onika used to go there. She was pretty sure some public schools were as wonderful, but after Meek had left them months ago, she'd found herself looking at the cost of everything, daycare included, and she hadn't been able to add up her bills without getting in the red each month. On the off chance that they might accept her, she called her old school. The tuition fees added up to far less than daycare, and Blue was a January baby, which meant she was going to turn six during the school year.
