Lost My Job

Aria’s POV

If I could choose anywhere to be right now, it certainly wouldn’t be here.

I would rather hide under my blankets, disappear six feet underground, or accidentally get run over by a campus taxi.

Honestly, any of those options sounded more appealing than sitting at my desk pretending my mate hadn’t shattered my heart while answering students’ questions about their missing salaries.

Unfortunately, being an omega came with its own disadvantages.

Nobody offered me paid leave because my mate had rejected me, and surviving an encounter with two murderous rogues apparently wasn’t a valid excuse for taking time off either.

So, barely twenty hours after everything happened, I was back at work in the office, surrounded by endless work. “Aria?”

A pen suddenly dropped onto the paperwork in front of me and I jolted so violently that my calculator almost fell from my hand.

Looking up, I found Lila standing beside my cubicle, studying me with concern. “Are you feeling alright?”

Apparently, nearly becoming a rogue’s dinner had left my nerves in terrible condition. The office printer had made me jump at least three times since morning. “I…” I paused, blinking at her before managing a small nod. “I’m fine.”

Lila leaned against the partition separating our desks and lowered her voice. “Have you somehow managed to get on somebody’s bad side?”

I frowned at her. “What are you talking about?”

She glanced around to make sure nobody was listening before turning back to me. “I overheard something earlier, and.....”

“ARIA!”

Mr. Brooks’s thunderous shout rang through the office, silencing everyone almost instantly. “Get into my office. Now!”

Judging by his tone, he was already furious, and I had no intention of giving him another reason to explode. “I’ll talk to you later,” I whispered to Lila as I pushed my chair away from the desk.

She gave me a worried, sympathetic look as I hurried toward his office. After knocking briefly, I entered and shut the door behind me.

Mr. Brooks remained focused on his computer. “You wanted to see me, sir?” I asked respectfully. “Hmm.”

He picked up the enormous disposable cup beside his keyboard and took a long drink then he shoved the last piece of pizza into his mouth, leaving me standing silently in front of his desk while he finished eating.

Once he was done, he wiped his fingers with a napkin and brought his hands together, sending a few sesame seeds scattering across the desk.

I waited patiently, assuming he was about to hand me another report he had failed to complete because that was usually how things worked around here.

He would give me unfinished assignments, expect me to spend hours correcting and completing them, then present everything during meetings as though he had done the work himself.

He received the praise while my efforts went completely unacknowledged but, I had never complained because finding employment as an omega was difficult, and keeping a job was even more challenging.

I couldn't afford to be selective when it came to the little security I had managed to obtain. Sometimes, swallowing my pride was the only way to survive.

Finally, Mr. Brooks lifted his gaze toward me. “How many years have you been working here?”

His question caught me by surprise because I had expected another task, not a conversation about my employment. “I'm approaching my fourth year, sir.”

“Four years?” He repeated the words slowly before nodding. “That's quite something.”

I stared at him, not sure why he suddenly seemed interested in my work history. “You're probably among the longest-serving omegas we've ever employed,” he remarked, settling comfortably against the back of his chair.

I managed a courteous smile, although an uncomfortable feeling was beginning to settle in my stomach. “Is there something you need me to do, sir?”

He crossed his arms and examined me for several seconds. “I believe you've been here long enough.”

I waited for him to explain. “Sir?” I prompted cautiously. “Pack your things.”

I stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“You're dismissed.” He reached for a brown envelope beside his computer and pushed it across the desk toward me. “Your employment ends today.”

Your employment ends today. The words kept repeating in my mind, refusing to make sense. I stared at the envelope as if it might somehow explain what was happening.

The room suddenly felt suffocating. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I struggled to draw a proper breath.

No, this couldn't be happening.

“W-what?” I whispered.

Mr. Brooks sighed impatiently, clearly displeased that I wasn't accepting his decision without question. “I believe I made myself clear.”

He nudged the envelope closer. “Take that, clear your workstation, and leave this building within an hour.”

I shook my head, desperately trying to control the trembling in my voice. “Please, sir. What have I done wrong?”

His lips curled into a mocking smile. “What have you done wrong?”

“Yes.” I swallowed, forcing myself to continue.

“You can't dismiss me without explaining the reason. According to the employee handbook, staff members are supposed to receive formal notice of the grounds for termination. There should also be three written warnings before dismissal, except in cases involving serious misconduct or....”

His palm crashed against the desk, cutting me off. “Don't you dare stand there and lecture me about the employee handbook!”

I flinched and immediately fell silent.

My heart hammered against my ribs as he glared at me. He seemed completely unbothered by the fact that he had just destroyed the stability I had spent years trying to maintain.

Leaning back, he continued in a cold voice. “Doesn't that same handbook state that management can terminate an employee under exceptional circumstances? Or did you conveniently overlook that section?”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you honestly believe you're the only person here who knows how to read?”

I shook my head hastily. “N-no, sir. That's not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“I was only asking why you're dismissing me.”

Surely, that wasn't an unreasonable question.

I had worked here for almost years and I had completed every assignment he gave me, stayed quiet when he took credit for my work, and endured treatment I knew other employees wouldn't have tolerated.

The least I deserved was an explanation but Mr. Brooks appeared determined to make me regret asking. “So you've read a few pages in a handbook, and now you think you can teach me how to manage my own department?”

He rose from his chair and came around the side of his desk. I straightened instinctively, gripping the edge of my cardigan as he approached.

His face grew harsher with every step, making me feel smaller beneath his scrutinizing gaze. “Do you have the slightest idea what it takes to survive in this office?” he demanded as his eyes travelled over me with undisguised contempt.

“Tell me, Aria. Do you genuinely believe someone like you belongs here?”