Chapter 4
Richard gestured for me to sit.
He sat down across from me, totally relaxed. His eyes fell on my laptop.
He smiled, like a friendly uncle. "Working hard even outside the office?"
He pointed at my laptop screen. The screen showed the title of the training material I'd sent myself: Brighton Corp Elite Sales Force Training Program 2.0.
Richard's smile grew even wider. "Good thing I ran into you. I was about to ask. How's the training material for next week coming along?"
I met his expectant gaze.
I reached out and closed my laptop, slowly and deliberately. It made a soft "click" sound.
Then I looked up at him. My voice was steady, not a ripple of emotion. "Mr. Lane, I got laid off."
Richard's smile froze, bit by bit.
His eyes, eyes that had seen it all in the business world, first flickered with shock, then total disbelief. "Charles, what did you say?"
His voice shot up, loud enough that a few customers in the coffee shop glanced over. "Don't mess around like this."
I didn't crack a smile.
I looked at him calmly and said it again, "Mr. Lane, I'm dead serious.
"At 9:30 this morning, HR told me my contract was terminated.
"I already signed for the Severance Package, plus two months' pay as a thank you."
I laid out the facts, every word hammering into Richard's mind.
His face went from friendly to dark in a heartbeat.
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the table.
He wasn't angry at me. I could see that.
It was the rage one felt when one watched something one loved get trashed.
"Who?" He spat the word out through clenched teeth. "Who made the call?"
"The HR director and the legal counsel. They were the ones who talked to me," I replied.
"I'm asking who gave them the authority to do this." Richard's voice was barely holding back, like a volcano about to blow.
"They said it was a decision from the higher-ups."
"Higher-ups?" Richard was so angry he laughed. "How come I, the chairman, didn't know about such a big decision?"
He shot to his feet and paced back and forth in the cramped booth.
The mood in the coffee shop instantly got heavy.
The staff and other customers were stunned by his intense presence, too intimidated to say a word.
He whipped out his phone and swiped through his contacts at lightning speed.
He found a number and dialed right away.
The call was picked up almost instantly.
"David, where are you right now?"
The David he meant was David Warren, the CEO. I'd only ever seen him from afar at the annual meetings.
Someone on the other end started talking.
Richard's anger finally exploded. "I don't care who you're having dinner with. I'm asking you, what's going on with Charles? Who told you to lay him off?
"Strategic adjustment? What kind of bullshit strategic adjustment is this? You're ripping out the company's engine and tossing it in the trash.
"Do you even know what kind of training he's supposed to give the top salespeople nationwide next week? Do you have any clue what that Version 2.0 training material means to the company?"
Richard was practically roaring.
His voice echoed through the whole coffee shop. "I don't care how you do it. In thirty minutes, you and your HR director, in front of me.
"I'm at the Starbucks downstairs from the office."
He hung up, didn't give the other side a chance to explain.
His chest was heaving. He was seriously pissed.
He sat back down across from me, his gaze way more complicated. There was anger, regret, and even a trace of guilt.
"Charles, wait here for me." His voice softened, but there was no room for argument. "This is a massive screw-up on the company's part. Today, I'll make sure you get the answer you deserve."
I picked up my coffee, now ice-cold, and took a sip. The bitter taste spread across my tongue.
I didn't say yes or no.
An answer? Eighteen years of blood, sweat, and tears were wiped out by one careless layoff notice. No answer could ever make that right.