Preseason Love by Ahyiana Angel

didn’t know what she was about to tell me, but I did not have a good feeling. She wasn’t the messy type and the tone in her voice was very serious. It wasn’t a case of some silly gossip.
    When I got her on the line, she spoke very calm and almost in a hushed tone. The first thing that she said was, “Watch your back.”
    The pause after her first statement kicked up my anxiety anothernotch. “What do you mean? Tell me what is going on.” I didn’t have time for speaking in code. I needed specifics.
    â€œI overheard a conversation. Steve asked one of the vice presidents how things were working out with you in the New York office, and the VP basically said that you had not been reporting to him, so he didn’t know what you were working on and in fact, he didn’t know who you were reporting to. He essentially made it as though you are in New York doing what you want and not working very hard.”
    I sat there for a moment in disbelief. I couldn’t find words past my anger.
    â€œScottie, are you still there?”
    â€œI can’t close my mouth,” I finally responded. “I’m in shock.”
    â€œGirl, I know. They are so sneaky and backstabbing. That’s why I wanted to give you a heads-up. It seems like something shady is going down.”
    â€œThank you. I really appreciate it. You’re right, something shady is definitely going on.”
    â€œIf I hear anything else, I’ll be sure to let you know,” Latina said.
    â€œThanks again, girl,” I said as we rushed off the line.
    When I got back to my desk, I started clicking around on the computer screen to appear busy, but I could not concentrate. I was furious that someone was blatantly lying on me. I was told when I got to New York that I would report to Barbra and work on her team. I was never supposed to be reporting to anyone else. However, I had heard the day prior that the company had lost one of its largest entertainment accounts to a competitor. I was sure that somehow it was all connected. I did not know if I should mention what I’d found out to Barbra or wait a day to see how things started to play out.
    I sat at my desk for about thirty minutes, ultimately doing nothing, when my phone rang. The caller ID showed a Los Angeles phone number. I answered. I heard a male voice on the other end.
    â€œHi, Scottie. This is Roger.”
    Roger was one of the partners in the agency. I spoke to him in passing whenever I saw him in the Los Angeles office, but I never worked with him directly. Out of all the partners, I knew Steve the best and I worked with him the most. So I was a little confused as to why Roger would be calling me and why Steve was talking to VP’s about me behind my back. The day was getting stranger by the minute.
    â€œHi, Roger. How are you?” I said.
    â€œI’m well, thank you,” he said, before delving straight into the reason for his call. “I know that you recently relocated to the New York office and I’m not sure how things have been going, but I’m calling you because some changes have been made and we will no longer be in need of your service.”
    I couldn’t believe that he called me to deliver this type of news. I was sitting at my desk, which was out in the open with no walls, no doors and no privacy. I had never been fired before, but I couldn’t imagine that this was a standard way of it happening.
    My eyes bugged out, and I did the only thing that I could do. I said, “Okay.”
    Roger continued to talk and I started to sweat. My stomach felt uneasy again and I wanted to hang up. He went on to say that I could finish out the day and work through the remainder of the week.
    Is this mothafucker crazy?!
    I politely told him straight up, “No thank you. My last day will be today.” Then I hung up.
    As soon as I got off of the phone with Roger, I walked out of the office and headed downstairs to call