Fired

Kara had deferred her dreams of owning her own business for eight years, two months, 3 weeks and two days. She had done so to help her best friend Kim, achieve her dream of owning a successful upscale catering business. What did Kara get for her long work days and weekends, and her missed family events?

“Excuse me, can you repeat what you just said? Did you say my services are no longer needed?” She looked at the HR person that Kim must have brought in specifically to fire her. “Where’s Kim?” She asked Ms. HR.

“Unfortunately she couldn’t make this meeting. She and Todd have a client meeting that couldn’t be rescheduled.”

Todd, that low-down son of a snake. Kara knew he was behind her being fired. He had weaseled his way into Kim’s heart, her home and now her business. Kara had been his only roadblock and now he was sitting in a client meeting she would have normally attended.

Ms. HR continued, “I believe you’ll find the package terms are excellent. Let me go over them with you.” She patted the folder in front of her.

“I can read.” Kara held out her hand and waited for her to give her the folder before asking, “Do I get to clean out my office before I leave?”

“Your personal items will be mailed to you.  I’m to walk you out; once I’ve answered your questions of course.”

Infuriated Kara grabbed her bag and stuffed the folder inside it. She stood abruptly and stormed out the conference room. With Ms. HR rushing to catch her, she marched through the office she’d helped decorate, pass the employees she had hired, and out the front door.

Three weeks and four hours after she had been stabbed in the back by her best friend, Kara’s doorbell rang. After taking a quick look through the peephole she smiled. This day had come sooner than she thought. 

Opening the door she said, “Tell her to get her butt out of the car and come talk to me herself. I have nothing to say to you.” She slammed the door in Todd’s surprised face before he could utter a word. “So satisfying,” Kara grinned, thinking about the look on Todd’s face as the door closed in it. She headed for the kitchen to start making herself some lunch.  She already knew it would take him a few minutes to convince Kim to come talk to her on her own.

Ten minutes later her doorbell rang again. Kara peeked out again, if Todd had been standing there, she wouldn’t have bothered to open it. When she saw Kim standing there alone she opened the door. This time she didn’t say a word.

“Can we talk?” Kim asked looking miserably uncomfortable. Kara stepped aside silently, to let her in, she gestured towards the living room.   Following Kim into her living room she took a seat across from Kim who sat on the couch. She still said nothing.

Shifting in her seat, Kim cleared her throat before saying, “I’m sorry. It was a mistake to let you go.”

Kara scoffed, “tell me something I don’t know.” 

“Since you left everything has gotten so chaotic and I’m starting to lose clients. Todd promised me he would be able to take over, but he hasn’t been able to, and the clients don’t like him at all. He’s annoying the clients and the staff. Honey Draper says if I don’t get you back she is cancelling her contract. She is our biggest client.” Kim stood in frustration and started pacing in front of the couch. “Kara, please forgive me and come back. It’s been a nightmare without you.”

“Oh, I forgive you.” Kara said meaning it wholeheartedly.

“Thank goodness. I knew I could count on you.” Relief seemed to ooze out of Kim’s body as she plopped back down on the couch.

“Slow down, I said I forgive you and I do. However, there is no way I’d every work for you again.” 

Kim was back on her feet, “What, Kara please! I need you, besides what are you going to do for money?”

Kara smiled, “I’ve already opened my own consulting business and have three clients right out the gate.  Seems there are a lot of people with dreams of owning one business or another and I happen to be great at helping other people successfully obtain that dream.  I have over eight years of experience thanks to you.”

“But what am I going to do?” Kim’s voice dripped with misery. 

“Well, I would suggest you hire someone like me.  Not me, but like me, and do so quickly.  When you find that person maybe take the time to learn your business so that you can run it on your own one day. Now that’s all the advice I can give you without charging a fee, so I suggest you get out there now and start looking.” 

Kim stood up slowly and started for the door with Kara following behind her.  She opened the door, turned and opened her mouth to speak, but Kara held up her hand to stop her. “There is nothing else to say.” Kim turned back and walked out the door.

After eight years, three months, 2 weeks, 4 hours and 25 minutes Kara had laid to rest the unexpected mess and pulled her dreams from the ruble. It was time to follow her own dreams.

I invite you to come along for the read by subscribing below and receiving a free ebook copy of my novella SSMD: So It Begins. Once subscribed you will receive the weekly Monday posting of my story shots. Let’s engage in the comments by giving advice for the characters, laughing at their mishaps, or sharing our own version of their story.