Page 105 of The Frog Prince

“I’ve seen them, too, and they weren’t like that when I left here Friday with Josh and Tessa.”

“Then how did this happen?”

“I don’t know.”

“Serious mistakes were made,” he adds.

“I know. But they weren’t mine.”

“Then whose are they?”

I can practically feel Olivia’s smile. She’s sitting with one leg crossed above the other, an arm casually flung over the back of her chair. She’s a queen, and I’m just some palace flunky.

I count to five, trying to keep my cool. “I don’t know.”

“It was your event.”

“Yes.”

“Our donors and sponsors lost thousands and thousands of dollars.”

I nod.

“They want answers.”

I nod again.

“I have to take action,” he concludes.

I knew we’d get to this part, but it hurts anyway. I hold my breath, waiting a moment for the stab of regret to fade.

I shouldn’t be surprised that I’m going and Olivia remains, sitting pretty. I’ve worked hard here in the past year, but I did cross party lines. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t been warned, either. Plenty of people cautioned me—Sara, Josh, Tessa, Brian, and Olivia herself all told me to be careful, to be smart, to think things through. Why didn’t I listen?

Because I wasn’t afraid.

Because I believe in doing what is fair, even if it isn’t always “right.”

“I have to take action,” David repeats, and his dark gaze holds mine. “Olivia and I’ve discussed this.”

He stops talking, and it’s now quiet in his office, and the three of us sit there, but I look only at David. And David’s expression has grown increasingly grave.

I know what’s coming. He’s going to fire me. And I’m angry, but I also understand. He’s doing what he has to do. I’m just one of seventeen employees. He has the whole company to think about. City Events’ reputation. The staff salaries. The company morale.

David clears his voice, and when he speaks again, his voice is gruff. “Holly, I regret that I must terminate your employment with City Events. Due to the nature of your termination, I must ask you to clear out your desk and hand over your accounts and files to Olivia today.”

The stiff formality of his words belies the sympathy in his eyes.

For a moment I do nothing but nod my head, and then, as silence stretches, I force myself to my feet, everything in slow, awkward motion, and I extend my hand.

He takes it, fingers closing around mine. “Good luck, Holly.”

I can’t speak for a moment. My chest is hot. It burns. I blink. “Thank you, David.”

*

I look atno one as I pack up my desk. It doesn’t take long, since I’ve very few personal things at work. Olivia never permitted personal clutter, and it’s really just a matter of taking the Certs and keys, change and odd business cards I’ve collected, and stuffing them into my purse.

I refuse to make eye contact with Josh as I walk out. I nod to the receptionist, take the elevator down, and head toward Market.