The Feud by Gemma Rogers

Author:Gemma Rogers [Rogers, Gemma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2022-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

When I got to work on Friday, buoyed by the weekend fast approaching, I knew I had to get organised and figure out what to do. Every aspect of my life had been thrown upside down. The task of finding somewhere to live, navigating a house sale, as well as searching for a new job seemed like a list of impossible tasks. If I stopped to dwell on them, I easily became overwhelmed, so I threw myself into drafting a contract renewal for our petroleum supplier.

With my mind occupied, I wasn’t prepared when Tim called me into his office after lunch. I steeled myself as though I was going into battle, believing our meeting would revolve around negotiating a better offer than the measly one he’d proposed before.

‘I know you might have felt a bit in limbo this week and I wanted to thank you for your continued professionalism. I’ve personally had a look at the contracts you’ve been preparing, and your quality of work is impeccable as always.’ His broad chin lifted upwards, as though he was praising his dog for rolling over or playing dead. It was a look that used to float over my head before, but now I gritted my teeth at his patronising tone.

He leaned back in his chair, fiddling with the 18k gold Parker pen he carried everywhere as though it determined his worth.

‘We want you to stay, Kay, let’s forget all this nonsense and we can carry on as before.’

I nearly spilt my coffee over my lap and put it on a coaster with a trembling hand.

‘I beg your pardon?’ I narrowed my eyes.

‘Water under the bridge, wouldn’t you say. We’ve all said and done things we’re not proud of, but Winston’s needs you. As you know, Liam and I have been fighting to keep you here and Head Office have finally listened.’

I scoffed, my bullshit detector going off the scale. ‘Only because they know they’ll have to pay me to go. I’m sorry, Tim, but surely you can’t imagine we can all work together harmoniously now. I have enough emails, video and audio clips to sink Winston’s, you know it and I know it. Funny that now, suddenly, they want to back out of consolidating my job with Liam’s.’

Tim sighed and clasped his hands together; our meeting clearly wasn’t going the way he’d hoped. I was the irritating stone in his shoe he couldn’t shift.

I was positive he’d told Head Office he could smooth things over with me, make the problem go away, but I’d opened a can of worms and was in no hurry to close it again.

‘What do you want, Kay? A pay rise? I’ll see what I can do.’

‘I want a sizeable offer of redundancy, Tim. I want the company benefits paid up, pension, health care and on top of that a glowing reference. I’m not leaving Winston’s without one.’ My chest puffed out, shoulders rolling back. I was no longer a woman to be messed with.

‘What size redundancy are you looking for?’ Tim’s voice had a tiny tremor.

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