AN: Sorry for the delayed update. I don't have an excuse, I really wasn't busy, I just wasn't writing. In a fit of anger I found inspiration to update, so here it is. The next chapter is the last, and I'll try to get that out in the next couple days, no promises though. Thanks to everyone that reviewed it means a lot to me.
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own the O.C. or any characters or ideas taken from the show. If I did Alex would have stayed, and Marissa wouldn't have been such a bitch. All rights go to their rightful owners.
When Alex headed out to work the next day, she was feeling unstoppable. Nothing about that day could go wrong. After all, Marissa and her were getting back on the right track, and they were both going to start making efforts to spend more time together. Nothing could damper her great mood, the weather forecast said there was no chance of rain on her parade, but what she didn't know was that it was always calm before the storm.
She got to work early, wanting to thank Henry for the day off yesterday. When Alex came up to the door and raised her hand to knock, she found it was open. She pushed timidly on the door, having the feeling something was off.
She saw a man sitting in Henry's office, but everything seemed to be missing. The posters and awards on the wall were gone, the old couch and desk were gone, and the biggest thing missing was Henry himself. The furniture had been replaced with modern, top of the line items, all placed professionally.
"Excuse me." Alex said trying to get the guy's attention. He was wearing what looked like a very expensive suit, and a very nice watch. He looked like the poster boy for corporate headhunters. The man didn't look at Alex, didn't even acknowledge her existence, and just continued working on something placed on the glass desk. "Where's Henry?" She asked already not liking this man.
"Hell probably." He said calmly not looking up from his work.
"Excuse me?" He was getting on her nerves. His explanation of where her boss was wasn't clear enough for her.
"Mr. O'Connor died last night." He said as calm as his last statement, but this time he looked up at Alex.
"Are you serious?"
"I don't kid."
"Who are you?"
"The man who purchased this company. And the man who holds authority over you." He stood up from his seat and leaned forward over his desk towards Alex. "Who are you?"
"Alex Kelly, I work in this department."
"Ahh, I've heard a lot about you Mrs. Kelly."
"I really don't see how that's possible considering I've only been gone for less than twenty four hours."
"A lot can happen in twenty four hours. Sit." He ordered pointing to a chair on the other side of the desk. "I'm going to be making changes here; the biggest change will be having only 300 employees doing the same amount of work."
"You're firing 150 people?"
"Yes. But only the inadequate ones. Or the ones we don't need."
"I know what inadequate means." She snapped. Alex really hated this guy, and she'd only known him for less than five minutes.
"What we don't need is alcoholic employees that take days off to go on binges."
"I'm not an alcoholic, and yesterday wasn't so I could go on a binge. Even if it was, that's none of your business and I can do whatever I want with the days off I'm given. In case you haven't heard, I haven't had a day off in months and if I had a choice in the matter I would have stayed here and worked."
"You're not an alcoholic? Then why do I have reports of you going to the local bar nightly?" "Okay, he's officially the biggest ass I've ever met." Alex thought.
"Okay look, it's true I drink. Sometimes more than I should, but every day I still come in, and work my ass off to get done what needs to get done, hangover and all. Yesterday I spent much needed time with my girlfriend, and even though its none of your business I didn't drink yesterday." Alex said coldly.
He looked disgusted. "One of the changes that needs to be made is the switch to a Christian company. And to do that, we need to get crimes against nature like you, out!"
"You're firing me?" Alex was pissed, she was literally seeing red. "That's discrimination."
"Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?"
"Have you seen my numbers? This company has been carried on my back for years. I pull my own weight around here, plus the weight of the slackers. I'm working ten-hour days seven days a week and you're firing me because of my sexuality? If my numbers are better than anyone else's shouldn't what I do on my time be my business?"
"Yes, but this is my business, and I get to do and say whatever the hell I want to. Including firing disgraces to the human race created by the good lord." At this point Alex was trying to control the urge to pick him up and throw him threw a wall.
"So you're firing me because you don't like me?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. Now go clean out your locker, turn in your badge, and get the hell out of my building!" Alex stood up and walked towards the door.
"You know, I really hope this all works out for you. I mean all the riots, and lawsuits you might go through. I hope it all works itself out. Just know I'll be out there somewhere, praying that this company goes under, just like you deserve." She said as she walked out, not caring enough to look back at him.
Alex did as she was told; she cleaned out her locker, turned in her badge, then walked out of the building tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm fucked. How the hell am I going to afford Marissa's tuition? Or the apartment? She's gonna leave, she's gonna leave because I can't take care of her anymore. DAMN IT ALL TO HELL! Henry's dead and that sick fuck fired me because I'm in love with a woman. How the hell am I going to tell her? Shit."
Alex was no longer feeling unstoppable, in fact she felt as if her entire world just stopped spinning. She got into her car, and drove home, glad that Marissa's classes would keep her away until later that night. "I am in dire need of alcohol and I need to hit something." Were the only thoughts she focused on the entire drive home. She was dreading what was to come.