Dallas, Texas

"…and yesterday's absence?" wincing as Mr Thompson questioned her in an increasingly accusatory tone, Pam wished she'd taken Bobby up on his offer to hide away from reality and stay in bed that morning because although she enjoyed the independence of being a working woman, there was nothing enjoyable about being reprimanded by her boss, let alone her boss's boss.

"Yes, I'm sorry about that, I had some personal issues I needed to deal with", explaining herself, she was vague with the man standing over her, partly because it was none of his business what her personal issues were and partly because she knew her position was fairly weak. Personally, prioritising her family and marriage was a noble, worthwhile thing to do, but in a professional environment, it was frowned upon.

"On company time?" reminding her that weekdays were workdays, or were supposed to be, Mr Thompson's stance continued to remain intimidating, she wasn't particularly short, especially not with heels, but with him looming over her she felt small and very much like she was being talked down to.

"I apologise, as I explained to Mr Davis yesterday, it was time sensitive", giving no further detail about what she'd taken Monday and Tuesday off for, she mentioned her boss for two reasons. Firstly because it made it sound as though she'd already explained herself, which she hadn't but he didn't need to know that and secondly because if her boss's boss had a problem with his management then they needed to discuss that amongst themselves.

"I take your presence here today to mean all is well now?" making an assumption about her situation, there was no mistaking Mr Thompson's intentions with his question, he didn't care whether she was ok, he simply wanted to hear her confirm she wasn't going to be calling in any further absences on the basis of personal issues.

"It's better, yes", confirming to him her personal issues were resolved for now, she smiled apologetically and left it at that.

"That's good to hear", accepting her answer he appeared to return her smile though it was decidedly artificial and not at all reassuring.

"Thank you for asking", answering him politely, she wasn't sure why she felt the need to thank him when the only reason he had brought it up in the first place was to pressure her into confirming she knew not to push anymore boundaries and instead make sure she conformed to company expectations in the future.

"Why don't you take a seat?" making a suggestion, the change in atmosphere was apparent, from the way he looked at her to the way her stomach lurched, everything was different now and that wasn't a good thing.

Following his direction, she sat down, and when he opened his mouth to speak again, she was suddenly glad she had.

"Unfortunately, I'm going to have to let you go", making no move to sit down himself, his tall form standing over her as he delivered the news only added to the harshness of his words.

"I don't understand, why? For missing two days of work? I can make up the time if that's more satisfactory to you than my taking unpaid vacation days", staring up at him in shock, she questioned his decision before scrambling to offer an alternative. She hadn't had any time to think through what was happening, but she knew without having to consider it in depth that she didn't want to lose her job and she didn't think she deserved to lose her job, so to at least oppose the decision was a natural step to take.

"No, that won't be necessary; your unapproved leave has nothing to do with the outcome of our evaluation", dismissing her offer, his reply only further confused her. Firstly because if her days off weren't the problem then why had they just had a serious talk about them, and secondly because if her days off weren't the problem then what was?

"So why am I being fired?" addressing the question directly, her stomach continued to churn in shock, nervousness and anticipation. She wanted to know, but she couldn't believe they were really having this discussion.

"Not fired, laid off", correcting her, his distinction between the two terms was little comfort considering the result was the same.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand. How can I be being laid off?" it just didn't make sense to her, outside of her two days off, which apparently weren't the issue, she was a good employee.

"You're job has been assessed as surplus to requirements", answering her, it took a few seconds before she comprehended what he was saying, but when she did it still didn't make much sense to her.

"Since when?" she'd only been with the company for a little while, but in that time she'd never felt as though she was short of tasks to perform.

"Well, if you'd have been in the office yesterday you would have been informed of the decision then", reminding her of her previous absence, he offered no timeline as to when she'd been assessed as surplus to requirements, only when they had intended to tell her.

"When was this decision made?" wanting an answer, she asked again. It was important to her to know when they had evaluated her position and decided it wasn't worth keeping her as an employee, because in this situation the timing of the decision was likely the difference between a legitimate conclusion and an excuse.

If the assessment was made before she took two days off then perhaps it was fair enough, she didn't think of herself as surplus to requirements but they did; however, if the decision was made in the past two days then she didn't think it was fair and she suspected it was highly likely petty retaliation against her unplanned absences.

"I'm sorry, I can't answer questions about internal processes", shutting down her questions, his facial expression told her she wasn't going to get the answers she was looking for, no matter how many different ways she asked for clarification.

"Fine. Am I able to get a letter of recommendation before I leave?" resignedly accepting the decision, she looked forwards toward her next job. She wasn't without skill or drive, she could and would take her talents elsewhere where they'd be appreciated and not assumed to be surplus to requirements.

"That can be arranged, though I'm sure you won't need it now", replying straight-faced, as if what he was saying would make complete sense to her, all his comment did instead was further confuse her.

"Why wouldn't I need it? I'm out of a job aren't I?" restating the situation as she understood it, she waited for his explanation of the rest of the details, because she sure couldn't work it out herself.

"Well yes, but now that you're married…" dropping an important detail about her life into their conversation, as if it explained everything, he trailed off before actually getting to any explanation.

"Married? Is that what this is about? Am I being let go because I got married?" jumping to the logical conclusion, that the decision had been made in haste based on her hasty life change, she was aptly offended. She hadn't mentioned her elopement to anyone in management but it wasn't exactly a secret amongst her co-workers, especially not with the two rings now present on her left hand, however, despite that she had assumed that as she had always expected before, her personal life was her personal life and her professional life was her professional life.

So what if she was married? It didn't take away her ability to do the things she had been doing before she was married, or so she thought. There was always the possibility that the unspoken agreement to laugh, smile, serve and take what was given to her without complaint was a much larger part of her role than she had originally assumed.

"No, like I said, your job is has been assessed as surplus to requirements", barely addressing her concerns, he stuck to his story.

Shaking her head, she stood, sick of sitting with him towering over her, asserting his position of power in their interaction. Meeting his eye, unfortunately still having to look up to do so, she continued to push for information, letting him in on what she had deduced from their conversation and giving him the opportunity to correct any incorrect assumptions. "Yes, as you said, surplus to requirements, but which requirements? Something tells me it has nothing to do with having too many staff and too little administrative work and instead has something to do with my permanent personal unavailability".

"I can't discuss the specifics, but I can say it was a purely business decision", brushing over her concerns again, he offered only a vague, weak explanation. A business decision could mean anything, including having her around for reasons other than her typing speed, shorthand and general admin abilities.

"Mm, something to do with keeping morale up? It's not as much fun for the men in the office to flirt with a married woman, to ogle at what has been committed to another man, to realise it's never going to happen for them", making some fairly accusatory assumptions, she didn't expect to receive a confession or apology, she simply wanted him to know she saw through him.

"I don't like what you're implying", refusing to acknowledge any truth in what she was suggesting, the way his eyes darted from her face down her body and back up again told a different story. Whether or not she was right was beside the point now, she was being let go for what she believed to be little more than a convenient cover story and he wasn't trying very hard to dispel her concerns.

"Maybe not, but you're not denying it", in a less irritated state she would have composed herself to answer him with a little more respect, but she was irritated and since she was sure he wasn't going to change his mind she didn't bother.

"I won't dignify that insult with an answer", staring at her coolly, his words got to her.

"I hardly think you're in the position to feel insulted, you're not the one that's just lost her job because of her marital status", telling it as it was, or as she saw it, she could barely control her annoyance and was sure it showed all over her face.

"Neither are you", countering her accusation with little defence, he did remind her that although she suspected what she was saying was the case, she couldn't actually prove it, and even if she did, who would care? It was probably discriminatory, but she wasn't going to escalate it, they both knew it.

"Technically not, you're smarter than that, but I think we both know what's going on here. There will be a new girl at my desk within a week, I'd put money on that", replying, she made sure he knew she wasn't stupid, she was being let go for one reason disguised as another, his plan was transparent, they both knew it, though he didn't care.

"I think we're done here", glaring at her, probably for turning what was supposed to have been a relatively quick, painless meeting into something more, he didn't take long to dismiss her, clearly done with her attitude, as she was his.

"Yes, I think we are", answering with the same icy tone he was using, she looked him in the eye one final time before turning and walking out of his office.

To be continued…