Maria Sanchez sat in the guest chair, huddled in on herself defensively. Her normally stern face was drained of the strength and surety it normally wore and her body language spoke of a naughty child awaiting an audience with the principal. This was far more serious.
Across the ornate, oversized desk sat Mr. Harrison. His wire rimmed glasses did little to hide the anger and disappointment in his old, brown eyes. He was tall even in the deep leather chair and his authority filled the corner office. His long brown fingers had been tapping slowly on the desk for what seemed like hours as he regarded the woman across from him.
"Miss Sanchez," he began in his strong, gravelly voice, "I find myself at a crossroad. You have put me there through your incompetence." She shied away from him as if hit by the word. "How many times have I stood up for you? How many times have I swept a fiasco like this under the rug?" She dared not meet his gaze. She knew his eyes were boring in on her like weapons. She felt a deep shame at letting him down. Again.
He removed his glasses and rubbed his weary eyes.
"The damage was minimal this time. We reacted with enough alacrity to minimize the impact of your poor decisions, but this could have been disastrous. The only reason we were able to staunch the bleeding was because I have learned that you need to be watched. Miss Sanchez, the firm cannot continue to pay both your salary and that of a babysitter for you."
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with fright.
"No! I can't lose this job, sir!" Her heart beat as if electrified, threatening to burst out of her chest. This couldn't be happening!
"If you cannot fulfill the needs of this position then you certainly can lose it. I had faith in you and I went out on a limb for you too many times. Each time you failed. I took you under my wing and gave you the best assignments, and still you continued to fail!" Anger was rising in his voice and he let it cut through the young woman. She needed to understand. "I could delay the inevitable and hide another example of your incompetence, but to what end? We both know you will wind up here again in the same situation."
A shred of hope seemed to fall from the old man's lips and she grasped at it like a life preserver.
"If you could just give me one more chance..." His raised hand should have silenced her, but even his incredible weight of authority failed to dissuade her. "...I swear I can do better! Please, Mr. Harrison! I'm in debt; I'll lose my condo, my car..." She finally did stop as his raised hand slammed down on the desk. He rose, fury burning in his eyes.
"Enough!" She cringed and folded back in on herself, once again cowed by his presence as he towered over her. "Miss Sanchez, I see no reason to prolong this charade. This pitiful little circus has gone on long enough."
"Please, sir." Her voice was barely audible. She turned her tear streaked face up to him in supplication. "Please! I'll do anything to keep this job. Anything." The last word trailed off, signaling complete defeat. Harrison considered the gently weeping woman in front of him for a moment, then lifted a manila folder from the desk.
"This contains your letter of resignation and your terms of release. I am willing to let you leave of your own accord instead of suffering the humiliation of being dismissed. You may sign these papers, or..." His eyes were old, but sharp. He had noticed the hard body beneath the business suits, the shapely legs snapping through the company's halls on high heels. He knew he was in complete control now, and he knew she must obey his every word.
She looked up again, unsure of her place. He had offered and retracted the life preserver enough to completely confuse her. She knew she was beaten.
"Or?"
"Or, you may step out of that skirt and bend over the desk." The outrageous demand struck her like a physical blow. How dare he? The fear and pity she felt vanished in a wave of anger and revulsion at this shocking statement.