4: 4
Those two lines from the Team Two leader stopped Lucia cold.
Then she forced out a smile that was uglier than crying.
"Murray, you've got it wrong, haven't you?"
"We bought it last year. That was a whole year ago."
"How could there only be two business sedans?"
Murray shook his head, his tone flat and certain.
"I've been here six years."
"I've seen every purchase order admin's ever put through. Two Buick business sedans. That's it."
"One for the boss, one for client visits."
"Where's this Volkswagen CC supposed to have come from?"
The words had barely landed when someone from Team One jumped in.
"Right, I've never seen it either."
"When did the company ever buy a CC?"
Lucia's face changed.
Rita and Terence were starting to look rattled too.
I chose that moment to speak, unhurried.
"Honestly, I've been wondering about this myself."
"Last year I gave them rides out of goodwill, since we were headed the same way."
"And they decided the car had to belong to the company."
"Then demanded I ferry them around every single day, rain or shine."
"So let me ask..."
I looked at Lucia. "What exactly made you all so sure the car was company property?"
Her lips moved, but not a word came out.
I pressed on. "In the whole past year, did I ever ask you for gas money?"
"Did I ever make you chip in for maintenance?"
"Waited at eight sharp every morning, dropped you off at six every night."
"You can't even tell which cars actually belong to the company."
"And then you turn around and report me for using a company car for personal errands?"
The three of them went red all the way to the ears.
The coworkers watching started murmuring to each other.
"Seriously? Mooched rides for a year and then reported her?"
"That's beyond shameless."
"And a minute ago she had the nerve to say the woman was tormenting them."
Lucia's head snapped up, and she dropped her voice low.
"So what if the car's yours? Big deal."
"It's just some junky CC. You act like it's something nobody else could afford."
That actually made me laugh.
"You're right, it's nothing special."
"It's the cheapest thing in my garage, which is exactly why I use it for the commute."
"Anything pricier, I'd have thought it was a waste."
The three of them weren't stupid.
They caught what I was saying.
Lucia thought I was bluffing and couldn't help scoffing.
"Fine. The car's yours, we'll grant you that."
"But so what?"
"You do come in late and leave early, don't you?"
"You can't wash that off."
I gave a noncommittal nod. "True. On the sixth of last month I did come in late."
"But..."
She cut me off.
"Save your excuses. Nothing you say now will change anything. The outcome's set."
"You're leaving whether you like it or not."
The words had barely left her mouth.
The office door down the hall opened.
The director walked out, face like iron, and swept a glance over me.
Then his eyes settled on Lucia.
"Lucia Chavez."
Lucia jolted and hurried to answer.
The director went on. "The Third Store is short a salesperson."
"Pack up your things and go report there early."
