The Storm Breaks

My words echoed down the hallway as I walked out, defiant but already feeling the weight of the fallout.

2

After the compliance meeting, Travis Lee called me into his office.

His office always had that stale mix of old coffee and lemon-scented Lysol. He closed the blinds, shutting out the open office and the curious eyes. On the wall behind him hung a framed Yankees jersey, the desk cluttered with half-read reports and a stress ball shaped like a football.

"I’ve talked to Mr. Harper. As long as the compliance audit finds nothing wrong with your other projects, and you return the $450 kickback and hand in a resignation letter, the company will let this slide."

He spoke quietly, like someone might be listening through the door. He wouldn’t meet my eyes, just kept spinning a pen between his fingers.

"Director Lee, I didn’t take a kickback. Why should I pay it back? If the company wants to lay me off, give me a real reason. I’m not resigning just to make this easy for you."

I kept my voice steady, but inside I was boiling. I wasn’t about to let my reputation get trashed without a fight. Pride and the thought of my name getting dragged through the mud kept me upright.

"I worked hard to get this deal for you. If you don’t accept and the company calls the police, my hands are tied."

He sounded almost desperate, like he wanted me to just disappear so he could wash his hands of the mess.

"I’ve always said—let the police handle it!"

I leaned forward, refusing to back down. If they wanted a fight, I’d give them one.

"The supplier’s video is clear as day, and they have testimony too. It proves you took $450 from them. How do you explain that?"

He looked at me, searching for any crack in my armor.

"It’s a setup!"

I said it flat out, daring him to deny it.

"They recorded it! Are you done making excuses?"

His voice spiked, frustration breaking through his manager mask.

Seeing Travis Lee get rattled, I almost laughed. He was playing innocent, but he was the one who made the final call on the supplier.