No where to go but up

Chapter three - No where to go but up

"I want you out of here now,"

"You can't fire me," Matthew said.

"You're on a probation period. I don't think it's a good fit. You can leave now."

Matthew turned to Tyson. Eyes wide.

"I don't think everyone here understands. I am the co-founder of this company. I'm not some manager." Sebastian drew his attention back to Matthew's smug face. "If I want someone out of here, it'll get done."

"I quite,"

Everyone's attention darted to the back of the room . Valerie's voice sliced through the tension.

"You obviously can't be..." Valerie closed her eyes for a second then reopened them, "I'm going to leave so things don't get worse. This was a bad idea. I'm leaving."

She spun around and opened the door.

"That's all you're good at!" Sebastian shouted.

Valerie froze.

"I don't know when it started, because you sure as hell weren't like this when we got married. You were amazing at so many things, and now in the last year and a half all your good at is leaving. Walking away without a reason! Maybe there isn't a reason... maybe this is who you are - a quitter. A heartless, cruel quitter. How long it'll be before you quit on Samantha!"

Valerie hung her head low, tightened her body and balled her fist. With her back still facing Sebastian and the rest of the employees, she raised her head and pushed forward.

Sebastian had tears brimming at the eyelids, but he fought them back.

"Everyone, get back to work. We'll try and forget this whole thing happened, alright?" said Tyson.

Sebastian stormed out of the room. He zoomed past Valerie, and b-lined straight out of the building.

___

Sebastian pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. 11AM. Only three hours into the first day and he's managed to screw it all up. He tightened the grip on the phone like he was trying to break it.

Maybe I am the reason she left.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Someone sat next to him on the bench. He opened his eyes to see Audrey sitting with her hands in her lap.

"I thought you left for the day," she said.

"Almost did,"

"It was intense in there,"

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Sebastian leaned back and let out a loud grunt. "I'm such an idiot!"

"Hurt people do stupid things sometimes."

"If you decide to stick around, please don't take today as your final image of me."

"Oh, I'm not like that. Today was intense, but I try to put myself in other people's shoes. I try to understand what is making them act and feel the way they do. That's the same reason you shouldn't fire that guy, Matthew."

"Really? You like him or something?"

"Ew, no. He's definitely not my type."

"If perfect hair and a chiseled body ain't your type, I wonder what is?"

Audrey's face flushed and she bit her bottom lip.

"My point is," she said. "I tried to put myself in his shoes and wonder why he would act the way he did, and my conclusion is... he likes your ex-wife."