Unemployed

Posted on Wed Feb 28th, 2024 @ 7:23am by Mara Ricci

954 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 4: The Savage ConneXion
Location: Bank of America Tower, NYC
Timeline: August 24, 1990

Being summoned to the CEO’s office felt a little like being called to the principal’s office. Even though Mara knew her superiors were ecstatic with the work she was doing, she was still nervous as she headed through the hallways.

When she arrived, his receptionist called him on the intercom to let him know she had arrived and before Mara could even think about sitting down to wait, he had opened his office door and invited her in.

Leonard “Lenny” Jacobs was a middle aged man with a receding hairline and a day’s worth of stubble. He seemed to give off an air of organized chaos with his untucked shirt and loosened tie. He was, however, the nicest guy one would ever meet. He had a way of putting people at ease that nobody could quite put their finger on. He was an odd mix for a CEO in 1990, but everybody who worked for him appreciated it.

“Come in, Miss Ricci,” he said, holding the door open for her. “Have a seat.”

Mara chose one of the two seats opposite his desk and waited as he closed the door and returned to sit at his desk. It took him a moment to finally look at her. “First of all, I have to tell you how much we appreciate everything you have done for this company,” he said. “You’ve been a stellar employee and your unique skills have been an asset to us.”

Mara didn’t really know what to say to that, so all she managed was an awkward “thank you, sir.”

Lenny nodded. “That’s why it pains me to have to do this,” he said. “There was a shareholder’s meeting last week. I have no idea how they found out that we’ve got a mutant in control of our computer security, but they did. And they’re not happy about it.”

Mara’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t realized her mutant status had been kept a secret from anybody. It was, therefore, entirely possible that she herself had let that fact slip to one of the shareholders. That wasn’t good.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Ricci,” he said, and she believed him. “They want you out.”

Mara didn’t register what this meant at first. She blinked several times and then opened her mouth to speak several times. Did that mean she was being fired? It sure sounded like she was being fired.

“Miss Ricci,” he said gently. “Are you okay?”

“I just…” she trailed off. “Let me see if I understand. You’re letting me go?”

“I’m afraid I have no choice,” he said regretfully. “The shareholders voted unanimously. They don’t like that a mutant who controls computers is in charge of protecting the bank and its assets. And the fact that you’ve been doing it for more than 2 years without incident didn’t seem to matter to them.”

Mara sighed, half agitated and half resigned. “I… suppose I expected this before too long,” she said softly. “I just hoped it would never come.”

“You’re taking this a lot better than I would have hoped,” he told her.

She shrugged. “When you’re a known mutant, you’re used to being pushed around and mistreated,” she replied.

Lenny frowned. “That is so sad,” he said sadly. “Nobody should be used to that.”

“True,” she said. “But I am. All of us who live in the open are.”

He nodded sadly. “If you would like some advice,” he started slowly, “look into the tech startups. Most of them would be ecstatic to have someone with your talents join them. And I doubt they’d care if you’re a mutant. They might see it as an asset, just like I did. It would probably mean relocating to California, though.” He produced a card from a stack on his desk. “Use me as a reference,” he said, handing it to her. “That’s my direct line.”

“Thanks,” she said sadly, taking the card from him.

“I, uh,” he said, producing an envelope from his jacket pocket. “Convinced the board to give you severance pay. That’s one full year’s salary. And we’re going to continue your health insurance for six months.”

Mara blinked again. “A whole year?” she said. “Isn’t the typical severance three months’ pay?”

“I pulled some strings,” he told her, still holding out the envelope. “Go on, take it! The board was easy to convince. They’re pleased with your work, too.”

Slowly, Mara took the envelope. “Thank you, sir,” she said.

He held up one hand in a ‘don’t mention in ‘ gesture. “I’m going to have security meet you at your desk to help clear out your things,” he said. “For your protection and ours. I don’t want the shareholders accusing you of sabotaging anything on your way out.”

“Good thinking,” she replied. And she meant it. She didn’t need to be arrested next week because something went wrong at the bank and somebody decided she was to blame.

“If you need anything,” he told her seriously, “anything at all, just give me or my wife a call. Our house number is on the back of that card.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said again. “Well, I suppose I’d better go gather my things.”

“Good luck, and Godspeed, Mara,” he told her, sounding like a dad sending their kid off to college. “I really hope things work out for you.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Mara for the 800th time, it seemed.

Well, she thought to herself on her way out of his office. California, here I come?

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