I had simply never connected that woman with the person lying on gravel beside Route 18.
“I didn’t recognize you.”
“Good.”
I blinked.
“Good?”
“That means what you did wasn’t influenced by who I am.”
She turned toward Gavin.
“Now tell me why he is carrying a box.”
I looked down.
I hadn’t noticed Nina had placed one near my desk.
Gavin cleared his throat.
“Mrs. Halston, as I explained, there was a business incident this morning.”
“What incident?”
“Christopher missed a critical presentation.”
“Because he was helping me.”
“Yes, but…”
“But?”
Gavin’s jaw tightened.
“We lost a major account.”
Eleanor looked toward me.
“And?”
I said nothing.
She turned back to Gavin.
“And?”
Gavin finally said it.
“I terminated his employment.”
Eleanor stared at him.
The entire office went silent.
“You fired him.”
“It was a management decision.”
“For stopping when I collapsed.”
“For abandoning a professional responsibility.”
