"Come in and sit for a moment." Nicole's smile was sickeningly sweet as she closed the door and walked to the chair behind her desk.
"Have I done something wrong?" Maggie sheepishly asked, taking a seat.
Nicole took her time sitting, folded her arms on the top of her desk and looked Maggie in the eye. "We think you stole some money."
"What?"
"In fact, we can prove it. You left a very easy trail to follow."
Maggie didn't respond right away. "You mean you left an easy trail to follow."
"What trail is that?" Nicole sneered.
"You know what trail. I know too much, so you're getting rid of me. If you claim I stole from the company, who's going to believe you did?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course you do. There is a hundred-thousand dollars missing. Who else could have taken it but you?"
"I think you took it."
Maggie narrowed her eyes. "How? I don't have access to the bank accounts."
"Nevertheless, I say you did and like you said, who are they going to believe?"
"If you say I am a thief, I won't be able to get another job."
Nicole looked abundantly pleased with herself. "Not my problem."
"I shall not go quietly. I shall complain to L&I."
Nicole picked up the envelope lying on her desk and handed it to Maggie. "Your last paycheck. I advise you not to make a fuss."
"Or you'll what? You'll fire me?"
"Just go quietly, Maggie. There's nothing you can do to change my mind. I'll go with you while you clean out your desk."
"Of course you will." Maggie had a lot more to say, but she was too mad to say it without crying. She got up, yanked the door open, marched to her desk, and grabbed her purse. She turned and glared at Nicole one last time. "You clean it out. There is nothing here I want." She left her ex-boss standing there with the empty box in her hand, walked out the front door, and let it slam.
Maggie marched down the sidewalk with tears in her eyes. Her mind was in a fog and her heart actually hurt. She knew she would get fired, but nothing could have prepared her for being called a thief.
Four blocks later, she slowed down and dried her frustrated tears.
Her usual bus wasn't due for another hour, and she had nowhere to go so at length, she decided to walk to the bank and deposit her last paycheck. Next, she darted into a shoe store and bought a cheap pair of heels to go with her white dress.