Office Politick

Every five minutes Robin pops off the couch, dumping the sleeping cat from her lap and opens her apartment door, pads sock footed down the hall and wrestles with the lock on the main door to the old three story Victorian. Somehow the landlord managed to install the deadbolt backwards and upside down. After seven years Robin still struggles with unlocking it on the first try. It's a blistering cold spring day, minus fourteen with windchill. Sliding her hand through the double doors to root around in the oversized mailbox, she was mining for gold, some magic money in the form of a forgotten insurance claim or belated birthday cheque. One last payout. It's been three weeks since her last cheque and all her bills were past due.Who knew 6 months of EI would evaporate so quickly? It seems like yesterday Phil called her into his office. Apparently Robin's presence was making the rest of the office uncomfortable. It would be best for everyone involved if she left, no hard feelings, here's a recommendation, sign this non disclosure agreement, pack up and be out by lunch. In hindsight Robin should have negotiated a better settlement, at least extended health benefits for the remainder of the year. After all, Phil was as culpable as she was. He knew this, she knew this, but with Mehghan now threatening to destroy her car and run over her cat, Robin thought it best to cut her losses and get the heck outta dodge while whatever offer was on the table. Thirty four wasn't the end of the world in terms of changing careers. Maybe she should stick to a female only office this time. Robin was beginning to think four letters of recommendation after dismissal for unnamed issues was probably not the highlight of her Linked In profile. Still, something's gotta give, right?

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