To Be or Not To Be...Fired

The smell of cedarwood flooded the room after the housekeeper cleaned it. It had to be ready for their arrival. As instructed, she attached a DVD player to the TV and left three DVDs for them to watch. Each had a name written on it, Evan, Mary, and William. On the desk next to the Tv, she placed a not folded in half with the words “READ ME” on it. On the two beds, she was told to only put one pillow on each. Lastly, as instructed, she let two men in black enter the room and strategically place hidden mics all over. Outside the room, the massive bodyguard smiled at the woman and held the door open as she pushed her cart out. The men followed behind her. Moments later, the first participant arrived.

Devon entered the room escorted by a woman in an elegant dress. She told him to relax and await further instructions. He asked about the man at the door. She ignored him and shut the door. There was nothing he could do but take off his shoes and relax. He got a whiff of his feet, and the smell forced him to make a disgusted look. Then he loosened his tie and sat on the bed. First, he noticed a hole in his sock exposing two toes. The sound of the door opening made him panic. He didn’t want to show his toes. He switched positions to place his feet behind his knee and watched the door.

Anna came in next; she wore an office-approved dress with the zipper in the back and heels possibly too small for her. She was lightly shoved into the room. Devon heard her groan at the door. He watched her take off her heels and place them next to his shoes. When she saw them, she knew she wasn’t alone. She turned her head around the corner and saw Devon.

“Ho,” she said duloiloduyly.

“Hey,” he said and waved slightly.

“Devon, right? From accounting?” She walked over to him. He didn’t move.

“Yep, that’s me.” He rubbed his palms nervously on his lap.

They shook hands as she introduced herself, “Do you know who I am?”

He shook his head.

“I’m Anna from the Social Media Department.”

“Yes, I remember now, you were at the meeting with the new VP.” Devon also remembered drunkenly attempting to flirt with her at the Christmas party.

She sat next to him, but before she could get another word out, the door opened. They heard two different footsteps with two very distinct voices. One was a man, and the other was a woman. The door slammed shut. The woman sighed, then they heard, “I guess we put our shoes here. I wonder who else is here.”

Anna recognized her voice. It was Lydia, the attractive young receptionist with selenophobia and a year-round beach body. Behind her was the senior salesman Marcus.

“Anna?” Marcus asked, walking over to see her. He used to date her before he became a senior salesman.

“Hi Marcus,” she said in a monotone voice, “Is that you, Lydia?”

“Yes, yes, it’s me. Who’s that babe?” Lydia said

“It’s Anna, sweetie.”

“Oh! Anna!” Lydia rushed over to hug her, “How have you been? You don’t call as often anymore.”

“I’m great. Why are you guys here?” Anna asked.

“We got an email telling us to come here to help the company with some decision,” Marcus said.

“Same,” Devon added.

“Did they tell you we’re here until tomorrow morning?”

The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Marcus got up to answer. Lydia moved to sit in the office chair. He came back with a note he picked up off the floor. He read it in silence. His face frowned, then turned to confusion as he mouth the words on the paper. When he finished reading it, he flipped it over, looking for more, but there wasn’t

“Well,” Anna sparked, “What does it say?”

Without looking up from the paper, Marcus answered her. “We have to watch these three videos and decide who contract the company should terminate. We have until six in the morning, or if we decide sooner, we get to go early—no leaving the room. One week off with pay. Wifi Password. Free room service. Our names will not be mentioned. That’s about it.

Devon stuck out his hand. Marcus glared at him briefly before giving him the paper. Anna read it over Devon’s shoulder. As they read, Marcus put the first disk named Evan.

“Hi, my name is Evan Muinch. I’m twenty-seven years old. I have a wife and two kids. I love my job here. Without it, I don’t know what I’d do.” He gave a nervous chuckle. “My wife isn’t working, so if I lose this job. I will have to sell my house and move.” He wiped his tears. “Please, please don’t fire me.”

The screen went black. Marcus took out the DVD and put in the one named Mary.

“Anna adjusted to face the TV, and Devon laid on his side to see past her.

“Hi, I’m Mary. Mary Treggar. I live with my two sisters right now. We stay in Ursaline County. Kind of a far drive.” The video fast-forwarded, “No, my brother is away in the army. And my sisters and I haven’t spoken in years. I take care of my parents. Both are in the hospital side by side, slightly responsive-without this job—they won’t make it. My brother is coming home soon, and he wasn’t to say his goodbyes before we pull the plug—and,” she began to cry, “I really need this job right now. I don’t know—we’ve been struggling for—please just—please, sir, don’t fire me!” the video cut the black.

“Ouch. I pick her already.” Marcus said before putting in the next DVD.

“Hello, my name is William Vander-Brian. I have depression, frequent suicidal thoughts, and I live alone. I have no friends or family. If you fire me, I will kill myself.” The video ended.

“He’s bluffing.” Marcus laughed, “I’ll kill myself.” He mocked.

“Not funny,” Lydia said.

“I wouldn’t want to be in the cause of someone killing themselves. I couldn’t live with that.” Anna frowned at Marcus.

“Are you serious? The first guy has a family. I can respect that. Gotta support that.”

“Agreed,” Devon said. The others nodded.

“But not William—you know.” Lydia started painting her nails.

“So Mary is who we choose. All right, I’ll tell them so we can get out of her.” Marcus started walking over to the door.

“Wait!” Lydia cried. “We can’t fire her either…her parents.”

She’s right. We fire her; we kill her parents.” Anna said.

“We cannot Twelve Angry Men this. I choose William. All in favor. “Marcus raised his hand. “Lydia. “

“Let me think.” She said rapidly.

""Okay—Devon.""

""Come back to me."" He said.

“All right—Anna? “

“I don’t know. “She responded.

“Jesus, we’re going to be here a while, aren’t we. I can’t remember. Do they even come to a decision in Twelve Angry Men?” Marcus sat in the cushioned chair and put his feet up on the bed.

“I think we should let Mary go. Her parents have probably suffered enough with them gone. She’ll get money for the funeral, some time off, and after, she’ll be making more money by not paying the bills. “Anna said.

“No, it’s nice how she wants to wait for her brother. I think we should fire William. “

“I think he’s actually struggling and will commit suicide if we fire him. “Anna replied.

“And Evan? “Devon asked. He started going through the hotel menu.

“He’s got a family and kids.” Marcus said, “We’d affect the kids. We can’t do it.”

“So can we all agree not to pick Evan.”

“Oh, please. Evan could get another job easily. He’s smart with his money. I’m sure since you’re friends with him, you could help him out.” Lydia sighed.

Marcus turned to her. Anna glanced at Devon. He was watching them.

“Look, let’s go around the room and say who we think we should fire. I don’t know is an answer for right now. I’ll start…I don’t know.” Devon said. He stood up. “But I do know that I am hungry and going to order food. If we can’t all come to a decision soon, we’re going to be here awhile. SO I suggest ordering some too. And getting comfortable.” He tossed the menu on the bed. “We are the deciding fate of their lives right now. So we should be firm in our answer and confident.”

“Devon’s right. What we decide will have consequences.” Marcus added. “Do they have burgers and fries?”

“Cheeseburger and the impossible burger.”

“Cheese, please, with fries, ketchup on the side, please. And I pick William. He’s bluffing.”

Anna opened her mouth in shock at Marcus

“I think Mary,” Anna said.

“Evan,” Lydia said, “I’ll take a salad too, please. What do they have to drink?”

“Water, soda, or juice?” Devon asked.

Anna rolled her eyes and looked at Lydia. Lydia smiled and said, “I don’t think she was talking about those drinks.”

“Oh…well…”

“Red or white wine?” Anna asked the group. Both Lydia and Marcus said red wine. Then she glanced at Devon. “Get a bottle of red wine and alfredo pasta, please—and—thank you.”

“As I order, you two should think about why we should let them go.” Devon picked up the phone, and with excellent manners, he began to order the food and wine. Anna propped a pillow up at the head of the bed, and she stared blankly at the ceiling. All of them had to think of the why.

When Devon was done, there was a knock on the door. He smiled. “Well, that was fast.” He joked. The other watched him walk over and open the door. Some of them even though it was their food. Someone slid a sliver of paper underneath the door. Devon read it silently before showing it to Anna first. “It’s how much they made the company.”

Anna was surprised by the amount. Lydia glanced at it but didn’t care to look. Marcus examined it closely. Evan and Mary were average. William made the company the most money.

“Another reason why we should keep him.” Anna barked.

“Another reason to prove he’s bluffing. If he can do this, think about what he could do somewhere else.” Marcus fired back.

“We don’t want him to go to competitors.

“He’s not depressed or suicidal.”

“You don’t know that.”

“And you do?”

“As a matter of fact—I do.”

Devon and Lydia looked at Anna for her to explain herself. The room fell silent. Marcus gasped in disbelief. He removed his feet from the bed to sit up and listen closely to what Anna had to say. “Please enlighten us how you know as a matter of fact.” He mocked her.

“We’ve talked a few times.” Her movements were shy, as if she didn’t want to explain why. “Hung out after work a couple of times. He’s a nice guy. He told me he had—or has—depression.”

“Do you have any other proof?” Lydia asked. She was serious.

“Hung out after work, huh? What did you do?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

“How long did you sleep with him?” Marcus jumped up with fury.

“Excuse me!” Anna shouted at him with the same explosive fury. Devon’s heart was slightly broken.

“After we broke up, I know you went to him.”

“Let’s put feeling aside.” Devon tried to intervene.

“Let’s fire Evan! We know he’s your buddy, a little sucker that’ll look up to you and do what you want. You just want to keep him so he can owe you later!”

“Oh, bullshit! Fine, I pick Mary!”

“NO,” Lydia cried out. “If we fire her, we kill her parents. Do you guys want two deaths on your conscience?”

The room fell silent again. Marcus loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt to relax. He gave a heavy sigh and fixed his gaze on the ceiling, mindlessly walking back to his seat. Anna played with her feet wondering who was going to speak next. Memories of her relationship with Marcus consumed her thoughts. His manly touch, his smell, and the romantic side of him.

“Marcus.” Devon broke everyone’s concentration, “Can you live with the thought of someone committing suicide because of you?”

“Yes, I can,” Marcus replied vehemently. Devon doubted him but didn’t say anything.

“You could add him to your coup to take over the company,” Lydia said under her breath.

“You want to share all my secrets?”

“We could have been a power couple—” Anna snapped

“Shut up! Don’t make this about us. It’s always an argument with you. Sometimes I’d like to come home and just relax. Watch the game or a movie, not listen to you bicker and complain.”

“That’s how you feel?” Devon could see Anna wanted to cry. Something deeply upset her.

“Jesus, Anna. Grow up. Get over it. You two are broken up.” Lydia snapped back at Anna. The two of them faced each other.

“How about you grow some tits before you talk to me.”

Lydia looked down at her chest. Anna’s chest was bigger than hers. “Fuck you.”

“Fuck me? Why not? You’ve nearly fucked half the company already.” Anna’s eyes darted at Marcus. “You’re just getting some guy’s sloppy seconds.”

Lydia stood up, fists flying towards Anna. Marcus had to jump across the bed to hold her back. Devon hesitated for a moment before stopping Anna. They needed to regain focus on the task at hand to determine the fate of the company. Not to dwell on the past and pour salt in wounds that will never heal.

Devon thought Anna deserved better than Marcus. Sure Marcus had more money; he was more of a gentleman and businessman when he wanted to be. He was suave with the ladies., good-looking and bright, too in his way. But overall, a douche in a serious relationship. So Devon reconsidered his crush on Anna and determined that if she was still hung up on a guy like Marcus, he didn’t want her either. And he didn’t want a sloppy second coming from Marcus. Holding her back, he finally got to cop feel of a large chest like he wanted to.

Why they were picked, Devon did not know. But he knew the longer they were there, the more hostile it was becoming. He needed a solution fast. They needed a solution fast. Marcus smooth-talked the ladies into sitting back down. Lydia sat where Marcus was sitting, and Anna sat at the end of the bed, facing away from her. Still, no progress had been made.

“Everyone, calm down. Relax, let’s breathe.”

Knock. Knock. “Room service.” They heard.

“I’ll get it.” Devon excused himself. They heard him say, “thank you.” He brought the food to the desk. “Bon appetite.”

One by one, they got up to get their food as Devon poured wine for everyone. They noticed the hole in his sock as he handed everyone their glass. Lydia smiled, Marcus frowned. They ate in silence. Each one of them got more wine. Devon swirled each sip before swallowing it. Marcus scrolled through his phone, finding matches on Tinder or texting old flame. He knew he wasn’t going home with Lydia tonight.

“Look, guys. I don’t want to be here all night. They said we had to come to an agreement. Let’s be smart about this. We should all agree that the majority wins. So let’s vote. The person with the most votes gets fired. Agreed?” Marcus said.

“Agreed, otherwise we’d be here all night and never come to a decision.” Devon followed up.

“Majority rules,” Anna said, confused.

“Yes, so you can’t feel too guilty. You lost, that’s it. Understood?”

Anna liked this newfound manly side of Devon.

“Lydia?” Anna asked.

Lydia nodded in disappointment and embarrassment. She wanted to see everyone get along. This could have been fun.

“Very well. I pick William.” Marcus said.

“Mary.” Anna cried out.

“Evan.” Sighed Lydia.

They looked at Devon to give his answer. He took a minute to voice his opinion and finalize his response. Finally, after a few minutes, Devon gave them an answer. Marcus got up, banged on the door, and told the man outside they have made their decision.

As they were all leaving the hotel, Devon walked to his car with Lydia; she asked him for a ride after Marcus broke up with her in the lobby. Anna took a taxi home, and Marcus went to meet up with a match from earlier. All of them wanting to forget the night.