82: The Truth, The Proof

Inho didn’t believe it.

“Couldn’t it be some sort of misunderstanding?” he attempted lamely, “I don’t see why he would get you fired on purpose.”

“Inho,” the way Jamie said his name irritated him; she sounded like an annoyed parent. You should know better, her tone said. She continued, “Why isn’t really important anymore. The point is he definitely did. I know we’re broken up, but come on. This impacts you too.”

“It could have been a mistake,” Inho mumbled. Why did this have to happen now? They had just made up. He didn’t want to fight anymore– he couldn’t believe it. Surely, he owed Stephen some benefit of the doubt at this point. Stephen wouldn’t… He thought of his boyfriend’s cold tone at Chris’ apartment, when he spoke about Jamie. In the mess of everything that had happened that night, he’d forgotten. But no, this couldn’t…

“I recorded it,” Jamie said, pulling out a coiled notebook, “Each time I talked to him about it. When I first flagged it, and he dismissed me,” she pointed to a date and Inho read the neat hand writing at the end of her manicured nail: 9AM - Address Semidark omission with Stephen. *action item*: Stephen to handle it.

Inho’s eyes flinched away and he stared at the table instead, tracing the wet ring left by his teacup. When he didn’t speak, she flipped a few more pages, relentless. There were three more meetings where she’d taken notes on her attempts to follow up, only to be dismissed. “Then, the lawsuit started, and he wouldn’t even talk to me anymore, until I got fired. He did it on purpose.”

Inho felt empty. Of course, Jamie would have neatly documented everything. She was an excellent worker. He didn’t want to believe it but...

Jamie drummed her fingers on the tabletop, “I’m sorry, but I wanted you to know the truth. He’s got a terrible reputation at work you know. He’s so friendly at first, I got taken in too. When I house-sat for him and everything, I thought we were getting along. But, the staff all know he’s totally cut-throat as a director,” she sighed. “I guess I learned that first hand.”

Confusion and misgivings were eating at the edges of Inho’s carefully blank mind. Was this how Stephen became so successful? By stepping on other people? Using them to hide his mistakes? His stomach was churning. He’d been nervous to meet Jamie but this was so much worse than he’d expected. He was starting to believe. What else could he do when the proof was sitting in front of him, neatly annotated?

“If you have all this evidence, why didn’t you show them?” he asked at long last, “Why didn’t you prove it was his fault?”

Jamie’s lip curled, “Do I really need to explain that to you? I’m a new employee, a young woman barely out of school, do you think my word was going to go anywhere? Against a director?” She shook her head, “I can’t afford a lawsuit.”

“But–”

“They gave me severance. I can move on. Fighting this would probably ruin me. I’ll just… start over.”

She slumped, and Inho knew exactly how she felt. Hadn’t he just explained the same thing to Stephen? How poor people get screwed by employers so easily? It felt like he’d been punched in the gut; his lungs wouldn’t expand all the way. Stephen was the evil employer in this situation– he was so clearly the villain.

Jamie worked so hard to get that position, she’d been killing herself studying for the accounting exams, sacrificing her social life and everything else to work those long hours. Even their relationship was a casualty of her dedication.

And, Stephen brushed it all away like it was nothing. He’d probably smiled when she was fired, just like he’d smiled telling the story to his friends. Inho’s blood pressure was rising, he wanted to puke, he wanted to hit something.

He said there was nothing else.

Inho had fucking asked him, “Is there anything else?” and he’d said no. That son of a bitch.

“Why… why you?” Inho asked, at a loss for what to do next, “Was it because of me?”

“I can only assume. I think that’s something for you to find out on your own,” She covered his hand lightly with hers, a friendly gesture of comfort. “I’m sorry. I guess you really liked him, huh.”

Inho couldn’t meet her gaze. He felt so stupid and ashamed. He felt like a little kid getting toyed with by adults. Stephen probably didn’t mention it because he thought Inho wouldn’t understand it. That he could just lie his way around it if it came up. His jaw jerked shut and clenched painfully.

He squeezed his fist on the table. Her comfort felt insincere. This had to be some sort of vengeance. Stephen got her fired so she was going to ruin his relationship. Inho was just collateral damage. She repulsed him. How dare she act like she was any better? She’d also played Inho, for years, dragging things out, acting like she loved him. Jamie had always thought she was better than him, never even offering him the dignity of a clean break up.

This was the same shit all over again, Inho was so done with never being anyone’s priority. Of lies while people pretended he was important. He flipped her hand away roughly, about to tell her off.

But instead he deflated, what was the point? He was so tired. Tired of lashing out, tired of feeling anything at all.

Jamie was watching him, pity written all over her face. After a moment she gathered her things, placed some money on the table, stood, and paused beside him, pretending not to see the tears swimming in his eyes. “I’m sorry Inho, but it’s better to know.” Then she was gone, and Inho was all alone.