MADISON
December 18, 2014
FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE
“If you decide to come back, you will immediately apologize to Vicki and ask her to rejoin your team. Vicki needs a job. She is a single parent with three children. And I need her talent in the office. She made a mistake. We all make mistakes.
“And let there be a clear understanding between us, Madison Belmont. One more outburst like your performance today and you’re fired.”
****
Failure. It was what it was, rejection. Defeat. Painful. Madison could not dismiss what had happened, rationalize it, or hide it with an explanation. She sat on the bed, stunned how the day had destroyed all of her dreams.
And the cat. It even sensed something was wrong and hid under a chair in the living room.
Madison wanted to curl up on the bed and disappear from life. There’d be no remorse that she had failed, nor would an explanation be required on why she had failed. There was no need, she didn’t exist. It was the perfect solution, just wave a wand and disappear from life and its consequences.
It was also ridiculous.
Disappear, is that what you want to do? Or, do you want to admit it for what it is, surrender? Peter rejected you, so you quit. You give up. The thought unsettled her and she called for the cat. She needed a distraction. The cat ignored her and her black mood remained.
Madison, I can’t believe you’re thinking about quitting. When did you ever quit? Did you quit when your classmates taunted you? You fought back and proved you were better. Did you quit on Wall Street? No. You worked harder than the rest and beat them all. That’s what you did. You were the Tiger of Wall Street. So get a grip. You don’t quit for anyone.
Madison’s mood brightened. Calling for the cat, she wanted to share her decision. The cat ignored her and remained under the chair. Okay, now that you have decided not to quit, what’s next? Are you going to quit working for Peter and go back to Wall Street? Or, are you going to take the tougher road and go back to Peter? You know, you’ll have to drag your tail between your legs. Madison chuckled. When did you ever do that? And how are you going to face Peter and Vicki?
She felt a sense of relief. Though still fuzzy on the details, the genesis of a plan had started to take shape. You have been knocked down, Madison, not out. Show them you can do it. Make them want you to come back. Bring in more business than they can handle. They’ll beg you to stay.
Madison smiled. She did that often when she had achieved a significant victory or had overcome a difficult problem. However, the smiles were always private. To do so publically was to admit she was emotional and therefore, vulnerable.
Hold on girl. Not so fast. You’re forgetting one thing.
What?
You’ve got to say it.
No. I can’t do that.
Yes, you can. It can’t be that hard. Swallow your pride, Madison.
Madison rejected the thought of drinking any more wine and put her glass on the nightstand. The cat, sensing that her mistress mood had improved, returned to the bed. Curled up into a ball, eyes closed, Madison stroked the cat’s neck and said. “Okay, I admit it. I was wrong. I made a mistake.”
There, you said it. That wasn’t so hard.
TO BE CONTINUED
