Company - Max Barry [57]
Elizabeth says nothing. But in her stomach, something flips.
“You are aware that Human Resources complies with state and federal law requirements for maternity leave. You know that Zephyr Holdings is an equal opportunity employer.”
“What has this got to do with me?”
“Are you pregnant, Elizabeth?” the voice lilts. “It's all right. You can tell me. You've got a friend in Human Resources.”
“I'm not pregnant,” Elizabeth lies. She does it with her chin up and her back straight. Watching herself in the mirror, she is convincing. The only giveaway is the color in her cheeks—but surely they won't notice that. Unless they have monitors. Could they have monitors?
“You know Human Resources has never discriminated against a pregnant employee.”
“I don't see them getting promoted.”
“We discriminate against employees who are late for work. We discriminate against employees who take excessive breaks. We discriminate against employees who are unable to give a long-term commitment to their jobs. But we do not discriminate against pregnancy.”
“I ate a bad hot dog, all right? There. So now you know.”
“Human Resources is only concerned for your job performance. That you may have chosen to place personal concerns ahead of your job, after everything we have done for you, is not relevant. Do you anticipate a falling off in your productivity, Elizabeth?”
“No.”
“You are aware that if you do anticipate a falling off and conceal it, this is breach of contract.”
“Breach of contract? How is it a breach?”
“You have made an agreement with Human Resources for salary in exchange for work. To knowingly reduce your ability to perform that work is bad faith.”
“Look, if I did get pregnant, which I am not, it would not be a breach of contract.”
No response.
“I mean, it couldn't be,” she says.
“You are aware that breach of contract results in immediate termination.”
She swallows, then says, very carefully, “I am not pregnant, to the best of my knowledge.”
There is a long pause. It feels smug and self-satisfied to Elizabeth. But perhaps she is imagining that. She is hot and sweaty and needs to go to the bathroom.
“Human Resources has no interest in whether you are pregnant.”
She starts. “What?”
“Human Resources would rather not know one way or the other.”
“But you just—”
“Human Resources does not interfere in the personal lives of employees.”
Elizabeth waits.
“Our only interest is ensuring your job performance does not decline from agreed-upon levels.”
She sits rigid for a long time. Finally, her jaw clenched, she says, “You had better not be implying what I think you're implying.”
There is a click, and the door swings open.
“Thanks for coming in,” the voice says.
“Jones,” Freddy says. “Jones. Jones.”
“What?”
Freddy studies him from the cubicle entrance. “What's the matter with you?”
With some effort, Jones sits up straighter. “I didn't get much sleep, that's all.”
“Well, it's time for lunch.” He looks at his watch. “Where's Holly?”
“I have no idea.”
“Meeting room in the lobby,” Roger says, walking past. “At least, she was ten minutes ago.”
“A meeting room? Who's she meeting?”
Roger shrugs and walks out of sight.
“Hmm,” Freddy says.
Holly turns up ten minutes later, carrying her bag. “Sorry, sorry. I got held up.”
“By who?”
“Just customers. You know how Elizabeth's a sales rep, and I'm her assistant? Well, she has customers.”
“Which ones?”
“Which ones was I meeting?”
“Yeah.”
“What do you care?”
“I don't,” Freddy says. “I just think it's incredibly devoted of you to hold meetings with Elizabeth's customers when everyone else is running around trying to save their job from the consolidation.”
“Geez, you sound like Roger.” She lowers her voice for the last word, since Roger is only a partition or two away. “Don't you think, Jones? Jones?”
“What?”
“Boy,” Holly says, “what's the matter with you?”
“Well, so far I've found out squat,” Freddy says in the elevator. “Nobody knows when the consolidation