Storing Up Trouble, стр. 76
To his relief, Beatrix put up not a single argument to that, until he told her he wanted her to give up her job at Marshall Field & Company.
Chapter 28
“I’ve noticed there always seems to be a certain someone, as in Mr. Norman Nesbit, waiting to pick you up every evening over the past week and a half.”
Swallowing the bite of sandwich she’d taken, Beatrix looked up and found Miss Dixon standing beside the table in the employee lunch room, smiling back at her.
Beatrix motioned Miss Dixon closer and lowered her voice. “Norman has turned remarkably stubborn about escorting me home ever since we were set upon by criminals right outside the store last week. Those very same criminals then broke into my aunt’s home, which is why I haven’t protested Norman’s insistence on picking me up from work every evening.”
Miss Dixon’s eyes widened. “I heard rumors that you ran afoul of some criminals over a week ago but was hopeful that was just idle gossip with no basis in fact.”
“Afraid not, which is why Pinkerton men have been roaming around the Bargain Basement this week. They check on me twice an hour, even though I tried to convince Norman there’s little threat to me while I’m in the store.”
Miss Dixon released a sigh. “How romantic.”
“Or annoying.” Beatrix shook her head. “I’m sure management will be most displeased if they realize Pinkertons are in the store because of me, but—”
“Is there a Miss Waterbury in here?” someone called from the doorway.
Beatrix raised her hand. “I’m over here.”
The man in the doorway sent her a curt nod. “Mr. Bailer wants to see you in his office.”
Finishing the last bite of her sandwich as she rose to her feet, Beatrix headed out of the room, sending Miss Dixon a reassuring smile when that woman sent her a look filled with alarm. Taking the stairs to Mr. Bailer’s floor, she hurried down the hallway and arrived at Mr. Bailer’s office, his secretary hustling her straight inside a moment later. As soon as she slid into the chair that sat directly across from Mr. Bailer’s desk, Beatrix soon found herself pinned under Mr. Bailer’s gaze—and a nervous gaze at that.
“Miss Waterbury,” he began, tugging on his collar, “I’m sure you know why you’ve been summoned.”
“Someone’s mentioned the Pinkerton men who keep coming to check on me?”
Mr. Bailer gave another tug of his collar. “Pinkerton men are keeping tabs on you here at the store?”
“No, they’re checking on my welfare, which is not the same as keeping tabs on me. That would imply that I’ve done something wrong.”
“Word has reached my ears that you have done something wrong because you apparently shot a man.”
“Purely in self-defense, and in the defense of a friend of mine.”
Mr. Bailer abandoned his collar and took to drumming his fingers on the desk. “We’ve had complaints about that very incident.”
“From whom?”
“From a customer who witnessed whatever chaos you managed to become involved in last week. This customer came to see me just this morning, her visit delayed because of a nasty cold she’s been suffering, but she personally witnessed you being questioned by the police last week. She recognized you as being a woman she’d seen working in the coat check, so she felt compelled to report your unacceptable behavior to me once she felt well enough to leave her house.” He caught Beatrix’s eye. “You must understand that we at Marshall Field & Company cannot retain an employee who has allowed herself to become involved in something so, well, tawdry.”
Beatrix stiffened. “I wasn’t involved in anything tawdry. I was the victim of a crime.”
“You should have left the thieves to the discretion of men. Men, my dear, are equipped to handle such unpleasantness, while women, on the other hand, are not.”
“I’m not certain how you expect me to respond to that.”
“There’s no response for you to make. With that out of the way, I must now inform you that I have no choice but to terminate your employment with Marshall Field & Company, effective immediately.”
Temper began crawling through her veins. “Aren’t you concerned that Miss Huttleston will be very upset with you for terminating me?”
“I do find that notion concerning, but since I’m fairly certain I’ll be dismissed if I don’t dismiss you, I’m willing to brave Miss Huttleston’s wrath even if I’m not looking forward to that.”
“But I wasn’t even working when I had my interlude with criminals.”
“You obviously neglected to memorize that handbook I gave you because there’s a full page in it regarding how an employee can be terminated if they damage their reputation, and thus the reputation of this fine establishment. I assure you, shooting a man certainly damages your reputation as well as ours.” He gestured to the door. “I believe that’ll be all, Miss Waterbury. Good day.”
Beatrix felt heat climb up her neck and settle on her face as she rose to her feet. “That’s it? You’re not going to allow me an opportunity to explain the circumstances behind the shooting?”
“I’ve heard all I need to hear about the matter, and with that said, good day again, Miss Waterbury.” Mr. Bailer pushed a button on his desk, which had his secretary walking through the door a blink of an eye later. She moved to Beatrix’s side, took her by the arm, and the next thing Beatrix knew, she was standing on the street outside Marshall Field & Company, jobless.
Knowing there was nothing left to do but return to her aunt’s house, she stomped down the street, trying her best to get her temper in check but not having much success with that.
Her dismissal was outrageous, and the very idea she had no available recourse set her teeth on edge.
Stomping all the way to the train station, she headed for the ticket counter, stopping in her tracks when Blanche and Mamie, both wearing turbans of vivid pink, rushed