The bags under my eyes felt heavier; more pronounced. After that confession I overheard in the break room, I was finally beginning to make sense of everything—and why she wanted to quit. I just needed a second perspective on this mess. Women—I tell you—always find a way to complicate things.
"So, she confessed. But how?"
"She told two designers in the break room. I just told you."
"Yes, but how? Did she seem sad, happy, or—"
I swiveled my chair toward my friend who's also the company data analyst. He seemed to enjoy feeding off the drama in my own home, while I was genuinely frustrated.
"She said it like it was some kind of secret. My thing is—she doesn't have to quit just because she has a crush on me. Every woman has a crush on me, so that's not new. But why would she give up a hard-to-come-by job over it? She's great at her job!"
"Hm. She did say she was leaving because of 'personal reasons.'"
"And I think that's the personal reason."
"Okay, but before we jump to conclusions, what exactly did she say? Word for word?"
"I don't know. Basically, the designers asked if she'd miss me, and she said yes."
He kept chewing and chomping on his dinner, as if savoring my frustration.
"Grant! So . . . what does that mean? I need a clear answer."
"Well, if you want a clear answer, you should ask Ms. Marcie yourself. Personally, I'd say it's up in the air. Though, considering she stuck by you for ten years, maybe some feelings developed over time."
Great. Another night of no sleep. No answers either—just more questions about why exactly she was leaving. What in the world had gotten into my secretary?
Did she wear that green dress to the party to make herself look prettier? No—she knew I hated polka dots, yet she wore them anyway. Even though it was a nice dress, she should've represented the company properly, earning herself extra points. Maybe it really had something to do with that person she called at the start of the event.
After tossing and turning for hours, I decided to take Grant's advice. But knowing me, I already knew the answer.