When I got to Jose's office, Kori was already there. Jose was at his desk, and Kori was sitting across from him, looking calm. Maybe too calm.

"Hi Ashley, take a seat," Jose said, gesturing to the chair next to Kori.

My heart was still racing as I sat down. I glanced at Kori, and she glanced back at me.

She then gave me a small smile, which I knew was her telling me it was going to be okay.

"So," Jose started, "I received an anonymous message that stated the two of you are in a romantic relationship."

"Please Jose," Kori stopped him, "We know it was Lisa Amaro. You don't have to say it's anonymous."

"Well...yes," Jose admitted, "However, I wanted to talk to the two of you and get the true story on what's going on here."

Kori spoke again, "Yes, mine and Ashley's relationship has gone over the line of professional and into something of a more...romantic nature. Jose, that's why I set up the meeting with you for today. I was going to see what could be done about Ashley switching departments, and to advise you that we are together."

Jose looked at me, "This is true, you and Kori are together?"

I nodded, "Yes. We are."

Jose looked between Kori and I and folded his hands on his desk, "I appreciate you both confirming what I was told today is true. I know that's not easy."

"So Jose," Kori said, "Can Ashley just switch departments? It really could be as simple as that."

Jose sighed, "So, I wish I could say 'yes' to that. However, due to the nature of me finding this out from another party...this has to be further discussed. This relationship has been going on for quite some time, hasn't it?"

Kori didn't answer his question and she asked, "What do you mean exactly when you say it has to be 'further discussed'?"

She spoke in a firm tone, and I could tell that even Jose was a bit uncomfortable.

"A plan of action for the next steps," Jose said, and he then let down his professional wall a bit and said softly, "Kori, you know I'm unfortunately going to have to tell Daniel Hollis about this. It's a small company, word gets around."

"I know you are," Kori nodded, "I figured."

Jose then looked at me and said, "Ashley, I will message you later to come back to my office again after this has been discussed. That's all I need from the both of you for now."

Kori nodded and got up, and I did as well, my heart still racing at the speed of light.

When Kori closed the door to Jose's office, she said, "Like I said, it's going to be okay, Ash."

"I really hope so, because I am not feeling so good about this right now," I said to Kori.

Kori gently squeezed my shoulder and said, "Let's just see what happens, love."

When I got back to the department, Grace immediately pulled up her chair to my desk.

"Are you okay?" she asked me quietly, "You've been gone a lot this morning. And you look a bit upset."

I swallowed hard and said to Grace in an even quieter tone, "I have to tell you something. You're going to find out anyway, so it might as well be from me."

Grace nodded encouragingly, "Tell me, what's going on?"

I took a deep breath before saying, "I'm likely going to be leaving this department."

Grace immediately looked confused, "No, wait. Why?"

I looked directly at Grace and said softly, "I'm dating Kori."

Grace's eyes widened so much that I thought they were going to bug out of her head and she whispered, "You're what?"

I whispered back, "Kori is my girlfriend."

Grace looked completely taken aback as she said, "Oh. My. God. I need to hear all about this, especially if you're going to be leaving the department. I'll really miss you, by the way."

"I'll miss you too," I said to Grace, "And how about you call me later and I'll tell you? I don't really want to discuss too much at work."

I also wasn't going to give Grace much information, as she did love to gossip.

I couldn't even eat my lunch that day because of anxiety, so I walked down to the coffee shop across the street and got myself an iced latte. However, I took two sips and realized the caffeine would probably make me feel worse.

Kori texted me during my lunch once again telling me that everything was going to be alright. I wanted to believe her, but I still had a pit in my stomach.

It wasn't until fifteen minutes before the day was over that I got a message from Jose telling me to come back to his office.

When I arrived, Kori was there once again, in the same spot. I sat down in the second chair next to Kori, and Jose was once again behind his desk.

He looked at Kori and I and spoke, "I had a discussion with Daniel Hollis. This situation is very tricky, and also completely against office guidelines. An employee is not to date who they report to. It is against the rules."

Kori cut in, "Yes, which is why Ashley should not have to report to me anymore. She can switch departments."

"It's not that simple," Jose said, "We didn't even find out from the two of you. Either of you. I know you were going to tell me today, Kori. But this has been going on for quite some time."

"And how would you know that exactly?" Kori asked Jose.

"Lisa said that you told her you had a girlfriend a month ago. Which would be Ashley, correct?"

"That's correct," Kori said back to Jose.

If only they knew this has been going on for much, much longer...

Kori continued, "So, what's going on here, then?"

Jose looked right at me, and my heart sank, "Ashley, I'm sorry to do this. But you are being let go from the company. Effective immediately."

I'm...fired?

Before I could even speak, Kori said in a tone that I hadn't heard before, "You did not just say Ashley is being let go."

Jose looked like he genuinely felt bad as he said, "It was discussed with Daniel. He feels this is the best course of action. It is against office policy, no exceptions."

I could hardly believe this was happening. I was listening to Jose and Kori talk, but it almost felt like I wasn't in the room.

Kori looked right at Jose, "So, I assume I'm being let go as well?"

"No, Kori. You're not. You know we can't let you go," Jose said to her.

Kori, still looking at Jose said, "You know this is absolutely fucking absurd, right?"

Jose lowered his voice and once again broke his professional act as he said to Kori, "I know it is. It's not my choice."

Jose then looked at me, "I'm sorry, Ashley. I'll send you all of the information regarding your severance package."

All I could do was nod. A lump had formed in my throat, but there was no way I was going to cry. Not right now.

Kori looked at me and said, "Fuck. I am so sorry, Ash."

I managed to say, "It's okay. I'll be fine."

Kori looked unconvinced, and I asked Jose, "Can I go?"

Jose nodded, "You may."

Kori looked at me and then looked back at Jose, "I'm going to go with Ashley. This conversation is not over."

I walked behind Kori out of Jose's office, and she laid her hand on the small of my back, "I cannot believe this is happening. Let me walk you back up to the department. Everyone should be gone."

I was silent as Kori and I went back up to the IT department, and as we approached Kori stopped and said, "Ashley, can you please say something? You have me worried here."

I spoke, still with a lump in my throat, "I'm just trying to not cry, okay?"

Kori nodded, and when we got to the department, I grabbed my bag, as well as a few knick knacks on my desk that I had, a mini fake pink cactus, and a small calendar with daily quotes. I shoved them in my bag and looked at the department one more time before walking away.

I'm going to miss this.

Kori led me back downstairs, and she said, "I'm going to go back to Jose and talk to him. I'm not done yet. I will call you first thing when I leave. You'll come over tonight, right?"

I nodded, "Of course."

Kori pulled me in for a hug, and she held me tightly for a moment. No one was around, but even if they were, at this point it didn't matter at all.

It wasn't until I got to my car that I finally burst into tears. They didn't stop my whole drive home.

I really got fired from my job. What in the actual the fuck.

When I parked at my apartment complex, that's when I got a call from...Grace. Not Kori.

I answered, my voice shaky, "Hi, Grace."

"I saw you disappear at the end of the day," Grace said to me, "I assume it was about switching departments?"

"I was fired," I said to Grace, "They let me go."

"WHAT?" Grace practically shouted, "No fucking way. No. They seriously fired you? What about Kori?"

"She was not fired."

"This is absolutely fucking insane. I am so sorry, girl," Grace said to me.

"I appreciate it," I said, "I'm pretty damn torn up about it."

"Rightfully so!" Grace said to me.

As Grace and I kept talking, I wound up spilling much more than intended about Kori and I.

Who cares at this point? I'm fired.

I told her that the relationship had been going on for quite a while now, and I also told her about Lisa being the one to tell Jose initially about Kori and I because she was listening in on our conversation.

"What a cunt!" Grace examined, "Oh, she's going to get it from me the next time I see her."

"Grace, I don't want you getting fired either."

"At this point I don't give a fuck!"

I couldn't help but chuckle, and at the same time, Kori called me.

"Kori is calling me now," I said to Grace, "Thanks for talking to me. I'll text you later."

As I walked into my apartment, I took Kori's call.

"Please come over whenever you want," Kori said to me, "I need to see you. I feel fucking horrible about this. Believe me, I gave Jose a...strongly worded argument."

"I'm going to change out of my work clothes and then I'll come over," I said to Kori, "I appreciate you sticking up for me."

However, that's not going to change anything.

Nothing is.

I'm fired.