Wounded Beast (Gypsy Heroes)

‘Come,’ he calls.

I open it and as I enter he looks up from some papers. There is slight frown on his face. ‘What is it?’ he asks impatiently.

I walk quickly to his desk and place my envelope down on his table.

He narrows his eyes. ‘What’s this?’

‘It’s my letter of resignation.’

His eyes pop open. For a second he actually looks panicked. ‘What?’ he erupts.

‘I … er … I’m leaving HMRC.’

He stares at me with a shocked expression while I fidget uncomfortably. I certainly never expected this reaction. I’ve always suspected he secretly doesn’t like me.

‘Why?’ he asks finally.

I look down at a spot on the blue carpet. ‘We’ve actually had this conversation before, you know, about the unfairness of taxation. All this time, I thought I was making things better, but it turns out I’m not. I’m just perpetuating a system that is intrinsically wrong.’

‘I see. So when did this change of heart come about?’

I shrug. I really don’t want to discuss Dom with him especially since he dislikes him so intensely. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I say. ‘I just came in here today to give you my letter in person and thank you for everything you’ve taught me. I won’t be coming back after today. I’ve got some leave accrued to me and I’ll just use it up as part of my notice.’

‘Don’t be stupid, Ella. No matter where you go there will always be unfair practices. At least here you know that you’ll have a good pension scheme to take care of you.’

‘Look, Sir. It’s really kind of you to think of my future and everything, but I just can’t stay.’

‘But you’re one of our rising stars. You have a real talent,’ he says.

I look up, surprised by the compliment. I don’t think I’ve ever had one from him. ‘Thank you, Sir, for saying that. Er… it … um … means a lot to me, but my mind’s made up. I just can’t work here anymore.’

He frowns. ‘Where will you go?’

I shrug again. ‘I don’t know yet. I’ll probably find something temporary first and see how it goes.’

He holds my letter out to me. ‘I’m not going to accept your resignation. It seems to me you are acting on an impulse. You should take some time to think about this more clearly.’

I don’t take the letter from him. ‘No, I have thought about it carefully.’

‘You’re throwing away a really good career on a whim. I always saw you as one of the managers here.’

He did! Really? Who would have guessed by the horrible way he treated me?

‘It’s not a whim, Sir.’

‘Why don’t you have dinner with me tonight?’

My eyes widen with shock. Wow, Rob has always been so distant and cold with me that I can’t think of a more uncomfortable way to spend an evening. Besides I have absolutely nothing in common with him. I shake my head.

‘It’s not a date,’ he says dryly.

I flush bright red with embarrassment. See, why I can’t have dinner with a brute like him? ‘I know that, Sir. Of course, it’s not a date. I realize that you just want to try and talk me into staying, but really there’s just no point. I’ve made up my mind.’

He stands. ‘I think you’re making a mistake.’

I smile awkwardly. It never crossed my mind that he would try to stop me from leaving that he even considered me such a valuable member of his team. Having said that, I suppose I was pretty useful to him. I did all the legwork so he could go out there and achieve all his monthly quotas.

‘Why don’t you take the leave that you are owed to relax and reflect on your decision? And if for any reason you change your mind you can always come back.’