I watched his hands. I couldn't really look him in the eye. Whenever he
finished a train of thought, he twirled and twisted his fingers as
though he were rolling a cigar. He said that he didn't smoke. I said
that I didn't care. I lied. I cared, but what I cared about
didn't matter. He changed his mind. He did smoke. Off the clock (of
course). I sat and watched his hands without really hearing any of the
thoughts that went with them. His thoughts mattered about as much as
mine.

Zero.

It was one of those days when I really wondered why I still did this. I
hated this part. He was still advertising. Talking with his hands about
all those wonderful ideas that just weren't getting through to anyone
else. I think he knew what was happening, but like every cornered
animal, he would fight to the end. If I let myself listen, I would hear
something I liked, I wouldn't be able to do it. So I watched his
fine-boned fingers and let the cadence of his voice roll over my head.
He was still young, still handsome, still had other opportunities. He
could find something else. At least, thats what I told myself. It made
what I had to say easier, but I still could never really be the
cold-hearted bitch I should be. He finished his spiel and looked at me
expectantly, the professional mask of half-confidence and half-calmness
covered the worry that I knew would show through in his eyes. The ones
I wouldn't meet. I finally looked up and focused on a freckle on the
left side of his face.

He sighed and said he knew he was fired. I nodded. I said he could quit
and still get a job reference from here. He nodded. I would get a pay
cut for that, for not just firing him and walking out, but that wasn't
who I was. I was supposed to supervise. Not play messenger girl
for the big bad boss “upstairs.” He left my office, and didn't do
anything stupid. I was sure he'd have no problems getting another job,
even with the economy. Somehow, though, this random guy who didn't call me rude names, break anything, or argue, was the last straw for me.

I quit that afternoon.