Chapter Five
Summary
- Maddie is approached by Ellie as soon as she enters the office and is asked to meet in a meeting room.
- Ellie and another colleague, Claire, inform Maddie of an incident involving Katherine's diary having the wrong date for a meeting, leading to Katherine being upset.
- Maddie explains she wasn't informed of any changes to Katherine's diary, suggesting Katherine might have accepted a direct amendment to her schedule.
- Claire communicates that Katherine no longer feels Maddie is suited to be her PA and needs someone who can anticipate her needs without being told.
- Maddie realizes she is effectively being fired despite Claire's reassurance that it is not a dismissal but a response to Katherine's need for a different type of support.
- Claire assures Maddie she will receive pay for the time worked, including the current day, and offers her a letter of recommendation.
- Despite a past incident where Ellie and Claire seemed supportive, Maddie now feels betrayed and decides to leave immediately.
- Alone and under a bridge, Maddie reflects on her firing and worries about telling her mother, who would view firing as a sign of personal failure.
- She takes the unusual step for her of catching a midmorning train, pondering what to do next after being fired.
- Maddie searches online for what to do post-firing, finding advice to rejoice, search for a new job, make claims if unjustly fired, start budgeting, seek unemployment benefits, and have faith.
- Maddie receives an unexpected text from Ben, someone she met previously, but is too overwhelmed to respond due to recent developments including renting a new flat.
- She turns off her phone to take a moment for herself, and a passing comment from another commuter reflects her own feeling of distress.