"Harold, it's not that your skills aren't good enough... Someone's been spreading rumors about you—saying you're arrogant, steal credit from interns, and even got violent."
"Now a lot of companies see you as toxic."
At that instant, I understood.
It was Darlene's doing. She hadn't just fired me—she'd cut off every path forward.
When my mother noticed the furrow in my brow deepening day after day, she gently pressed me for the reason—and I finally told her everything.
Her face turned pale with anger. She immediately stood up, ready to rush out the door. "I'm going to confront her! How can she slander you like that?"
I caught my mother's hand gently, pressing it down. "Mom, don't worry."
I looked out the window, my tone was calm and steady. "It's about time."
"Soon enough, she'll come to me on her own."
My mother gave me a puzzled look. Just as she was about to speak, my phone on the table rang sharply.
The caller ID flashed on the screen: Darlene Schmidt.
I pressed the answer button and put it on speaker.
"Harold?" Darlene's usual composure was gone, replaced by an edge of panic. "You need to come to Skyfeather Tech on the west side of the city—right now! It's urgent!"