Chapter 6: What Paulson Said
I kept my voice level.
"I'm listening," I said.
"Good." A brief pause.
"I think what happened today was a misunderstanding.
Greg can be — direct.
Sometimes too direct.
I've spoken to him about it before." Another pause, calibrated to sound like candor.
"I'd like to offer you a meeting on Monday.
Just the two of us.
No HR, no formalities.
I think we can resolve this in a way that works for everyone."
Patricia was writing steadily without looking up.
"What does 'works for everyone' mean?" I asked.
"It means we find a path forward that keeps things quiet and keeps you in a position where you're valued." A beat.
"I've always valued your contributions, Linda.
I want you to know that."
Carol was watching me from across the table.
Her expression hadn't changed.
"Director Paulson," I said, "are you aware that this call is being recorded?"
The line went very quiet.
Not the quiet of a bad connection.
The quiet of a man recalculating.
"I'm going to take that as a no," I said.
"My attorney is present.
Anything you'd like to say to me, you can say to her directly."
I held the phone toward Patricia.
She leaned forward.
"This is Patricia Osei.
I'm representing Linda in a matter involving workplace harassment, targeted constructive dismissal, and conspiracy to manufacture grounds for termination.
If you'd like to continue this conversation, please have your legal counsel contact my office.
I'll text you my card."
The line disconnected.
Patricia sat back and looked at me.
"He called within—" she checked her watch "—forty-seven minutes of the incident.
That is not a man who thinks he did nothing wrong.
That is a man who is already managing the damage."
"He's going to go after Carol," I said.
"He's going to try," Patricia said.
"Which is why we file before Monday."
Carol set her hands flat on the table.
"What do we need to do?"
"I need both of you to write down everything you remember from today.
Times, names, exact words where possible.
Don't discuss it with each other until you've each written your own account separately." She looked at me.
"And Linda — don't go back to that office without telling me first."
"What about my job?" I asked.
"He threatened to treat my leaving as a resignation."
"He made that threat in front of witnesses," Patricia said.
"If he acts on it, it becomes retaliation.
That's a separate claim and it strengthens everything else." She gathered her portfolio.
"Go home.
Write your account.
Don't contact Greg or Paulson.
Don't post anything."
She stood.
"One more thing," she said.
"Is there anyone else on that team who might have witnessed a pattern?
Someone who might be willing to speak?"
I thought of Diane's hand over her mouth.
Marcus, who hadn't looked away.
"Yes," I said.
"At least two."
Patricia nodded once.
"Then we have more than enough to start," she said.
She left first.
Carol and I sat for a moment in the quiet of the coffee shop.
"Are you okay?" Carol asked.
I looked at my hands on the table.
"I will be," I said.
Carol reached over and put her hand briefly over mine.
"I should have come back sooner," she said.
"You came back when I needed you," I said.
"That's enough."
Outside, the afternoon had turned overcast.
The kind of grey that felt like a held breath before something breaks.
My phone lit up again.
A text from Diane.
*I kept copies too.
May you like
I didn't know what to do with them.
I think I do now.*
