Only my small team of three were in the office when Pam arrived for her last day.

“Morning Pam,” I waved through the window.

“Morning,” Pam grimaced, marching past the empty Managing Director’s office.

“She looks miserable,” Arif threw a conspiring smile to Rebecca.

“It’s her own fault…!” Rebecca waved her long red hair in defiance.

“…Poor thing,” Adrian swayed his large frame on the chair then caught my eye.  

“Yeah, but such a bitch…!” Arif grinned, “…I’m not being harsh, but she was a nasty…”

“…Shh,” Adrian interrupted, reclining his chair but pointing to Pam’s office.

Pam emerged from her office door and crossed the floor to the canteen area.

“You knew Pam before?” Arif asked Adrian.

“No…! insisted an irritated Adrian, “…She grew up in Zimbabwe, so thinks we have some connection…”

“…But you’re South African…?” Rebecca whispered, watching Pam though the window.

“…It’s close enough for Pam,” Adrian shrugged his large shoulders and looking my way.

“You seemed close to Pam, when I’d arrived, two years back…” I began to tease.

“Ha!” Adrian grinned, then turned to Rebecca, “… I feel sorry for her…”

Rebecca slid her fingers down her long nose, watching Pam, “…She won’t be missed.”

I smiled, “…come on, back to the day job.”

“She grassed me up!” Arif puffed, then glared back to his monitor.

Suddenly, I remembered the pain; “… Pam tried to get me the sack when I arrived…”

“… Oh…! That’s right!” Adrian awkwardly laughed in recollection.

“Tell us!” Rebecca’s widening eyes demanded.

“Pam,” whispered Adrian, “accused him of giving away a tool machine.”

“For real?” Arif grinned, “She’s a proper old Karen…”

“…Any way,” I interrupted, “I was exonerated, but Pam was unrepentant,” I smile.

“Yeah,” Adrian awkwardly remembered.

“Pam was miserable to work with, but here we are,” I tried to conclude.

“You must be at least a bit pleased…?” Arif wondered, using his forefingers.

“Arif!” I demanded.