Writing Wednesday | Prompt 62

Happy middle of the week, peep! Not going to lie, I'm having some serious sleeping issues. I work early, but I was so used to being up and at 'em early. After the holiday breaks and what not, I'm STILL struggling with my mornings. UGH. Let me tell you, this sucks. I've had to nap almost every day, live off coffee. I should write a book about it. HAHA. Just kidding. Let's prompt!!

Prompt Sixty-Two- Excuses
I was inspired for this one from a group I belong to on Scribophile. PS. It's my new favorite thing and I've met the most wonderful people in the entire writing community. Really, though. Anyway, the prompt! You're a boss and someone under you made a mistake; but you believe in their talent. Come up with an excuse/cover-up to protect your employee and write a scene using it.
My response...
Luckily, my boss only wanted to have a conference call to discuss the mistake James made. I think I would have cracked under Big Nose Barry's scrutinizing glares. The man intimidated me to no end, but I was learned not to take shit from anyone. 
"We're connected," his voice rang out from the computer. I couldn't see him, it was just a voice call, but there was a chat box in the corner that could be set to personal and private and each person on the call's voice bar. 
Immediately, I messaged the manager of another branch. 
Lindhardt: I'm about to get reamed.  Paulito: What happened? Lindhardt: Employee fucked up a major account. We lost thousands. Paulito: Shit. That's rough. Need me to say anything?
"We all here? Sign on," Barry snapped. I could just imagine him biting his stubby fingernails, spitting the cuticle to the side. He was repulsive, but he was fucking good at this job. Nobody could deny that. But he was also tough. 
"Lindhardt here," I said quietly. Maybe he'd forget about me. Everyone else said their names.
"We need to talk, Rayna. What happened with James on the McMullen sale?"
"Well..." I stuttered which was something I can't say I'd ever done before. "James' brother died. He had to fly out to a funeral in Japan, so I was left handling his accounts since I didn't trust any of the other managers. I didn't call the rep for McMullen back and they found someone else."
"So, it's your fault that we're out hundreds of thousands from one of our largest clients?" 
"Yes," I muttered.
"Everyone else, click out. I'll phone when I need you back in." His voice was so hard it felt like knives slicing your skin. 
Paulito: Good luck.
"We have to let you go, Rayna. This was huge. I can't even cover for you. I know you're a great worker, you're intelligent. But corporate is breathing down my neck. Someone has to take the heat. It's your or James."
"Fine. It's me. James needs this job more than me."
"You're strong. I'm sorry we couldn't make this work." 
Write your response in the comments below! Or just tell me what you think of the prompt!
Don't like this prompt? Want to do another? Check out some of my other prompts....
Prompt 61- 9 Reasons Prompt 60- Fake Blurb Prompt 59- Little Box Prompt 58- Word Search Prompt 57- Dialogue 2.0 Prompt 56- Oracle's Den Prompt 55- First Line Re-Write Prompt 54- Dialogue Prompt 53- No Sight Prompt 52- Myth Retold Prompt 51- Setting Prompt 50- Picnic Gone Wrong Prompt 49- Character Risks Prompt 48- POV Switch Prompt 47- First Days Prompt 46- Photo Booth Prompt 45- Yearbook Prompt 44- Fairytale Re-imagined Prompt 43- Sugar Deficit Prompt 42- 3 Word Challenge Prompt 41- Shore Fumed Prompt 40- Phone Message Prompt 39- Enemy Prompt 38- Not The Marrying Kind Prompt 37- Living Heart Prompt 36- Computer Attack Prompt 35- Ruby Angel Prompt 34- Fired Girl Prompt 33- Lights Out Prompt 32- Risk Prompt 31- Snow White Prompt 30- Mystery Novel Prompt 29- Break Up Letter Prompt 28- Not Really Human Prompt 27- Drill Time Prompt 26- Old Flame Prompt 25- Greedy Roommate Prompt 24- Hockey Injury Prompt 23- 10 Year Old Letter Prompt 22- Two Minute Thinker Prompt 21- Truth Telling Prompt 20- New Years Prompt 19- Alone for 7 Days Prompt 18- Christmas Miracle Prompt 17- Square One Prompt 16- Stolen Lights Prompt 15- Strange Reporting Prompt 14- Thanksgiving Prompt 13- Three Minute Free Write Prompt 12- The Mind Prompt 11- ABCs Prompt 10- Mysterious Request Prompt 9- Why Did You Do It? Prompt 8- Dream Turned Reality Prompt 7- Fortune Teller Prompt 6- Ride Home Prompt 5- Turned The Key Prompt 4- Doug Prompt 3- Nothing To Say Prompt 2- Skydiving Prompt 1- What's A Prompt?