Todd's Termination
Chapter 13 - Todd's Termination
Though Grace had already formally terminated Todd's employment weeks earlier, the paperwork finalizing every aspect of the separation, including his access to any building systems or tenant information, concluded during this period, closing off any lingering ambiguity about his relationship to the Lindmoor Apartments.
True to his earlier threat, Todd did retain an attorney, sending a formal letter alleging wrongful termination and demanding reinstatement or significant severance compensation.
Reyes reviewed the letter with characteristic calm.
"This is exactly the empty threat I anticipated," he said. "Given the documented pattern of harassment, the corporate email trail showing explicit approval of his methods, and now the additional witness intimidation and restraining order, any wrongful termination claim would require ignoring an overwhelming volume of contrary evidence."
"So we don't need to worry about this," Grace confirmed.
"I'll send a formal response outlining exactly why any such claim would fail immediately upon serious legal scrutiny," Reyes said. "I don't anticipate this progressing beyond a letter."
He was right. Within two weeks, Todd's attorney quietly withdrew the claim, apparently having reviewed the full scope of documented evidence themselves and recognized the futility of pursuing it further.
Grace felt a measure of relief at that resolution, though the broader housing authority complaint continued moving forward regardless, the formal hearing date finally set for the following month.
In the meantime, she began the process of hiring the building's new on-site manager, a woman named Sandra Kim who came recommended by a local tenant advocacy organization Reyes had connected her with.
Sandra's interview couldn't have felt more different from anything Todd had ever represented.
"My approach," Sandra explained, during their conversation, "starts from the assumption that tenants are people navigating real lives, not liabilities to be managed efficiently. Late payments happen. Life happens. My job is to communicate clearly and compassionately, not to wield fear as a management tool."
Grace felt something settle firmly into place, recognizing immediately that Sandra represented exactly the shift this building needed.
"You're hired," she said. "Effective as soon as you're able to start."
Sandra smiled, something genuine and warm crossing her expression.
"I'd be honored," she said. "Buildings like this, once they finally get the right kind of care, tend to become something really special for the people living in them."
*Quiet moment: Grace imagining, for the first time with real clarity, what this building might actually become under genuinely compassionate management, an image considerably brighter than anything she'd allowed herself to picture during the exhausting weeks of building the case against Todd.*
That evening, she shared the news with Diane over their now-customary tea.
"A new manager," Diane said, something hopeful in her tone. "What's she like."
"Nothing like Todd," Grace said, smiling. "I think you're going to like her."
"I think," Diane said, "after everything, I'm finally ready to trust that this building might actually become the home it should have always been."
May you like
Grace nodded, feeling the truth of that settle over her as well.
*One more piece finally in place. The hearing is next. And then, finally, we get to focus entirely on building something good here, instead of just fighting to undo something broken.*
